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Stone Soup Happy Reading Alliance – Review of the Feng Zikai Author School Visit

On May 16th to 17th, The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation and the Stone Soup Happy Reading Alliance successfully hosted an “Author school visit” event. We invited Ms. Zhang Ning, author of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award winner, to visit four Hefei Alliance schools, with the aim of stimulating the reading interest and creative imagination of students in grades 3 to 4. By getting an insight into the behind-the-scenes planning how to create a successful book, the children were immersed in the joy and exploration of the allure of reading.

The author conducted lively and fascinating picture book lectures for the students, recounting not only the birth process of the characters within the books but also unraveling the wonderful journey from conception to the formation of picture books. Students were captivated by the fusion of text and illustrations, and following each lecture, there was an exhilarating Q&A session where youngsters eagerly raised their hands, posing questions filled with curiosity and creativity. The authors patiently answered, encouraging children to bravely express their thoughts, fostering an atmosphere that was both enthusiastic and encouraging. This interaction not only deepened the children’s understanding of reading but also ignited their curiosity for creation.

Spanning two days, the “Author into Campus” event enabled hundreds of elementary school students to experience firsthand the joys of reading and the creation of story books. We really felt that this experience enriched the campus culture with the input from our esteemed guest.  This positive interaction again proves, that by bringing picture book authors directly to the students, interest in reading picture books sparked; sowing the seeds of creativity and imagination.

Participating schools universally expressed that such activities greatly enriched the children’s intellectual world and played a vital role in cultivating positive, long lasting reading habits and unleashing creative potential. Th Foundation will continue to devote ourselves to promoting such high-quality cultural exchange event where possible. Let’s look forward together to the next, even more wonderful, “Author School Visit” journey!