As a child, Chao Pao remembers she could never find enough reading materials to satisfy her seemingly unbounded curiosity. Since reaching early adulthood, therefore, she has always cherished the dream of setting up a bookstore for children in which they can browse to their hearts' content.

Today, the library-style bookstore which she eventually established in August this year has an atmosphere conducive to making children feel at home. On the right hand side of the room, there is a mock castle painted green and decorated with pictures of animals and flowers. Around the walls are hung a wide selection of children's paintings. The children's interest is naturally stimulated to peruse the materials on display.

Since majoring in journalism at college, Cho Pao has been engaged in the promotion of children's literature for the past 13 years. Her interest was further stimulated by the occasional opportunity to translate some children's stories for the Gwoyeu Ryhbaw, (Mandarin Daily News). With the encouragement of her husband, Tang Ta-tsung, currently editor-in-chief of the publications section of the Mandarin Daily News, Chao decided to conduct further research into children's literature in the University of California. During her stay in the United States, she was deeply impressed by the well-equipped educational facilities for children and the abundance of community libraries which included children's sections.

In order to make her dream a reality, Chao and her husband took over the publication of the Prince Magazine immediately after her return from the United States. Through perseverance and dedication, they were able to open up their library-style bookstore with some 10,000 volumes in stock. One of their main aims in opening the store is to uplift the standards of the many inferior quality bookstores which exist today. Since last year, books of cartoons translated from Japanese have enjoyed brisk sales in Taiwan. But themes of the supernatural, violence, superstition, sex and pure nonsense tended to have a bad effect on children.

Chao realized that because vivid comic strips communicate more easily with children than just words, the young readers would often try to imitate the conduct of supermen and kung fu masters.

A special section of the children's bookstore is set aside for mothers to choose useful books on cookery, nursing, handicrafts, flower arrangement or house decoration while they accompany their children. Chao also invites specialists to lead seminars on children's education and help mothers solve their problems.

Chao points out that modern society does not pay sufficient attention to providing adequate literature for children. She emphasized that it is essential for adults to write stories that fit in with modern Chinese society so as to allow children to familiarize themselves with its concepts and absorb them naturally into their daily lives. She considers that good children's books must be up-to-date, lively, interesting and easily understood. She encourages people from all walks of life and all fields of business to participate in this important task.