Chinese-themed children's book comes into spotlight at London Book Fair

Shu Lin's Grandpa, a children's picture book illustrated by British-Chinese artist Yu Rong, was showcased at the London Book Fair on Tuesday, sparking heated discussions about how to better tell Chinese stories to international readers.

This book tells a story about Shu Lin, a Chinese immigrant girl, who finds it hard to gain acceptance in her new school, until her grandfather saves the day. The book combines paper-cutting and ink painting with other Chinese elements to create a painting style that is both classical and modern.

Shu Lin's Grandpa, published in Chinese by Dandelion Children's Bookstore and in English by Otter-Barry Books, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal this year, which is a prominent children's book award for illustration in Britain.

Nowadays, many across the world are eager to learn about about China through stories about Chinese civilization and contemporary China. At the London Book Fair on Tuesday, Chinese children's bestsellers staged a brainstorming event on how to bring Chinese-themed books to the world audience.

"The rich illustrations combined with the celebration of Chinese culture which Shu Lin's Grandpa represents made for a thought-provoking read. It has really instilled in me the desire to visit China, in particular to explore the traditional ink artwork and heritage it hints at," said Marianne Simon, an MA student majoring in publishing and creative writing at Kingston University.