Pioneering children's literature
(Baonghean.vn) - In recent years, children's literature seems to be quiet in the flow of national literature. There are still too few authors writing children's literature, the quality of the works is still not outstanding, and has not hit the psychology of young readers. Among the many forms of entertainment that are increasingly developing on the Internet, children's literature seems to be quiet!
Efforts from campaigns and awards
Earlier this year, the Vietnam Writers Association launched a 5-year campaign for children's literature, with many valuable awards. It can be seen that this is a timely and effortful decision to spread a line of literary books to the audience considered the future of the country. Sharing his expectations for this campaign, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association said: "I think the campaign for children's literature will open a new phase for children's literature after a long period of emptiness. Launching a strategic campaign will be able to create expectations: creating new inspiration and responsibility of writers for the topic of children's literature; creating changes in poetics and genres to innovate children's literature; having good works in the field of children's literature by Vietnamese writers".
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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented money to support the campaign for literary creation on children's topics to Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association Nguyen Quang Thieu. |
At the end of 2021, the Mai Vang Award was given for the first time to a literary work, the novel "Hot Coffee Travels to Truong Sa" by writer Bui Tieu Quyen. This book was written after a field trip to Truong Sa, attracting a large number of young readers and making an impression on the literary world. On October 3, this children's novel was also honored with the C prize at the 5th National Book Awards. However, to have a work for children that has such a positive effect is not an easy story.
Writer Bui Tieu Quyen shares the factors that attract young readers: “Writing for children is always a challenge for writers. To have a work that attracts young readers, first of all, it must be close, authentic to the world of children and more or less arouse their curiosity. Children are innocent but also very picky. If they read the first pages, even the first lines of the story and feel unfamiliar, not arousing their curiosity, imagination, or desire to learn and explore, they may not read it anymore. The second is humor. This belongs to the storytelling talent of each writer. Creating humorous, amusing details in the work not only softens the story, but also brings enjoyment to both young and adult readers. Third, the story conveys a humane message, has educational meaning for young children but cannot be forced, imposed, or dogmatic. Each writer will have different ways of telling, exploiting the topic and conveying the message, but even so However, we still need to put ourselves in the perspective/reception of children, understand what children want and play with children with that sharing and understanding.
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Students read books in the school library. Photo: My Ha |
Join hands to open the river
If the efforts of the author do not have the support of publishers and distributors, it will not be able to create a strong effect for children's books. Many publishers and distributors in recent years have not focused on children's books, only a few are interested such as Kim Dong, Linh Lan Books, Sbooks...
Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung - Director of Sbooks is a young person who came to the book publishing profession with the mindset of promoting literature. The advantage of young people when making books is knowing how to apply technology to management and distribution to streamline and standardize the promotion of books through communication. Sbooks is also a bold unit investing in children's books. In the summer of 2022, Sbooks also released many children's literature books such as the poetry collection "Fragrant Lamps" by writer Ho Huy Son, the novel "The Miracle Under the Cherry Tree" by writer Vo Thu Huong...
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Students of Dien Thinh Primary School, Dien Chau District participate in the Reading Festival. Photo: Canh Yen |
Sharing why he boldly invested in children's literature and his steps, the young director confided: "Sbooks realizes that books written for children play an important and key role in building a sustainable reading culture in a country. The process of building a reading culture is a very long and inherited journey, so Sbooks wishes to give away many children's books as gifts of knowledge, contributing to the journey of nurturing the soul and training the intelligence of the young generation."
It is known that many publications for children have been, are being and will be launched to serve young readers. We can mention the work "Tuoi Than Tien" and the set of 6 books for children that are about to be released to readers. The selection and censorship of topics, themes and content suitable for children's books must be careful and strict, because the deep impressions during the reading process will greatly affect the cognitive foundation of young children. Children have specific reading criteria and standards, so in order for children to warmly receive publications, authors and publishers must constantly research and explore to touch the interests and hobbies of children. From there, help children stimulate their senses and imagination, arousing their passion for books.
But if only from creative campaigns, the efforts of writers, and the attention of publishing and distribution units, is that enough for children's literature to break out of the rut? Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association shared very thoughtful opinions: “First of all, we must have excellent children's works that have the power to attract young readers. When we have excellent works, we must find every way to bring those works to young readers. The project "Free books for children in mountainous and remote areas" is a way to start and has had good signs. The Vietnam Writers Association brings books to children instead of dumping a pile of books in libraries or cultural rooms. Children are starting to have the right to own books. Therefore, their attachment to books has changed and step by step they will find their life and dreams from books. Along with that, we need to create forums to promote reading for children through families and schools. If parents and teachers are indifferent to books, children will also be indifferent to books. We must make society understand in a flesh and blood way: books are a miracle that transforms their children become good human beings. A child who has no feeling for books will have no feeling for people.”
Obviously, with the passion and dedication of the author; the support and devotion of the publisher, the distribution units, to open the flow of children's literature more strongly, it still requires many factors from the family to influence, select, and shape the reading culture for children. The joint efforts and creation of conditions from agencies, departments, branches and specialized competitions so that children's literature is a fertile land to sow seeds, sprout branches, and bear fruit. The time is not short, but if from now on we do not open the flow together, then five years, ten years later, children's literature will still be a calm flow among many bustling literary flows.
