Gift of words for young readers

Reading is an indispensable part of any child's growth. Books open new chapters to the little ones' lives, teach them about how the world works, tell them tales as old as time and nourish their tender souls.

Some say the best gift a parent can give to his or her child is to read to the child in early stages of life and continue reading with the child even as he or she gets older. In some cases, this would nurture future bibliophiles, and in others, spark interests in particular fields that may shape the youngster's career for life. Above all, most definitely in all cases, children will remember, consciously or not, the beautiful moments when they snuggled up and read with someone they love.

International Children's Day is here. Give the gift of words to your little ones this year.

An's Seeds

Author: Wang Zaozao

Illustrator: Huang Li

The story unfolds as three little monks each receive a lotus flower seed from their master in the middle of winter. One monk chose to plant it right away. The second monk chose to plant it in an expensive pot. The third monk, An, waited until spring to plant his seed. He waited for nature to do its magic.

This is a story on the "wisdom of waiting" as well as an understanding and respect for the laws of nature. The term "seed" is used as a metaphor for children. Each child is a precious seed that deserves respect for his or her nature. When supplied with adequate nutrition and given enough time, every child will bloom, as they were born to be.

Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix

Author: Yang Fan, et al.

Illustrator: Yang Fan, et al.

Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix is a piece of folk music that depicts a bustling scene of chirping birds. The uplifting tune, often performed with suona (a double reed horn), is a show of appreciation for nature. As the story goes, the phoenix, once just an ordinary bird, shared its food with the others after the forest was hit with a severe drought. Out of gratitude, the birds in the forest plucked their best feathers and dedicated them to the phoenix, making the phoenix the most beautiful bird of all. The kindness of the phoenix and the other birds' gratitude towards its generosity reflect the essence of virtue in traditional Chinese culture.

The picture book Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix uses Chinese elements, including artistic styles found at the Dunhuang murals, ink paintings and embroideries among others to create an exquisite paradise of birds. Hues and styles unique to traditional Chinese culture were selected to create lively and animated feathered friends that modern readers can appreciate. Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix is a Golden Key Award winner at the Beijing International Book Festival in 2019.

The Lost Child

Author: Jin Bo

Illustrator: Guo Rong

This is a story filled with poetic beauty. A young little girl pretends she is lost out of her desperate need for attention. On a journey in a new world, she encounters challenges, makes new discoveries and realizes that she was a happy and fortunate girl after all. The storyline is based on the author's own experiences. Jin believes that we all learn somewhere along the way that we are actually very fortunate. Such experiences teach us to not take anything for granted.

The illustrator skillfully designed pages with broken-up parts of Chinese characters to create a concerto of literature, graphics and characters. Guo said she hoped the young readers could "get lost" in her visual games and feel what the protagonist felt in the story.

Grandfather's cane

Author: Cao Wenxuan

Illustrator: Zhang Xuan

The is a picture book by Cao Wenxuan, China's first winner of the International Hans Christian Andersen Award, about a cane that strings together China's changes over a century. The love between grandparents and grandchildren in the book allows readers to feel the warmth of affection and learn to express love; the unique drawing style, with a rich composition in large pull-out pages, provides young readers with enjoyable aesthetic experiences.

Outlaws of the Marsh for Children

Author: Zhao Zhuoyun

As one the four Chinese classics, Shui Hu Zhuan (Outlaws of the Marsh) has entertained countless readers in China since its release in late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Having said that, its storyline may be somewhat difficult to comprehend for younger readers compared that of The Journey to the West.

Zhao Zhuoyun's rendition of the classic is designed for younger readers, with extended reading on traditional culture and additional background information, all the while staying true to the original text. More than 70 full-page illustrations also make it a visual spectacle.

A Tale of Tao Hua Yuan

Author: Tadashi Matsui

Illustrator: Cai Gao

Based on Tao Hua Yuan Ji (Peach Blossom Spring) by Tao Yuanming, an illustrious poet during the Jin Dynasty (265-420), A Tale of Tao Hua Yuan reflects the longing towards beauty in us all. The protagonist, a fisherman, gets lost and discovers an utopian world by accident. The kind locals, who led simple yet satisfying lives, were unaware of the chaos outside of their world. The fisherman eventually grew homesick and left the world adorned by blossoming peach flowers. When he wanted to return, that world was nowhere to be found.

Tadashi Matsui, often hailed as Japan's "father of picture books", was introduced to a painting on Tao Hua Yuan Ji at a young age. Awed by its beauty, Matsui penned his picture book A Tale of Tao Hua Yuan for schoolchildren in Japan and invited renowned Chinese artist Cai Gao to illustrate for the book. Cai's use of colors and strokes, both deeply influenced by Chinese aesthetics, add to the splendor of Matsui's words.