2015年CRI When Illustrations Go Beyond Borders

 

Reporter: Cao Wenxuan is one of China's most popular authors of children's fiction.

His books, such as Cao-Fang-Zi, or literally¹ translated as The Straw House and Qingtong Kuihua (青铜葵花), or translated as Bronze and Sunflower, have collectively sold millions of copies in China.

But what makes him increasingly popular abroad is his book, titled A Feather, with all the illustrations created by Brazil's Hans Christian² Andersen Award-winning artist Roger Mello.

Cao recalls his collaboration³ with Roger Mello in 2013.

"My book would look totally different from what it is now if the pictures in it were created by a Chinese illustrator. There are many differences between the cultures of China and Brazil. The Chinese people are so familiar with blue and white porcelains⁵ that we probably wouldn't use it to its fullest potential. While in the eyes of Roger Mello,the blue and white porcelain⁴ tends to be synonymous with China. It inspired him to produce the beautiful images including flocks of birds that are painted on the surface of blue-white porcelain, which is almost unattainable for Chinese painters." 

Their words and pictures tell the story of a feather trying to find where it belongs, to whom does it belong. As the wind blows it from place to place, the feather queries⁶ one bird after another, "Am I yours?" The questions of origin and belonging are shared by all humanity.

As readers may appreciate the depth of the words and the beauty of the illustrations, the honors awarded to the book's creators are taking this book to faraway destinations. 

Aside from taking Chinese books international, cross-cultural collaboration can also be seen in other areas of the publication industry. Canadian children's publisher Patsy Aldana is a former president of the International Board on Books for Young People, or IBBY, and the current president of IBBY Foundation.

She has helped the China Children's Press and Publications Group, the largest children's book publisher in China, with its launch of a world library of illustrated⁷ books for young readers in the local area.

She introduces the illustrated books collected in this world library.

"These are not books that are bestsellers, these are not the books that are easily sold in bookstores. These are books that people need to really look into and see how they can help the children in China to better get to know the rest of the world. And even though there are big differences between us, there are also many similarities between us as human beings. These books really try to portray⁸ different realities but at the same time, to deal with subjects that are universal."

The IBBY is a non-profit organization that represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.

Under the IBBY's goal to connect children worldwide with books, Patsy Aldana has assisted in selecting books concerned with illustrations for the library. To date, a dozen books have been selected.

She thinks the world library project now opens a window for local children to view other cultures and customs on the basis of understanding literature. 

"This is a great place for you to introduce children to other cultures, other kinds of childhood games, other kinds of childhood favorites, riddles⁹, songs, rhymes, and they really are a reflection of culture around the world. Some of them are award winners, some of them are simply at that time the most interesting young illustrator in their countries. But we think it's a very good photograph of the world, and that's what the world library is about. It's bringing all of us together and trying to help our children see that they are part of this world."

This world library will expand each year with seven or eight types of illustrated books which are the brainchild of illustrators and writers worldwide.

The China Children's Press and Publications Group would publish them for the library.

The largest children's book publisher in China also convened¹⁰ a forum¹¹ recently in Beijing discussing the integration¹² of Chinese illustrated-books into the world of literature.

Stories are a great medium to educate the children. Meanwhile, images help the children to understand and identify the things they come across in daily life. When stories combine with images, it would fascinate young readers in their course to pursue new knowledge.

And when authors and illustrators from different nations work together, young readers would definitely harvest more from these publications under international collaborations.

For Studio Plus, I'm Xu Fei.

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

4 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

5 porcelains   

n.瓷，瓷器( porcelain的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Objective: To study the stress tooth preparation with two kinds of porcelains. 〔摘要〕目的：研究瓷贴面复合体应力分布规律。 来自互联网
• Objective To study the distribution of the chromatic value of gingival porcelains. 目的了解临床常用牙龈瓷的颜色参数。 来自互联网

6 queries   

n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问

参考例句：

• Our assistants will be happy to answer your queries. 我们的助理很乐意回答诸位的问题。
• Her queries were rhetorical,and best ignored. 她的质问只不过是说说而已，最好不予理睬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

8 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

9 riddles   

n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜

参考例句：

• Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看，口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
• But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句

10 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

11 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

12 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。