People's
Republic of China (Romanization
according to the international Pinyin norms)
18
Cao, Wen-xuan (text)
Zhu, Cheng-liang (illus.)
Tian-cheng-shu (The sweet orange tree)
Nanjing : Jiangsu-Shaonian-Ertong-Chubanshe, 2004. – 68 p. + CD
(Wo-zai-zhe-er)
ISBN 7-5346-3009-6
Friend – Trick – Guilty conscience – Mental disability
Wan-qiao,
a mentally challenged boy, falls asleep under a tree. After a while, four
other children pass by. When they spot their friend sleeping on the ground,
the mischievous four can’t help but play a trick on him. They laugh so hard
that Wan-qiao eventually wakes up. He is delighted to see his friends and
tells them that he just had a wonderful dream about their friendship. Feeling
embarrassed and guilty, the four friends quickly fall silent. Unanimously they
decide to make up for their mischief. The simple, yet very touching story
about friendship and humanity is told by one of the most popular contemporary
Chinese children’s book authors. Zhu Cheng-liang aptly illustrates this
story, which is set in the countryside, with earthen-coloured pictures in naïve
style. (8+)
19
Chen, Lei (text)
Shen, Yuan-yuan (illus.)
Lan-Pi-Tu-de-Gushi (The story of the blue-haired hare)
Changdu : Sichuan-Shaonian-Ertong-Chubanshe, 2005. – 240 p. + CD
ISBN 7-5365-3325-x
Enmity – Peace – Coexistence –Family – Friend – Love
Pigeng, a little blue-haired hare, lives in the Ying Huai Valley to which his ancestors had fled in order to hide from the jackals. Except for some wild plants with blue juice, the valley provides no food at all so that, gradually, the fur of all the hares has turned blue. After his parents’ death, Pigeng decides to pursue his mother’s dream and leave the valley. Together with his two best friends, the little hare sets off on his difficult journey. This gripping and moving story proves that family and friends are the most precious things in life and that a peaceful world can only be achieved with love and everybody’s goodwill. The numerous water-colour drawings perfectly mirror the protagonists’ moods and thus underline the text’s message. (9+)