Feng Zikai Book Award Winners

How high-quality picture books can encourage kids to read more

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 20 October, 2015, 4:00am

UPDATED : Tuesday, 20 October, 2015, 4:00am

Annie Ho life@scmp.com

High-quality children's picture books are the building blocks to a lifelong love of reading. When I disparage commercial products in book form that are based on cartoon characters, my friends protest, insisting their children love storybook versions of their favourite animated TV series.

I counter that recognising and enjoying stories about familiar television characters is not the same as filling one's mind with the artful words and drawings of quality picture books. The difference is that children who are fed a diet of Peppa Pig and Henry Hugglemonster may one day no longer want reading time when they outgrow these characters.

What will keep children wanting to read more are stories that evoke emotions ranging from sheer joy to profound sadness, from belly-aching laughter to fear.

Max, the boy with the furry wolf suit in Where the Wild Things Are, may be just as recognisable as any cartoon character, but this picture book will be etched in the memories of every child who has come across it because of Maurice Sendak's choice narrative, flawless wording and visceral illustrations.

When children are exposed to quality picture books, they will inhale the rich language and complex themes, they will increase their understanding of the world around them, and their lives will be enriched as a result. They will progress from Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline to Philip Stead's A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Thereafter, when they become independent readers, they will be able to enjoy Charlotte's Web as well as Captain Underpants.

Children's picture books in the English language have a long and revered history, but this is not the case for Chinese-language ones. Thus, the Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award was formed, in order to promote them in the Chinese language and encourage authors, illustrators and publishers to create quality picture books. The award has two components: a biennial award for the best Chinese publications, and an accompanying conference and forum to share and enhance knowledge and understanding of Chinese children's picture books.

The winner of the 4th Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award is Kata Kata Kata, written and illustrated by Bei Lynn. It is joined by four honour books. Interestingly, although all five books have different styles and storylines, I would describe them all as "poignant", touching upon the themes of love and longing. While some of the stories have amusing moments, their humour is approached with tenderness rather than comicality.

Next month, these winning authors and illustrators will be feted at an award ceremony, which will be followed by a two-day forum. The theme of the forum is "Just For Fun! - Humour in Picture Books", and the keynote speaker will be award-winning author and illustrator Jon Klassen.

I cannot think of anyone in a better position to speak about humour than Klassen, whose picture books have been described as subversive and "charmingly wicked". This is Not My Hat won Klassen both the Caldecott Medal in the US and the Kate Greenaway Medal in Great Britain, and he is the first person to win both awards for the same work.

Klassen will be in Hong Kong for an author talk and book signing on November 19. Registration and details at bringmeabook.org.hk For a complete list of Feng Zikai award-winning titles, visit fengzikaibookaward.org

Annie Ho is board chairwoman of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as A picture book's worth 1,000 words

Lunar New Year Books

Six great Lunar New Year story books for children

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 10 February, 2015, 6:03am

UPDATED : Tuesday, 10 February, 2015, 6:03am

Annie Ho life@scmp.com

For me, the essence of Lunar New Year is perfectly embodied in A New Year's Reunion, the award-winning picture book by Yu Liqiong. I didn't discover it until 2011, and since then I have read it countless times, not just during the season but throughout the year. I've read it not just to my children but at storytelling sessions all around town, and not only in its original Putonghua but also in Cantonese and English.

The story is undeniably timeless, but "timeless" can sometimes suffer from a case of "too many times". This year, I heartily embrace change and explore other books relating to Lunar New Year.

Karen Katz is a bestselling author of lift-the-flap books for toddlers. In My First Chinese New Year, Katz provides a lively introduction to the festivities surrounding Lunar New Year that even the youngest reader will enjoy. The story follows a young girl as she celebrates with her family, including watching the dragon dance at a Chinatown parade.

For a multicultural look at the Lunar New Year, author Janet S. Wong and illustrator Yangsook Choi teamed up to create This Next New Year, told in the first person by a Chinese-Korean. The story looks at holiday rituals through the eyes of the young narrator, as well as those of a cast of his friends from diverse ethnic backgrounds; and explains in simple terms the concepts of starting anew, and of welcoming good luck and good fortune.

Showing readers that you don't have to be Chinese to celebrate this holiday, this award-winning classic is available in English only, Chinese-English bilingual, and Korean-English bilingual editions.

Grace Lin, author of Newbery Honour novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, presents a brightly illustrated story of Lunar New Year traditions in Bringing in the New Year. It follows a Chinese-American family as it prepares for the holiday, and features rituals such as sweeping the floors, making dumplings and wearing new clothes.

Another entertaining interpretation of the rituals relating to Lunar New Year is Demi's Happy, Happy Chinese New Year! Demi's interest in Eastern traditional celebrations is informed by her husband Tze-si Huang, and she has written and illustrated a number of children's books about not only Lunar New Year, but also Buddha, the Dalai Lama and Chinese folktales. Happy, Happy Chinese New Year! is filled with informative descriptions and detailed illustrations. In addition to the rituals of washing and cutting hair, clearing debts and setting off firecrackers, Demi also explains the symbolic meaning behind preparing and eating certain traditional foods such as pork, fish and rice.

While the above titles focus on the rituals surrounding the festival, Lai Ma offers a hilarious look into the origins of the Chinese Zodiac in The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac, a Chinese picture book with bilingual CD.

Lai Ma's version, of how each animal came to be included in the zodiac and in its particular order, may not be the most loyal to the original legend, but it is the most playful and amusing. He ingeniously incorporates into the plot the different traits of each animal, thereby fulfilling the adage, "Your personality determines your destiny."

Lai Ma's illustrations of anthropomorphic animals are full of zany details that beg to be revisited again and again.

Popular storyteller Angie Lin will be reading The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac and other picture books in Putonghua on February 16 and 17. Interested families can sign up at the Bring Me A Book website.

May your coming year be filled with peace and kindness, two traits associated with the goat.

Annie Ho is chairwoman of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong bringmeabook.org.hk a leading advocate of family literacy in Hong Kong

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Children's tales for Lunar New Year

Sustained Silent Reading SSR

COLUMN

ANNIE HO

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 23 September, 2014, 10:33am

UPDATED : Tuesday, 23 September, 2014, 10:33am

Sustained silent reading can improve literacy

Annie Holife@scmp.com

My daughter and her kindergarten buddies are adjusting well to Grade One and life in a "big kids' school". They are learning new skills to develop their independence and self-reliance.


The most conspicuous changes from kindergarten are that these children no longer have teachers to remind them to wash their hands before lunch, or to make sure they bring the right exercise books home for homework.


This transition to a new school is daunting for my daughter. I imagine that she misses her kindergarten teachers' warm embrace and sitting on their laps to share stories of recent adventures.


Yet, with new teachers to get to know, new friendships to establish and new routines to master, it's unlikely that she reflects much on the past.


My daughter is fortunate enough to attend a local school where the daily schedule includes three recess breaks, and sustained silent reading.


Also known as free voluntary reading, sustained silent reading at this primary school involves all students reading silently for 20 minutes every day. The only restriction is that students must read English-language books and Chinese-language books on alternate weeks.


The key to sustained silent reading is that students can select their own books, and read them freely without comprehension tests or rewards for reading.


An eminent authority on second language acquisition, Dr Stephen Krashen is an influential advocate for sustained silent reading.


In his recently published Free Voluntary Reading, Krashen set forth his voluminous research on language proficiency, all of which pointed to the finding that more dictation, worksheets and lists to memorise are consistently less effective than the simple activity of reading.


Although my daughter has been exposed to a large volume of books covering many different genres, she has yet to develop strong preferences. I remember one library excursion where she had insisted on borrowing a book titled Robbie and the Alien.


It was not something I would have chosen for her at the time, because it was written with older children in mind. We read a bit of the story aloud after returning home, then she lost interest and the book remained untouched until it was returned to the library.


Of course, there are countless times that a book we overlooked on our bookshelf turned out to be a family favourite after reading it together. Perhaps her inability to make a decision on which book to bring for silent reading comes from having learned that one can't judge a book by its cover.


With the responsibility of book choosing resting on my shoulders, I did what I normally do: I overthought the situation. I wanted to give my daughter a picture book, but I worried that her classmates would bring chapter books.


Then I worried that, if I gave her a chapter book, it would look like I was showing her off as an accomplished reader. Although she is capable of reading a chapter book, it's hard work for a six-year-old to concentrate on pages and pages of text. It is like an adult trying to read Tolstoy or Cervantes on a weekend beach getaway. It's doable, but it's not fun.


What six-year-olds want to read are picture books with thoughtful text presented in a large font, accompanied by appealing illustrations. So my solution was to help set up a classroom library filled with a wide selection of Chinese and English books covering different topics and levels of difficulty.


Formal language instruction aims to teach language skills, and is complemented by a sustained silent reading programme. But developing strong language skills is only a side benefit of sustained silent reading, because its primary goal is to develop a life-long reading habit.


Hong Kong children, with homework and extra-curricular activities filling up their after-school hours, often only have time for informational reading, that is, the type that has been assigned by their teachers. Once educators recognise the immense value of children’s literature, schools can promote literary reading by incorporating daily SSR into its curriculum.


My daughter is revisiting books that I read to her when she was younger. Back then, she only focused on the illustrations. Now she is able to enjoy the wonderful words, too. Bob Graham's April and Esme Tooth Fairies is a timely read as my daughter wiggles her loose front teeth. She has also rediscovered Mac Barnett's Extra Yarn after her grandmother tried to teach her to knit.


Bring Me a Book Hong Kong has thematic guides to the best English and Chinese children's picture books that are perfect for beginning readers to explore on their own. The guides can be accessed for free on its website.

Annie Ho is board chairwoman of Bring Me a Book Hong Kong

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Why it helps to read in silence

Teaching Children to Celebrate Differences

Between the lines: teach your child to celebrate being different

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 29 July, 2014, 10:41am

UPDATED : Thursday, 31 July, 2014, 6:57pm

Annie Holife@scmp.com

I recently had coffee with friends who were emigrating to a small town in Australia. Aside from envying how the idyllic environment would influence the positive growth of their young child, we also pondered what it would be like for a Chinese child to grow up in a community where he would be the only non-Caucasian child.

We considered the need for my friend to stock up on books about Chinese children living in a non-Chinese community.

Wouldn't it be ideal to find picture books showing a Chinese child who enriched his life and those in his community through acknowledging their cultural differences as well as their common humanity, we thought.

Fitting in is part of the universal experience of growing up

We explored the range of books featuring Chinese children, and only came up wit those littered with Asian stereotypes: studious girl, dutiful boy, racist bully, tiger mum, new immigrant family, and so on.

My friends and I then reflected on our own childhoods in Canada, where we were among a handful of non-Caucasian children at school. We realised that back then, all we wanted to do was simply assimilate. Would a fictional story showing a Chinese child being different, even if in a positive way (cherishing best of both worlds), have made any impact on our younger selves?

Fitting in is part of the universal experience of growing up. It's not until we reach college that individuality is valued, and even considered "cool".

In the end, my friends and I agreed that perhaps the best books for their child would be those that celebrate differences. Picture book creators are amazingly inventive when it comes to the using anthropomorphic characters to show differences.

Chen Chih-yuan has written and illustrated two storybooks about characters that try to conform, with funny and poignant consequences. Guji Guji is a story of a crocodile that grows up among ducks, but has his loyalty tested when he encounters other crocodiles for the first time. The Featherless Chicken is a playful spin on the ugly duckling fable, and follows the adventures of a featherless chicken as he attempts to acquire beautiful plumes like the other chickens.

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein is a gentle rendering of vignettes around the world with different cultures, faces and sceneries. It is an ode to the power of spreading goodwill, illustrating the possibility that one little girl's smile can influence many lives in direct and indirect ways.

What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan is an enjoyable picture book for children to embrace and be proud of the things that make them special, such as glasses, braces and big feet. I appreciate that the differences of the children are presented as positive attributes, rather than shortcomings that need to be accepted.

It is important to teach children to be compassionate, not just about skin colour but any kind of difference. 

Annie Ho is board chairwoman of the non-profit organisation Bring Me a Book Hong Kong bringmeabook.org.hkdedicated to improving children's literacy by reading aloud to them

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Books that celebrate being different are crucial for children

Cinderella stories around the world

Between the lines: the Cinderella story is common to many different cultures

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 11 February, 2014, 11:01am

UPDATED : Tuesday, 11 February, 2014, 11:01am

Kind-hearted girl, oppressed by step-family, encounters magical guardian who transforms girl into the only one worthy of marrying the king. Does this plot sound familiar? Here's the big hint: king finds a wife by way of lost slipper of uncommon shoe size.

Yes, I am describing Cinderella. The elements of the Cinderella story are so universally appealing that variations exist in almost every culture around the globe. Let's begin with the most familiar, the Disney version. It is based on Cendrillon, a fairy tale written by Charles Perrault in the 17th-century.

Perrault retold this existing folk tale, together with other oral stories, and published the collection as Tales of Mother Goose. Some of the stories, including Cinderella, were then rewritten by the Brothers Grimm for their collection of fairy tales.

One thousand years before Perrault put pen to paper, a strikingly similar tale was being shared among families in China. Retold by Ai-Ling Louie, Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China is illustrated by Caldecott medalist Ed Young.

Instead of a fairy godmother, Yeh-Shen's guardian is a fish. When the fish is eaten by the evil stepmother, Yeh-Shen saves the bones, which turn out to have wish-granting properties.

There are two variations of the Cinderella story that don't mention footwear.

In Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, John Steptoe retells the well-known African tale and lends his artful illustrations to recreate a jungle setting in Zimbabwe.

Mufaro has two beautiful daughters. One is selfish and conceited, while the other is kind and sensitive. Both travel to the city upon hearing that the king is seeking a wife, but their journeys and destiny diverge as a result of their character.

Steptoe is African-American, and all of his works deal with African history and culture. Yeh-Shen's illustrator Young is Chinese, and like Steptoe, is among a small group of ethnic minority artists who have made a career in children's literature.

The other variation tells of a disfigured Algonquin girl who beats out the competition - two beautiful but spoiled girls from the same village - to win the coveted role of new bride to the powerful Invisible Being.

Rafe Martin adapts this Native American folk tale in The Rough-Face Girl, with some remarkable portraiture by illustrator David Shannon.

For those who are interested in comparative studies, Judy Sierra'sCinderella presents 24 different versions in one anthology, complete with plot summary and cultural background for each story.

Marian Roalfe Cox collected even more versions in Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-Five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap 0' Rushes, Abstracted and Tabulated, with a Discussion of Mediaeval Analogues and Notes.

The interest in collecting Cinderella stories is not a recent phenomenon, as Cox's tome was first published in 1891 by The Folklore Society in London.

Two questions to ponder during a candle-lit Valentine's Day dinner: Is magical assistance the only way a nice girl can expect to make a good marriage? And, if Cinderella's shoe fitted so perfectly, why did it fall off in the first place?


Annie Ho is board chairwoman of Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving children's literacy by reading aloud to them. Visit bringmeabook.org.hk

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cinderella also spent time in the jungle, and among the fishes

Chen Chih Yuan

Taiwan author's modern fables teach kids to be themselves

Tuesday, 24 September, 2013

Annie Holife@scmp.com

When it comes to tales about accepting and celebrating oneself, no one tells it better than Chen Chih-yuan. An author-illustrator in Taiwan, Chen created an international sensation when Guji Guji was translated into English. This beautifully written story of a "crocoduck" was an American Library Association Notable Children's Book and appeared onThe New York Times bestseller list.

Chen's ink drawings in muted grey and brown tones belie the riotous antics of a crocodile adopted into a family of ducks. The crocodile grows up as a duck, but upon meeting some crocodiles and seeing how similar in appearance he is to them, he is torn about what and who he truly is.

Guji Guji has the makings of a classic modern fable. I can read it again and again without ever tiring of it.

For bilingual children, I recommend the Chinese-language version of this picture book, which includes an English translation and bilingual CD at the back.

In his author's notes, Chen explains that the story was inspired by a Korean friend who was adopted by an American family. Someone who looks different from family members and the community must first embrace or overlook those differences before he can expect others to do so.

In Chen's The Featherless Chicken, the protagonist is shunned by his feathered peers. He is finally invited to join a boat trip when bits and pieces stick to his muddy body like beautiful plumage. Everyone on the boat learns the "beauty is skin-deep" message when the boat capsizes.

Chen's latest offering, The Very Slow Snail, comes with an English translation and bilingual CD, and is a 2013 Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award honours book. The snail talks slowly and moves even more slowly. One day it decides to go to a grapevine to eat grapes.

Along the way, it encounters creatures that ridicule its quest, teasing that all the grapes will be gone by the time the slow snail reaches the vine. Only one creature encourages the snail - a caterpillar who thinks eating grapes is a great idea. The snail offers to piggyback the caterpillar, and their friendship grows on their journey.

This adorable and funny story about the beauty of taking things slowly is a good antidote for my daughter. Her natural disposition is that of a cautious observer who is slow to react. As a result, she hears "hurry up" and "quickly, quickly" countless times a day.

At home, we are always rushing to finish the morning routine and head to school. At school, she is constantly told to eat her lunch or finish her worksheets faster.

Rather than share a tale about the misfortunes that await dawdlers, I comfort my daughter with this story of a snail and a caterpillar who are content with their lack of speed.

The Very Slow Snail reminds us to savour a slower pace. It is a wonderful allegory for enjoying childhood and not rushing the process of growing up.

Annie Ho is board chairwoman of Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving children's literacy by reading aloud to them bringmeabook.org.hk

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Fables teach kidsto be themselves

Feng Zikai Book Award

Chinese picture book award sparks hope for genre

Tuesday, 10 September, 2013, 9:38am

Annie Holife@scmp.com

Yu Liqiong's A New Year's Reunioncarries the distinction of being a Chinese-language picture book that won accolades before and after its translation into English.

The Chinese-language version was winner of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award in 2009. Its English translation won The New York Times Top Ten Children's Books Award in 2012.

The Feng Zikai Award is important as it encourages authors, illustrators and publishers to create Chinese language children's books of a high standard, that are originally written in Chinese, rather than translated from English.

The vision of the award is to improve childhood literacy for the Chinese reading public.

From my perspective as a mother raising bilingual children in Hong Kong, I also appreciate this ready-made book list. Knowing that this selection comes from a panel of experts means I don't need to sift through the countless titles myself.

This year's award winners were announced last month. The winner and four honoured books were selected from 27 shortlisted works that were culled from hundreds of entries.

Liu Bole's I See a Bird (pictured) won the top prize for its meticulous illustration of a variety of species. Interestingly, this winning choice is completely unlike A New Year's Reunion, with its patriotic theme of how a modern family celebrates Lunar New Year.

In I See a Bird, a mother tries to guess the identity of a new bird her daughter saw for the first time. This story encourages children to get closer to nature and teaches them how to observe birds in their natural environment.

According to one of the judges, esteemed children's book editor Tang Ya Ming, texts such as these are especially relevant in today's world, where children increasingly live in urban settings where learning comes from electronic devices.

In the judges' notes, Tang says of creating quality picture books: "Illustrating a book is not about self-expression. It is not like creating a painting.

"Rather, it is a tool with which the artist can bring joy to children and allow them to discuss and connect with their feelings."

Keeping the child in mind is the essence of creating a good picture book. Furthermore, the greatest picture books transcend cultures and eras.

How exciting it is to create Chinese language picture books with timeless appeal that can be loved by children around the world. I hope that I See a Bird will follow the footsteps of A New Year's Reunion and have an English version published soon.

A full list of 2013 Feng Zikai Book Award winners and runners-up can be found at fengzikaibookaward.org

Annie Ho is board chairwoman of Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving children's literacy by reading aloud to them bringmeabook.org.hk

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Timeless tomes transcend time and place

Bilingual Children: Patricia Kuhl, Early Language & Brain Development Expert

They're the brainy bunch
BETWEEN THE LINES Annie Ho (familypost@scmp.com) Jun 03, 2012
People raising children in Hong Kong recognise the importance of bilingualism. Local parents hope for their children to speak English fluently, and expatriate parents appreciate opportunities for their children to learn Chinese. We want our children to be bilingual so that they can understand another culture, communicate with a wider group of people and improve career prospects when they enter the workforce. What if I told you that bilingual kids have better brains? This is the finding of cutting-edge research by Professor Patricia Kuhl of the University of Washington who was in Hong Kong last month to talk about how early exposure to language alters the brain. Kuhl is internationally recognised for her research on early language and brain development and on studies that show the unique way young children learn. I found it very reassuring to see scientific evidence back up our general sense in Hong Kong that we should expose our children to different languages. Most of us are aware (perhaps from the painful experience of trying to learn a new language in adulthood) that the ability to learn a new language decreases with age. But what I didn't know until Kuhl's talk is that babies learn a language more easily and more organically than the rest of us because their brains are implicitly and automatically taking statistics of which neural connections to strengthen and which to "prune". Of particular interest is Kuhl's finding that children who are bilingual have greater mental flexibility than those who are monolingual. This translates to the ability to adapt to new situations quickly, to switch from following one set of rules to a new set of rules - even beyond childhood. That said, the big surprise of the evening, which drew gasps from the audience, was Kuhl's finding on the effect of watching television on babies' brains. Using a multimillion-dollar machine that maps out brain activity, she found that watching a television show in a foreign language had absolutely no effect on babies. In short, your baby may be staring at the screen as if they are absorbing every detail from that DVD which promises to make your baby a genius, but there isn't much brain activity happening. Kuhl's recommendations: teach in a social context (children learn from people, not machines); promote mental flexibility through bilingual education; and read to children every day. Many English-language children's books come in bilingual editions. Felicia Hoshino's Sora and the Cloud, in English and Japanese, specifically introduces children to common Japanese expressions. Mantra Lingua, a British publisher, has a number of bilingual children's books in English and every language under the sun. For parents who want to introduce Putonghua stories to their children but are themselves are non-speakers, I recommend the picture books of Lai Ma. Not only do his books come with English translations as well as a CD of readings in English and Putonghua, but he is also my favourite writer and illustrator of children's books in Chinese. Now Do You Know Who I Am?is a story in which 33 animals get ready for day-long outing. Each two-page spread shows all 33 animals in their shared activities, with so much for the reader to explore, from learning to count to finding specific animals. It's a zany and high-octane picture book that my elder daughter asks for again and again. You're welcome to contact me for additional Chinese picture books that comwith English translation as well as a CD of readings in English and Putonghua. Annie Ho is a board governor of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong www.bringmeabook.org.hk a non-profit organisation devoted to improving children's literacy

Feng Zikai Manhua: Original Chinese Cartoons

Cartoons offer a child's eye view of China
BETWEEN THE LINES Annie Ho (familypost@scmp.com) May 27, 2012
Feng Zikai was China's pioneer in children's cartoons. He taught art and music in Shanghai in the first half of the 20th century and was also known for his essay collections on art and music, as well as his translations of Russian and Japanese texts into Chinese. Feng was a keen observer of nature and children, and this was reflected in his art, with many of his paintings created in the style of childhood reminiscences. The style of his cartoon drawings, known as Zikai manhua, were influenced by the changing social and political climate in China between the two world wars, his Buddhist beliefs and his years living in Japan. While Feng had many admirers, he knew others could not accept his style, and once made this comment about them: "Some people take one look at my paintings and cry out in alarm: 'But this person has no eyes or nose, only a mouth!' or, 'The four fingers on this person's hand are all stuck together!' ... Such remarks aren't worth responding to, so I ignore them." (From Geremie Randall Barme's biography An Artistic Exile: A Life of Feng Zikai [1898-1975]) I first came across Feng's name when I bought a complete set of 2009 winners and runners-up of his namesake award-winning books. The Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award was established in 2008 to encourage the creation of original Chinese-language children's picture books by recognising the best writers and illustrators of such books. Since then, I have joined the board of the Feng Zikai Award and witnessed first-hand the diligence and devotion with which the organisation has promoted its good cause. It's a delight to discover and read aloud Chinese picture books that aren't merely translations of English-language books. Original Chinese-language children's books are important to learn about contemporary Chinese family life, and perhaps to observe the Chinese sense of humour. Among the Feng Zikai Award books is one that comes with a leaflet with English translation as well as a CD with readings in Putonghua and English. Ander Y.'s Me and My Bike is a poignant story about a boy who wishes for a new bicycle. His mother promises it to him if he gets good grades. Told in the first person, the little boy admits that he is not a very good student, but he studies very hard for the sake of his promised new bicycle. When he gets a top grade on his test, he can barely contain himself and runs home to show his mother. However, through his mother's tone and excuses, he realises the family cannot afford a new bicycle. In the end, the little boy "chooses" to buy crayons as the reward for his good grade. His old bicycle gets a new coat of paint and he rides off with a wide grin. This story is a wonderful example of the style of myriad Chinese children's book authors who depict the hardships of modern life through a child's eyes. I hope publishers will translate more books into English to share with a wider audience of readers. The Hong Kong Museum of Art's new show, Imperishable Affection: The Art of Feng Zikai, features more than 200 of his paintings.    RTHK will be airing a one-hour programme Compassion for All - The Cartoons of Feng Zikai at 7.30pm, Saturday, June 9 Annie Ho is a board governor of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong (bringmeabook.org.hk) a non-profit organisation devoted to improving children's literacy

Over-scheduling and Hyper-parenting: Me and My Birthday Cake, Tony Fucile's Let's Do Nothing

Never a doll moment for children of hyper-parents
BETWEEN THE LINES Annie Ho (familypost@scmp.com) Mar 25, 2012
Over-scheduling - filling a child's every waking moment with a planned activity - is a way of life in Hong Kong. Interestingly, this is not limited to dual-income families, in which parents think that it's better to have their children take a lesson and learn something tangible, than to leave them alone with a caregiver. Stay-at-home parents are just as guilty. Hyper-parenting is the term given to this phenomenon, in which family life revolves around children and all the parents' free time is spent on school runs, accompanying them to lessons, and sharing child-centric experiences with them. Not surprisingly, studies have shown that over-scheduled children can have increased stress, anxiety and physical ailments. But how behaviour-changing is this conclusion when it's the cultural norm? Working more than 40 hours per week can also lead to poor health, but many wage-earners continue to work unhealthily long hours because that's the Hong Kong way of life. I may not be the typical Hong Kong hyper-parent with toddlers taking formal lessons to learn how to tap-dance, build Lego structures and speak Spanish … all in the course of a sunny Sunday morning. But I am a hyper-parent nonetheless. I shamelessly try to fill my elder daughter's free time with activities such as going strawberry picking, watching every children's show that comes to town, and attending birthday parties of my friends' children whom she's never met. The operative word here is "try" because I have a co-parent who is holding me back. Hyper-parenting can only really take off when both parents are eager participants. The problem with hyper-parents is that we enjoy being actively involved in our children's lives, spending time with them, and providing different environments in which to learn, grow and develop. We believe that giving our children varied experiences will enrich their lives. I am always on the lookout for opportunities. Just the other day, I went out of the way, and at some inconvenience, to take my elder daughter to choose her own birthday cake after reading aloud to her Cen Pengwei's Me and My Birthday Cake, a Chinese-language story about a little girl whose mother let her pick her own birthday cake. Parents are so busy managing their children's lives that they have no time for their own personal growth, and yet, many of them feel happy and fulfilled to be such a great physical presence in their children's formative years. This is the paradox of hyper-parenting. With Easter break approaching, I've started feeling even more "hyper" than usual as I explore the various sports and arts camps in Hong Kong, out-of-town excursions and other schedule-fillers to make the most out of those two weeks. If I don't plan ahead such precious time for enriching experiences may be wasted, and this possibility makes me antsy. For some perspective, I turn to Let's Do Nothing by Tony Fucile.A master illustrator who spent more than 20 years animating movies such as Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, Fucile hilariously presents the story of Sal and Frankie, two boys who, after playing with everything, attempt to do nothing. And so, I pause and reflect: children have no concept of waste of time or better use of time. They don't spend an afternoon at home rearranging sofa cushions and superhero action figures, and then think: "Oh, I should be doing something more productive." This Easter, let us all try to suppress those "hyper" urges and just dot the schedule with occasional playdates so that our children and their friends can create and imagine like Sal and Frankie. Annie Ho is a board governor of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong (bringmeabook.org.hk), a non-profit organisation devoted to improving children's literacy.