K-pop group BTS are the latest stars to earn their spot in the nonfiction series, Little Golden Book Biographies. The release, titled BTS: A Little Golden Book Biography, is penned by Jan Ann and illustrated by Hyesung Park. As per The Hollywood Reporter, the children's book is expected to hit the shelves in September this year.
The release "celebrates and honours the incredible journey" of the seven band members, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The story maps the members' collective journey from being underground artists living in a small dorm to being the stadium-selling pop sensations that they are now.
"This boy band's smash success story comes to life - from their early days together in South Korea, to becoming one of the biggest music groups in the world with hit songs like Dynamite and Yet to Come, to speaking at the United Nations. When you're BTS, you work as a team, stay true to yourself, and inspire millions!" reads the synopsis on the Little Golden Books website.
It further says, "This Little Golden Book Biography is perfect for BTS fans of all ages, the BTS ARMY, and people looking for inspiring stories about talented young musicians."
The Little Golden Book biography series familiarises young readers with influential figures, including showbiz celebrities and world leaders. It has previously released nonfiction books focusing on Selena Quintanilla, Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, and more. The release on BTS is available for pre-ordering now.
Reunion on standby
While we may see the band together again on paper soon, all members are currently pursuing solo activities. J-Hope is on the road with his solo world tour, Hope on the Stage, which began in Osaka in February. Jin, who Coldplay recently invited onstage for the first time since his military discharge, is preparing to follow suit with his own solo world tour.
Most of the members are in the middle of their mandatory military service, which they are expected to complete later this year to allow for a full group reunion. Jin and J-Hope completed their service last year in June and October respectively.
In October 2022, the group's management Big Hit Music announced that all the members will be enlisting for military service in accordance with South Korean laws. The news came after global uncertainty regarding the matter, with many wondering if the megastars would be granted special exemption due to their artistic accomplishments.
Addressing shareholders' financial concerns, Hybe CEO Park Jiwon ensured in a letter that content was planned in advance to spread over the hiatus period. "We have always been aware of the eventuality of mandatory military service, and we have long been making preparations to be ready for this moment," he wrote.
Park added, "In the short term, individual activities for several of the members are planned into the first half of 2023, and we have secured content in advance, which will enable BTS to continue their engagement with fans for the foreseeable future."
In the same month, the septet performed a large-scale free concert in Busan, South Korea. The concert, called Yet to Come, was held in support of the city's bid for the 2030 World Expo.
The concert film was released on OTT platforms in November 2023. It features the performances of 19 of the band's hits, including Butter, Run, and MIC Drop.
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