Every year, the children’s literature experts at the International Youth Library, Munich, make a selection of especially noteworthy books from the large number of review and donation copies the library receives in the course of the year. The team focuses on titles that might be of interest to an international audience because of their literary and pictorial quality and/or the topics they address. They publish the list just before the Frankfurt Book Fair in November. The 2023 White Ravens catalogue features 200 notable new children’s and young adult books from more than 50 countries and in almost 40 languages. There are eight Chinese-language books in the 2023 White Ravens catalogue (scroll down for details)..
For details of previous Chinese-language White Ravens, see our posts no. 111 (White Ravens 1984-2020), no. 133 (White Ravens 2021), no. 157 (White Ravens 2022). Scroll down for this year’s Chinese-language White Ravens.
The Chinese-language books selected for the 2023 White Ravens
Eight Chinese-language books were selected as 2023 White Ravens. Details are given below. For keywords and OPAC links, click on the blue English title for each book, which links to the White Ravens database.
The Dinosaur Map of China: Zhongguo konglong tu 中国恐龙地图, text by JIN Haiyue 金海月, YANG JING 杨静 and XIE Dan 谢丹, illus. by DONG Yanan 董亚楠/绘 (Beijing: Beijing lianhe chubanshe 北京联合出版公司 [Beijing United Publishing Co], 2022). 73 pages + 6 supplements. Age: 6+. ISBN 978-7-5596-6200-2 — Dinosaur | Map | Paleontology | Archeology | Geography | Non-fiction
Summary: This exquisite non-fiction book about the dinosaurs that lived in ancient China about 250 million years ago introduces some 300 species, giving their geographical distribution and describing how they lived. Text and illustrations draw on scientific research in palaeontology, archaeology, and geography. Maps of dinosaur museums, a “dinonewspaper” and some postcards are included in an appendix. This volume is representative of the rise of Chinese informational picture books for children over the past decade. Jin Haiyue and Xie Dan are researchers in the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Yang Jing is a researcher at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research. Dong Yanan (b. 1991), illustrator of Konglong kuaidi 恐龙快递 (Express Delivery from Dinosaur World) and Konglong lifashi 恐龙理发师 Dinosaur Hairdresser) is currently teaching at City Design College of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. [FW, ZX]
For more about Dong Yanan and Express Delivery from Dinosaur World (tr. Helen Wang, published by Candied Plums) see our blogs 36, 54, 57, 67]
Want to become a tree: Xiang biancheng yi ke shu 想变成一棵树, text by JIN Bo 金波, illus. by NI Wen and PANG Kun (Nanning 南宁: Jieli chubanshe 接力出版社, 2023). 183 pages. Age: 6+. ISBN 978-7-5448-8031-2 — Nature | Tree | Life | Poetry
Summary: “Want to become a tree / with hundreds and thousands of leaves / all rustling in the breeze / and telling their stories in green.” The poetic imagery of trees is celebrated in this collection of children’s poems, but many other correlated images – flowers, forests, birds, nests, sun, moon, planting, singing – also play a vital role. Sound and rhythm echo the spirit and mood of the poems, reminding readers of the sensations of growing, residing, and being at home. JIN Bo (b. 1935) is Professor Emeritus of Capital Normal University in Beijing and a renowned writer of children’s poems. His works appear frequently in primary school textbooks and other reading materials for children. His books include Women qu kan hai 我们去看海 (Let’s go to see the sea), Yuren 雨人 (The rain men), and Wu Diudiu de qiyu wu 乌丢丢的奇遇 (Wu Diudiu’s adventures). A winner of the National Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, Song Qingling Children’s Literature Award and many others, he was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1992 and 2022. [FW, ZX]
The Sound of Pingpong: Pingpang xiangliang 乒乓响亮, text by LIU Haiqi 刘海栖, illus. by YANG Bo 杨鹁 (Guiyang : Guizhou renmin chubanshe 贵州人民出版社, 2023). (Series: Pugongying tongshu guan). 305 pages. Age: 8+. ISBN 978-7-221-17565-6 — Sport | Table tennis | Physical education | Persistence
Summary: When Zhang Fangxiang decides to play ping-pong, it is a big decision at a time when a little kid cannot easily get hold of a ping-pong paddle and ball, much less find a table at which to practice. However, Zhang finds a way to save money for his own paddle, makes himself an expert in mending ping pong balls, finds a coach, and rapidly improves his skills. When challenged to a match at a tournament, he loses and learns the important lesson of accepting failure with grace. The novel is based on Liu Haiqi’s (b. 1954) own childhood experiences and is representative of his writing, with its recognizable colloquial style and fundamental humor and warmth. Liu, former CBBY Deputy Chairman and renowned writer and publisher of children’s books, is the author of You gezi de xiatian 有鸽子的夏天(The summer of pigeons), Wuwei xiaoshu lixianji 无尾小鼠历险记 (Adventures of a tailless mouse), Baba shu 爸爸树 (The father tree), and Youyong 游泳 (Swimming). Among others, he has received the National Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. [FW, ZX]
Upstairs, Downstairs: Lou shang, lou xia 楼上，楼下, text by Yu Liqiong 余丽琼, illus. by ZHANG Xiaoying (Hefei: Anhui shaonian ertong chubanshe 安徽少年儿童出版社 [Anhui Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House], 2022). 142 pp. Age: 8+. ISBN 978-7-5707-1350-9 — School | Girl | Teacher | Self-esteem | Courage
Summary: The boy upstairs seems to live in his own world. He sings beautiful songs and knows so much more than others do, like a book too thick and complex to comprehend. To the complete surprise of his neighbour, he turns up at her school as a student teacher. He shares his favourite poems and books, encourages children to talk about their dreams, and tells them how to feel and express love through music. With his help, the girl gains enough courage to face those who are bullying her and gets a chance to fulfil her secret dream to become lead singer in a school concert. Now she will be able to face anything that stands in her way. Told in the voice and from the perspective of a shy girl, the story takes readers into the quiet turmoil in her heart and mind. The novel’s language is an easy one with a rich aftertaste. Yu Liqiong (b. 1980), author of many picture books, including the award-winning Tuanyuan 团圆 (A new year’s reunion), is chief editor of Dongfang wawa 东方娃娃 (Eastern Babies), a Chinese early education magazine. [FW, ZX]
Hey, you little fellow: Ai, ni zhege xiao dongxi 哎，你这个小东西, text and illus. by ZHOU Xiang 周翔 (Beijing: Xin shijie chubanshe 新世界出版社 [New World Press], 2022). (Series: Pupulan huiben guan). 46 pp. Age: 5+. ISBN 978-7-5104-7385-2. — Journey | Farewell | Grandfather | Dog | Friendship | Picture book
Summary: Grandpa Zhu travels overseas to visit his son. At his son’s house, he meets Bella, the dog, and the two begin to keep each other company. Every day spent together is full of pleasure for Grandpa Zhu and Bella, who would otherwise be quite lonely when everyone else goes to work. The day comes when Grandpa Zhu has to leave, and sweet memories make the farewell hard to bear. The atmospheric narration moves along at a steady pace, with the deep friendship also reflected in the harmony between words and images. Renowned illustrator and author Zhou Xiang (b. 1956) has contributed, as a pioneering advocate of modern picture books, to the development of contemporary Chinese children’s literature. His best known works include Hehua zhen de zao shi 荷花镇的早市 (The morning market of Lotus Town) and Yi yuan qingcai cheng le jing 一园青菜成了精 (A garden of vegetables came alive). These two books were awarded the Prize of Excellence and the Jury Recommended Prize of Illustration of the 1st Feng Zikai Children’s Picture Book Award, respectively. (Age: 5+) [FW, ZX]
When a wolf in sheep’s skin meets a sheep in wolf’s skin: Dang pizhe yangpi de lang yujian pizhe langpi de yang 当披着羊皮的狼遇见披着狼皮的羊 , text and illus. by Josef LEE (LI Wenliang 李文良) (Singapore: Xingzhi wenjiao zhongxin 行知文教中心 [Xingzhi learning centre], 2022). Age: 4+. 42 pp. ISBN 978-981-18-6225-0 — Disguise | Prejudice | Stereotype | Friendship | Picture book
Summary: A big, bad hairy wolf disguises himself as a sheep to research the habits of his favourite source of food, while a young sheep, disguised as a wolf, sets out to spy on her archenemies. When they meet along the way, they are so taken with each other that
both forget they are in disguise. Abandoning their missions, they decide to explore the world together. Their friendship remains unshakable, even when, one day, they hang out their fake furs to dry after a swim and see each other in their true forms. This ostensibly simple story about a friendship – illustrated in cheerful, anarchic images and sprawling childish writing – also addresses discrimination and racism: wolf and sheep can only become friends if they look beyond appearances and are not guided by prejudice toward their “enemies”. Singaporean designer and animator Josef Lee, who has won over twenty international design awards and published his first picture book in 2017, believes that picture books are
an ideal way to introduce social issues to children. [LO]
Somewhere Else: Hao difang 好地方, text and illus. by Egretlu (YU Xiaolu 于小 鷺) (Taipei: Dakuai wenhua 大塊文化 [Locus Publishing], 2022) (Series: iMAGE3; if044) 48 pp. Age 4+. ISBN 978-626-7118-33-7 — Loss | Remembrance | Climate change | Post-apocalypse | Dystopia | Picture book
Summary: In a surreal, dreamlike scene, a diver explores a magical, soundless space where time stands still – a flooded city where streetlights are still on, cars are stuck in traffic and a pet bowl sits on a living room floor. He passes through submerged industrial ruins and a deforested wasteland over which whales pass by, before emerging onto a tiny remaining island. Pale blue textless pages alternate with pages in smudged yellow, where images depict a dog frantically talking to the silent diver, who obviously cannot perceive him. These are the memories that the sole survivor of a climate disaster has of his beloved pet, which are interwoven with the present reality of a post-apocalyptic world. Egretllu received the Best Book Illustration Award at the 43rd Golden Tripod Awards in 2019 for his graphic novel Hua shuo Bao Chun jie de zahuodian 話說寶春姐的雜貨店 (Talking about Sister Bao Chun‘s grocery store in pictures), published under his real name, Xu Minghong 徐銘宏. This picture book debut was selected for the 2023 BRAW Amazing Bookshelf. [LO]
Rumours are going around the farm: Niu yan fei yu 牛言蜚语, text and illus. by QI Wei 奇 伟(Huang, Qiwei) (Taipei: Xinyi jijin chubanshe 信宜基金出版社 [Hsin Yi Publications], 2022). (Series: Xinyi tuhuashu jiang) 26 pp. ISBN 978-986-161-696-4 — Rumour | Truth | Folk tale | Reversible book | Picture book
Summary: An ox tells the farm dog that he is exhausted after a hard day’s work. The news spreads quickly, but each time it becomes exaggerated when passed on to another farm animal, each of which is depicted as a dark silhouette against a glowing evening sky. When
the farmer receives the news that the disgruntled ox is looking for a new owner, he feels betrayed and scolds the ox vehemently. A completely different story unfolds when you turn the book around 180 degrees: the farmer investigates the situation and the ox is granted a day of rest. A vivid depiction of the harm caused by false rumours, Niu yan fei yu is based on the fable Chuan yan 传言 (Rumour) by Xu Can 许蚕 (Xu Lingdong 许令东, b. 1974), which was published in a supplement of the Xi’an wanbao 西安晚报 (Xi’an Evening News) in 2000. Distributed in many versions on the Internet, it had already become a “classic folk tale” when advertising designer Qi Wei adapted it for his beautiful picture book. It received the Outstanding Work Award in the category Picture Book at the 11th Hsin Yi Picture Book Award in 2021. [LO]
LO = Lucia Obi, FW, ZX = Fang Weiping, Zhao Xia
UPDATE, 24 Oct 2023
I missed a book (no.115) that was written in Hokkien (Taiwan Minnan). Thanks to Lucia Obi for alerting me to this. For more information about this book and its creator, and a full sample translation in English by Helen Wang, see the Books from Taiwan website.
Hide and Seek: Bih-sio-tshue/Zhuo mi cang 捉迷藏), text and illus. by Page TSOU 鄒駿昇 (ZOU Junsheng) (Taipei: Guoli Taiwan bowuguan 國立台灣博物館 [National Taiwan Museum], 2022). 37 pp. Text in Hokkien (Taiwan Minnan). Age 4+. ISBN 978-986-532-545-9. Chinese edition: Zhuo mi cang, ISBN 978-986-532-544-2. Formosan clouded leopard | Extinction | Museum | Non-fiction | Picture book | Bilingual book
Summary: Intrigued by the sight of a Formosan clouded leopard’s skin, British diplomat Robert Swinhoe (1836-1877) started to search for the mysterious animal, which plays an important role in the mythology of the indigenous Ngudradrekai and Paiwan peoples. In
the course of his quest, he collected more than 700 animal species, but left Taiwan without ever seeing a single living leopard. Over a hundred years later and after more than one decade of searching, naturalist Chiang Po-jen declared the species extinct. The stuffed specimen in the National Taiwan Museum seems to be the only remaining Formosan clouded leopard, although alleged sightings keep being reported. Attentive readers will enjoy the game of hide-and-seek that Tsou stages in this non-fiction book introducing several other species that are endemic to Taiwan. Tsou’s artworks in his distinctive retro-futuristic, surrealistic style have won various international awards. “Hide-and-seek” was selected for the BRAW [Bologna Ragazzi] Amazing Bookshelf 2023. [LO]
Chinese books for young readers 