China to Embrace More Original Picture Books

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　　The growing demand for illustrated¹ books here in China is being viewed as a growing opportunity for publishers, writers and artists in China.

 

　　CRI's Zhang Ru explains.

 

　　The history of picture books, which combine visual and verbal narratives², can be traced back more than a hundred years. But according to industry insiders, picture books have only just started to boom in China in recent years.

 

　　Thanks to the rapid development of China's economy and gradual formation of the middle class, the picture book market possesses a large potential consumer market.

 

　　Wang Lijun, Director of the Comic & Media Business Department at China Publishing Group Digital Media Company says that although digital books are threatening the traditional publishing industry, Children's picture books are one of the last pillars of China's printing industry. As a result, Wang recently organized a picture book exhibition featuring the works of Chinese writers and illustrators.

 

　　"We hope to select a batch³ of picture books as part of this exhibition so as to recommend them to Chinese parents and teachers. Many visitors ask us whether we sell the books on display and want us to give them a reading list."

 

　　Zeng Xianqin visited the exhibition with her six-year-old son.

 

　　"In previous years, I didn't really notice many picture books on the market. But now, I find that there are too many to choose from. There are a lot of good pictures but I should pay careful attention when looking for the right one."

 

　　Picture book expert Yang Zhong says the picture book industry is in its infancy⁴ in China.

 

　　But she notes that talent exists within the country, and what illustrators and writers need more than anything else is a better publishing environment.

 

　　"In China, the important role of an editor has been neglected. In foreign countries, an editor plays a very important role in making a good picture book. I think an editor to a picture book is like a director to a movie. Without a good editor, it's hard to create a good product."

 

　　Yang also points out that many Chinese publishers want to make profits as soon as possible, making it impossible to create a classic picture book.

 

　　But she is optimistic about China's original picture book market because she senses the enthusiasm of its writers and illustrators as well as the demand of Chinese readers.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Ru.

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