Sample Translations
Eunsun Heo The Golden Top E ng l i s h
Book Information
The Golden Top (황금팽이) Hyeonamsa Publishing corp. / 2010 / 6 p. / ISBN 9788932372693 77810 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772 This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
The Golden Top Written by Heo Eunsun, Illustrated by Kim Ijo
Ungcheol started whirrr whirling his tops. The glittering golden top, the reeling wooden top, the colorful rainbow top, the heavy iron top, and the chipped top. “Ung . . . cheo . . . l!” Mom was warning him. “Oops!” Ungcheol collected his tops one by one and went out.
In the alley, he took out one of his tops, the glowing golden one. Holding it and wrapping it tightly with a string, he let it go, whirrr! Glittering, sparkling! Ungcheol sang, excited, “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!” Then . . .
Cat appeared, smiling slyly. “Let me spin it, too.”
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“Not this one. It’s my favorite.” “Then let me spin another one.” Ungcheol took out the wooden top and handed it to Cat. Cat took it, wrapped it tightly with a string, and let it go, whirrr! 2 Turning around, spinning around. Cat and Ungcheol turned too, singing together, “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!” Then . . .
Puppy appeared, cracking a smile. “Let me spin it, too.” “Not this one. It’s my favorite.” “Then let me spin another one, okay?” Ungcheol handed Puppy the rainbow top. Puppy took it, wrapped it tightly with a string, and let it go, whirrr!
Colors whirl. Puppy, Cat, and Ungcheol all marched in step, singing, “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!” Then . . .
Pig appeared, grinning. “Me too, me too! Let me spin the top.” “Not this one. It’s my favorite.” “Then lend me some other one.” “If you don’t mind . . . ,” Ungcheol said, taking out the chipped one. “Sure, that’s great.” Pig took it, wrapped it tightly with a string, and let it go, whirrr!
Tic tic tac tac, tic tic tac tac. Pig, Puppy, Cat, and Uncheol all danced, spinning the tops. “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!” Then . . .
Calf appeared, beaming. “That looks like fun! Can I spin it once?” “Not this one. It’s my favorite.” “Is it? Then do you have another one?” “I now have only one left, but it’s too heavy . . . .” Ungcheol showed the heavy iron top to Calf. “No problem!” Calf took it, wrapped it tightly with a string, and let it go, whirrr!
3
Whirling around, reeling around. Calf, Pig, Puppy, Cat, and Ungcheol danced, singing, “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!”
Glittering, sparkling. Turning around, spinning around. Colors whirl. Tic tic tac tac, tic tic tac tac. Whirling around, reeling around. Five tops are turning and turning without stop.
“Watch me!” Ungcheol lightly let the string wrap around the turning top.
He quickly lifted it into the air. “Wow!” Everyone eyeballed the top, excited. At the moment it was about to fall, Ungcheol quickly caught it on his palm. The golden top, his favorite one, continued to spin without stop. Glittering, sparkling. “Wow! Great.” “Oh my!”
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“Amazing!” “Yay!”
“Can I try?” asked Cat. He tried to imitate Ungcheol, but the wooden top fell plunk to the ground. “I want to try,” said Puppy. He tried, but the rainbow top fell thunk upon his head. “I’ll try,” said Calf. He stepped forward, but the iron top fell onto his tail and rolled away. Pig was confident, but the chipped one also fell . . . ! “Ha-ha! Ha-ha!” They all laughed.
They each held their top again, wrapped it tightly once more, and let it go, whirrr! “It’s turning and turning. Turn, my top, turn, turn and don’t stop!” They all sang together, spinning their tops.
“Ung . . cheo. . l!” Mom was calling him.
Ungcheol took the tops one by one and put them in his pocket to hurry home. Blinking his eyes, Cat said: “Tomorrow, I’ll surely spin the golden top.” Puppy, Pig, and Calf all echoed Cat: “Me, too.” “Me too.”
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“Me, too.” Ungcheol, taking his golden top from his pocket, said, “Not this golden one. It’s my favorite.”
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