It has been my goal to get them to read more Chinese books during these Dec holidays (well one of the goals), but I realised that pictures matter a lot in a children’s book. That is where the English books have it right. There is just no end of permutations and styles of children’s illustrations in English kiddy books, ranging from the very solid and bold lines, clear shapes and bright colours (think Peppa Pig), to realistic pictures (like Thomas the Train) to the messy, rangy, pastel characters in Dr Seuss and black-and-white drawings in Ronald Dahl, and everything in between of course. They also have a wide range of storylines ranging from the tame (e.g. Little House on the Prairie) to the totally rebellious and wild. (Eg Dog Man, Captain Underpants), stories of underdogs becoming heroes (eg Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and stories of adventure, pirates, knights and robots. Whereas in comparison, somehow the Chinese children books we see here are typically of animals doing lame things like inviting one another to parties, falling sick and caring for one another, learning to finish their food, brush their teeth and learning morals. Their pictures are also kiddish and round and unrealistic, of animals doing in distinct actions or of people doing nothing much but talk. The colours tend to be faded and words are small and close together, making it daunting or unpleasant for a kid to read them.
A market gap!!! For interesting, wild and engaging Mother Tongue books!
I mean, what is it with having fewer, bigger words, a very engaging and exciting storyline full of danger, and also bright, leap-off-the-page pictures full of action?
I think I should try to write and draw some good Chinese children books.
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