A method of controlling an operation of a mobile terminal having a display screen, and which includes displaying a plurality of avatar images on the display screen, wherein at least a first avatar image represents a first party registered in a phone book of the mobile phone; detecting, via a controller of the mobile terminal, an occurrence of the communication event associated with the first avatar image, the first avatar image having a first shape indicating a first action; and changing the first shape of the first avatar image into a second shape indicating a second action of the first avatar image to inform a user of the mobile terminal about the detected occurrence of the communication event.