The reading of books by children has had a turbulent history.
Thirty years ago was an era in which you couldn't buy children's books even if you had the money.
Twenty years ago was an era in which children couldn't bear to throw away their worn-out, dog-eared copies.
Ten years ago, the first real illustrated books began to appear. It was like going from the days of black-and-white TV to the days of color TV.
Now, there are many different kinds of books and print is exquisite; it's progressed too much from the early days.
The histories of adult readers are tied up with these childhood circumstances. Let's hear some of what they have to say.
Lin Liang, Director, Publishing Department, Mandarin Daily News; Author
Lin Liang, who has written over 160 books for children, has been a book fan ever since he was small. He remembers his mother and aunt reading to him his first book--ugly print, only red and blue color. Lin says at that time he couldn't understand the meaning of the story, but recognized the animal characters in it. It was also his first time to learn the simple character for "big" (ta), "and I quickly read all the ta's in the whole book." Though he didn't know any other characters, he got a lot of joy out of that first book.
Lin also remembers his father taking him to the bookstores and generously buying books for him. At the Hsiamen branch of the Shanghai "Children's Book Store," back in the forties, there was a room open for kids to read. Lin was one of those made welcome--he still feels honored!
Many people think writing for kids is easy, but they become rueful when they take up the pen. For the past thirty years, Lin has been like a mother and father to kids. He believes that when kids are young, you should tell them beautiful things. It's not necessary to tell a single-parent child to be tough and brave; instead let him know the sun will rise in the morning, and the brook will sing like the bird. After the child is optimistic, you can reveal the world's ugly face. Only then will they have the ideals to try to change it.
Wen Liang-yen, Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital
"When we were small, where were the children's books for us to read?!" Wen Liangyen says that, if only there is a book, children will read it, even if it is a deep adult book, half understood.
Wen still has to this day kept over 50 "Primary Student's Book Series" from the thirties and forties. The small books were full of information: mathematics, railroads, astronomy.... "At that time we really felt these things were incredible!"
Wen's earliest memories of a picture book were of Feng Tzu-kai's comic books, but these were not really kids' books. Fortunately, his family situation was good, and he got children's books from Japan and even the U.S.
Though Wen reaped much from books, he says, surprisingly, "It's best for kids not to read!" Because the age of casual reading for fun is gone.
He says that children now read too closely, with too much concentration, and for overly long periods of time. Among students in Taipei City, nearsightedness has gone from 13% in the fifties to 86% in 1985. Parents shouldn't force kids to do extra reading. And when they read, they should rest every 30 minutes and look at things far away. Otherwise, severe nearsightedness in youth could lead to deterioration of sight in middle age.
Eugene Chien, Administrator, Environmental Protection Administration
Eugene Chien was a comic book fan when he was small. The deepest impression was left by books done by Yeh Hung-chia. Although many parents oppose their children reading comics, Eugene Chien's father felt that reading any book was a good thing, and didn't interfere.
Chien grew up in the countryside. Books were rare and changed hands often. As society has moved, in Chien's words, from a "resourceless society" to one of material prosperity, his kids have had many books since they were small. But Chien feels, "It seems the degree to which children treasure books is not as great as when we were small." Now they throw them away carelessly, without any heartache.
Chien likes to use stories to communicate his thoughts. With a Ph.D. in engineering, Chien formerly read science stories on the radio. Now he gives them on environmental protection. And when reading stories to his children, he sneaks some education into the fun. Like in telling "Jack and the Beanstalk," he'll say, "Jack was a very good boy who made his bed and brushed his teeth in the morning...."
Now Chien's work is too busy; he regrets not having time to read to his children. He says, "Now [TV reporter] Li Yen-chiu reads to the children from inside a tape recorder."
Liu Kai, Designer/Illustrator
"I grew up under the tent of a drama troupe, and I don't have many memories about books!" says Liu Kai a bit shyly. Liu, who grew up on Ti-hwa Street, was poor: "We didn't have enough money to eat, where would we get money for books?"
Although there were not too many opportunities to read, Liu Kai really liked to look at the illustrations. He would make rough copies of the things he had seen.
It was only the practical needs of work that brought Liu into the world of books. Understanding of the contents of books made the contents of the designs much richer. After coming in contact with the children's literature of Cheng Ming-jin and Tsao Chun-yen, he gradually started to illustrate children's books.
Liu thinks an illustrator has many ways to communicate ideas to children, but it is necessary to be sincere and honest in creating. "I hope to be able to depict things in a way close to real life." He also hopes to use the colors around us or colors that "belong to Taiwan"; for red, for example, one could use the color of "red turtle" rice cakes. This gives children a feeling of intimacy with their living space.
Liu's wife has just given him a son. He hopes to do a book for him and for all kids. He has prepared for a lifetime.
Hsiao Yeh, Author
"... And when in the forest it began to rain, a horse would come from far away; child, why do you think the horse came out in the rain?" Lee Chung: "Probably the rain horse liked the rain!..." This is Hsiao Yeh telling his son a story. He has written down the stories for his children in a notebook. They have become "Hsiao Yeh's Children's Fables."
Close father-son relations run in the family. Though poor, Hsiao Yeh's father bought old books, and made his son sit down and write out his feelings about them. They read the Chinese classic tales Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and also The Old Man and the Sea. His father also made his children keep diaries. That Hsiao Yeh read for hours on end was all due to his father's compulsion. His father was disheartened by Hsiao Yeh's restlessness.
"On the other hand my child keeps a diary and reads on his own. 'Having seen his father's childhood in the diary, Hsiao Yeh's son records his own life, with special messages, for his own future son.
Communication flourishes among Hsiao Yeh's family. After dinner, everyone gets in a circle and makes up stories. "Hsiao Yeh's Children's Fables" told between Hsiao Yeh and his son were written in this way. And his five-year-old daughter Lee Hua also has stories in the collection. "I am often very surprised by the wisdom in the things children say."
Since giving up his post at the China Motion Picture Studio, Hsiao Yeh has even more time to complete his unique, meaningful fables with his children. And that's only the beginning....
[Picture Caption]
Although the printing in the children's books of the early years was ugly, nevertheless they accompanied kids through childhoods without material abundance.
Lin Liang, who has written about 160 books for kids, believes that children's books should first let the little ones know about the beautiful side of life.
Wen Liang-yen, a lover of books since childhood, is making a plea to give the younger generation a break: To profect vision, children should have a good reading environment.
Eugene Chien has a lot less time to read stories to his children since b ecoming Administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration.
Liu Kai hopes to be able to depict more "true-to-life" scenes for children.
Hsiao Yeh's father had great expectations for him. There was generous communication between father and son. (photo courtesy of Hsiao Yeh)
From the time he was ten until he graduated from middle school, his father reviewed and corrected his daily journal.
Hsiao Yeh's whole family makes up stories together. The story of the "Golden Bird" made up by daughter Lee Hwa is especially interesting.
