Book Descriptions

for Late Today by Jungyoon Huh and Myungae Lee

From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Seoul, South Korea, 8:15 A.M. “We can’t be late today.” Crooked rows of bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic inch along in pouring rain. Tiny and helpless among the vehicles, a “kitten, barely two weeks old, [is] crossing the bridge.” She darts around, unable to find her way through the maze of moving tires, noticed by drivers and passengers who honk and exclaim and worry and look away in fear. Everyone is horrified, but what can be done? And then one person pulls over. “They hoped to hear a kitten’s cry.” Over several tense, nearly wordless pages, an adult and a child sit in the car in the driving rain, waiting. Cars honk. Windshield wipers squeak. Then, from under the car: “Mew mew.” The driver hurries out and scoops up the quivering, terrified animal. “We all were late. But it’s okay. Today was a good day to be late.” Much of this story is communicated via the artwork, made with colored pencil and oil pastel, which feels almost cinematic in its variety of perspectives and effective use of panels and montage. This suspenseful story commends bravery, but its focus on the kitten’s dangerous journey prevents it from becoming heavy-handed.

CCBC Choices 2026. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, 2026. Used with permission.

From the Publisher

A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year

A 2026-2027 Red Clover Book Award Nominee (VT)

"A quiet yet masterfully rendered reminder that decency is always worth the hassle." -- Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

"A marvelous English-language debut in an emotionally urgent story...a moving work about a small, essential act of kindness." -- Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

A resonant reminder to make the time to be kind, set in the bustling city of Seoul.

One rainy morning, the Seogang Bridge hums with traffic--and in between the cars is a tiny kitten. People mutter to themselves, but no one wants to stop or slow down. The raindrops pelt the road; the cars screech and honk; the kitten mews. Finally one car pulls over...

With atmospheric art by acclaimed illustrator Myungae Lee, Late Today asks readers to choose compassion in the midst of busyness. This stirring story is perfect for cat lovers, city dwellers, and anyone who's ever lost themselves in the rush of life.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.