신은 초등학교 5학년

이 시대를 살아가는 어른들에게

초등학교 5학년 스미레가 보내는

'조금은 특별한' 응원과 위로

"이것만은 기억해 주세요.

스스로 자신을 행복하게 할 수 있다는 걸.

그리고 자신이 아니면

자신을 행복하게 할 수 없다는 걸."

태내의 기억을 가진, 조금은 특별한 아이, 스미레.

엄마의 배 속에서부터 이 세상에 전하고 싶었던 말이 있다.

그것은 이 시대를 살아가는 이들을 향한 응원과 위로.

10대 소녀, 작은 체구에서 나오는 메시지를 읽다 보면

어느새 큰 울림이 찾아온다.

지은이 : 스미레 (すみれ)

2007년생. 태어나자마자 바로 신이나 우리 눈에 보이지는 않지만 한 사람 한 사람을 지켜주고 있는 존재들과 대화가 가능한 스미레. 본서는 스미레의 첫 저서로, 초등학교 5학년생일 때의 이야기이며, 현재 스미레는 고등학교 1학년이다.

엄마 배 속으로 가기 전의 모든 일을 기억하고 있고 배 속의 아기들과도 대화를 할 수 있다. 2013년에 공개된 ‘태내기억’을 주제로 한 다큐멘터리영화 ‘신과의 약속(かみさまとのやくそく)’에 출연하여 전국의 엄마들 사이에서 큰 화제를 일으킨 초등학생이 되었다. 현재는 전국을 순회하며 양육문제로 고민하는 엄마들은 물론 일류기업의 사장들에게까지 행복을 전달하고 있는 중이다. 비정기적으로 개최하고 있는 토크쇼에서는 ‘그녀의 말 모든 것이 깊은 감동이 있다’며 매번 눈물 바람을 일으키기도 한다. 그리고 이 책이 첫 저서가 되었다.

좋아하는 음식은 피자(특히 마르게리타) 그리고 사실 공부와 운동은 소질이 없다.

그린이 : 노부미 (のぶみ)

1978년, 도쿄에서 태어나 현재 그림책 작가로 활동 중이다. 많은 사랑을 받은 그림책 『엄마가 유령이 되었어!』를 시작으로, 『내 머리 위의 신』, 『산타 수첩』, 『생명의 꽃』, 『신칸 군』 시리즈, 『나, 가면 라이더가 될 거야!』 시리즈 등 160편 이상의 그림책 작품을 발표했다. 2017년에는 엄마 배 속에서의 기억이 남아 있는 어린이 100명의 이야기를 듣고 만든 그림책 『내가 엄마를 골랐어!』를 출판하였고, TV방송을 비롯하여 많은 언론에서 다뤄지면서, 현재 8만 부를 돌파했다. 또한, NHK‘ 엄마와 함께’에서는 〈겁쟁이 벌레 몬스터즈〉를, NHK‘ 찾았다!’에서는 〈내 손으로 만든 그림책〉의 애니메이션을 담당했다.

옮긴이 : 이경진

서울에서 출생하여 대학에서 국문학을 전공하고 일본으로 건너가 대학에서 일본어학과 일본문화에 대해 수학했다. 이후 한국에 돌아와 초중등생을 위한 교육, 평생교육원 교육 그리고 다문화가족을 위한 교육 활동을 하였고, 20여 년간 틈틈이 다수의 번역활동을 하며 유·아동을 위한 동화읽기 작업을 하고 있다.

앞으로 그동안의 교육과 번역 활동을 기초로 유·아동 및 청소년의 참된 인성과 덕성을 갖춘 새로운 리더십을 배양하는 번역 및 저술 활동을 할 계획이다.

내가 알고 있는 세 가지 ···············································································26

신은 이런 분이야! ······························································································ 29

당신은 이 세상에 단 한 사람이랍니다. ·········································· 31

아가들은 엄마의 배 속에서 무슨 생각을 하고 있을까요. ···· 33

홈런을 치려 하지 마세요. 그냥 안타만 쳐도 충분해요. ······ 35

웃는 얼굴은 또 다른 웃는 얼굴을 가져와요. ······································· 36

[노부미 & 스미레의 하늘나라 토크 ①]

신은 정말로 흰옷을 입고 있는 아저씨인가요? ························ 37

신과 천사들의 차이 ······················································································· 47

신과 천사들이 가장 전하고 싶은 말 ··············································· 49

인간은 이 정도가 가장 적당한 거야! ·················································· 51

다시 태어날 수 있어도 이번 생은 단 한 번 ······························· 55

[노부미 & 스미레의 하늘나라 토크 ②]

하늘 위의 세상은 어떤 곳인가요? ··················································· 56

우리 모두는 자신을 선택해서 태어났습니다. ···································· 63

운명에 얽매이지 않아도 돼요. ···································································· 65

자신을 믿고 인정하세요! ·················································································· 67

살아 있을 때만큼은 그래도 되잖아요. ··············································· 69

마음속 진심을 들으면 언제나 즐거워요. ············································· 70

자신의 언어는 가장 좋은 특효약이에요. ·········································· 72

당신의 이름은 소중한 보물이에요. ··························································· 74

다른 사람의 말이 들리지 않는 것은 당연하지요. ······················ 76

대답을 모두 알고 있는 사람 ···································································· 77

행복에서 오는 미소의 힘 ·················································································· 78

[노부미 & 스미레의 하늘나라 토크 ③]

우주인이 실제로 존재하느냐의 문제··········································· 80

엄마로 선택된다는 건 정말 대단한 일이지요! ·························· 88

엄마의 웃는 얼굴이 바로 아가의 영양분 ········································· 90

엄마를 위한 하늘 위의 응원단 ································································· 92

말하지 않아도 알아요. ···················································································· 94

인간의 감정은 여러 가지 빛깔 ···································································· 96

괴로움도 행복이랍니다! ···················································································· 98

[노부미 & 스미레의 하늘나라 토크 ④]

아이들은 모두 엄마를 행복하게 하기 위해 태어나나요? ···························· 100

원래는 한 명도 빠짐없이 모두가 친한 친구 ···························· 110

전쟁은 나쁜 것 ······················································· 111

인간은 가면을 쓰고 있어요. ·········································································· 112

당신에게 소중한 사람은 당신을 소중하게 여기는 사람 ······ 114

아래에서 보면 오르막길, 위에서 보면 내리막길 ························ 115

행복은 정말 대단해요! ··························································································116

[노부미 & 스미레의 하늘나라 토크 ⑤]

천사와 요정과 유령의 차이점에 대해······································ 118

사람은 꽃이다. ·································································································· 128

사물에도 생명이 있어요. ··············································································· 130

컨디션에 따라 아우라의 색깔이 달라져요. ··························· 132

goal = start ·············································· 133

“잘 먹겠습니다!”라고 말하기 전에 꼭 해야 할 말 ··········· 135

내일 죽어도 좋을 만큼 살아보세요. ························································ 136

삶과 죽음만큼은 인생에서 한 번밖에 경험할 수 없어요. ·· 137

이 세상을 바꿀 수 있는 것은 ···································································· 138

신의 눈으로 바라본 스미레의 10년 ································································ 140

엄마가 바라본 스미레의 10년 ··············································································· 146