My Heart Freezes, and Free

When I meet someone new, I freeze.
When someone smiles and says hello, I’m free.

Inspired by eoreum(ice)-ttaeng, a Korean playground game in which children freeze and set one another free, this picture book turns a familiar childhood game into a tender story about how a heart can freeze, and how kindness can help it melt. When the child meets a new friend, waits nervously at the dentist, or makes a mistake in front of everyone, their body stiffens, their words disappear, and they do not know what to do. But a warm word from someone nearby becomes a kind of magic. Each small kindness becomes its own “Free!”, helping the frozen heart begin to melt.

After being helped again and again by the kindness of others, the child finally stands in front of a crowd and finds the words to free themselves. This book gently reminds us that the warmest kind of courage may be learning to say “Free!” to our own heart.

I love stories that make us laugh, comfort us and help us feel understood.
For anyone who freezes when things feel new or awkward,
I hope a little kindness from someone reaches them like a magic word: Free!
When My Heart Freezes is my first picture book, written and illustrated by me.