Parents Must Read & Red Mud
Top 10 Children’s Books of 2015
TOP1An incredible journey
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Author: Allen Becker, Nova Press (Giving Tree Picture Books)
Story Synopsis:A little girl accidentally comes across a magical red paintbrush that makes anything she draws come true. She draws a door on her bedroom wall. When the door opens, she finds herself in another world, and an incredible journey begins… This book tells a thrilling adventure story using only pictures. The images are rich in detail, the plot progresses with a gripping plot, and the originally static pictures are filled with movement like a movie.
Reasons for being on the list:This book truly lives up to its title! The idea of making everything come true is not new, but the author’s ingenious design of the castle and spaceship, along with the exquisite use of color, makes the fantasy world seem tangible. After a thrilling and wonderful journey, the author also provides an unexpected ending. As a picture book, this is a masterpiece!
TOP2Goodnight, Moon
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By Margaret Wise Brown
Photo｜[US] Clement Hurd
Translated by Ajia Beijing United Publishing House (Tianlue Children’s Books)
Story Synopsis:In the big green room, a little rabbit was lying on the bed.
“Good night, room. Good night, moon.” He said good night to all the familiar things in the softly lit room: the painting of the three little bears sitting on the chair, the clock and the socks, the kitten and the gloves, and everything else.
Reasons for being on the list:This book, nearly seventy years old, is still frequently read before bed by children and adults around the world, accompanying and witnessing generations of bedtime reading experiences. Its concise, rhythmic text conveys the tranquility and peace of approaching sleep with a sense of ritual. Amidst the fading light and shadow, the rhythmic alternation of black and white and color images leads children to recall the details and warmth of home. Reading this book builds a foundation of love and security in a child’s childhood.
TOP3 Strange Eggs
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Author: Emily Gravett
Translated by Inspector Carrot, 21st Century Publishing (Macmillan Century Children’s Books)
Story Synopsis:All birds have an egg of their own, except for the duck. One day, the duck found an egg, a huge egg. He thought it was the most beautiful egg in the world, but the other birds disagreed. They thought the egg was extremely strange! However, the duck was unmoved and calmly began to incubate the egg. He waited and waited… until one day, the huge eggshell
With a “click”, the baby duck was born.
Reasons for being on the list:It is humorous and concise, and can be used as a model for learning creative writing. If you try to be the editor or author of this book, you will find that if you add more, it will be too much, and if you subtract, it will be too little. It really is just the right level.
TOP4 Legs that keep growing
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Illustrated by Fukami Haruto [Japan] Translated by Peng Yi
Xinjiang Youth Publishing House
Story Synopsis:Mr. Hiccup ate an extra-large broad bean, and his left leg began to stretch continuously, stretching through the woods, the bridge, and onto the street… Just when all the adults were terrified and helpless, a little girl used the simplest and most incredible method to make Mr. Hiccup’s leg return to its original position.
Reasons for being on the list:A leg that keeps growing gives the story a surprising start, and the ending is so lighthearted that it makes you laugh. A story that is full of common sense, childlike fun, and wisdom will keep readers hooked.
5. The Big Book of Mouse’s Fears
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Author: Emily Gravett, Translated by: Argentinian
21st Century Publishing (Macmillan Century Children’s Books)
Story Synopsis:There are many things that the little mouse is afraid of, such as sudden footsteps, dark corners, or trapped delicacies…Besides the fascinating content, the page design is also unique and creative, integrating the content. For example, the mouse’s gnaw marks on the paper and the yellowing effect of the paper after urination make readers feel the real fear of the mouse in the book.
Reasons for being on the list:While this is a book full of holes and holes about various fears, it offers readers of all ages a hearty reading pleasure, becoming a soothing “book of fear” and allowing readers to appreciate the humorous creative power of author Emily Gravett, who treads an unconventional path! Although the characters are mice, the cleverly designed content accurately presents and deconstructs the quintessential human emotion of “fear,” with numerous implications for real life. The creative techniques used in the book, such as collage and hole-digging, are not gimmicky; rather, they are creatively and seamlessly integrated into the story, becoming part of the content and inspiring children to actively explore while reading.
TOP6 Then, spring comes
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Text by Julie Fogliano. Photos by Erin Stead.
Translated by Esther 21st Century Publishing (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Story Synopsis:Winter passed, but spring hadn’t arrived yet. Fed up with the barren, yellow ground covering the hills and fields, the little boy and his dog decided to plant seeds and create a vibrant garden. They dug, dug holes, and planted seeds. They watched, played, and waited… until the earth quietly shifted, and the barren, yellow ground began to look a little different… That was the sign of spring, and it was on its way.
Reasons for being on the list:Children’s growth may seem slow, but it unexpectedly brings about profound changes. This story narrates the arrival of spring and captures the unique qualities of childhood growth. The boy who sows the seeds of spring, using a child’s genuine curiosity, sensitivity, perseverance, and anticipation for beautiful things, conveys a story that blends poetry and Zen. The images are refreshing and tranquil, the language is soothing, and the text and images blend seamlessly like a gentle spring breeze. Turning the pages teaches us to be still and wait, while also experiencing the peace and joy of fulfilling our wishes.
TOP7100 bus
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Written by Mike Smith. Translated by Sun Huiyang.
21st Century Publishing (Macmillan Century Children’s Books)
Story Synopsis:The bus traveled from town to town, from country to country…crossing oceans and seas. New passengers constantly joined, and they built the bus higher and higher, until it reached the sky. Six months later, the bus could no longer move. Was that the end of the journey?
Reasons for being on the list:With the turn of the steering wheel, the driver, once living a routine life, takes his passengers on a journey of freedom, filled with the unknown, imagination, and anticipation, unwavering and unrestrained. As the bus moves forward, the rising height of the cabin records the driver and passengers’ carefree journey. The extra-long pull-out pages at the end evoke the reader’s emotions, creating a dramatic twist and turn, a favorite among children! In the words of a reader, “This hundred-decker bus, which can go anywhere, is worth a ride for adults and children alike!”
8. Sam and David Go Digging
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Text by Mike Barnett; Photos by Jon Klassen
Translated by Yang Lingling and Peng Yi, Tomorrow Publishing House (Xinyi World Selected Picture Books)
Story Synopsis:Sam and David dug a hole, and they kept digging until they found something remarkable. They finally had a truly remarkable day. And guess what they found? This is a remarkable book that reveals unexpected treasures to children.
Reasons for being on the list:This is a story written from a child’s perspective. The visuals are striking, and the story is full of tension. As the book reveals, children prioritize action over results, prioritizing the process. While they may miss out on what adults consider “remarkable,” the “meaningless” satisfaction of exploration is genuine and pure.
9. A Smart Fish
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Author: Chris Wormel (UK) Translated by Chang Li
Comic Book Publishing House (Popular Picture Book Library)
Story Synopsis:A long, long time ago, in the deep, deep ocean… there was a little fish! He wasn’t the biggest fish, nor the bravest, but he was the smartest. What he wanted most was to walk on land, but everyone knew fish couldn’t walk on land…
Reasons for being on the list:This book captivates children with vibrant images and stirs their hearts with lingering stories. It effortlessly shares the grand themes of development and evolution, emphasizing that intelligence is merely a fleeting glimmer; the profound humanistic perspective is what children truly gain from this book.
TOP10Open this little book
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Text by Jesse Krauss (USA) Photos by Suzy Lee (Korean)
Translated by Fu Jian, Beijing United Publishing Company (Houlang)
Story Synopsis:Opening the Little Red Book, a little ladybug is leisurely sipping coffee while flipping through a small green book. A little frog leaps from the green book, preparing to open a small orange book. A big white rabbit trots out of the orange book, preparing to read a small yellow book… The colorful little books nestle within one another, and the animals within them simultaneously enter the world of others’ reading. Finally, as we close each little book, we say goodbye to our friends one by one. At this moment, the children see themselves and understand the beauty and joy of shared reading time.
Reasons for being on the list:A fun book, beautifully designed, like a Russian toy “Matryoshka” — a big doll inside a small doll, which in turn is inside an even smaller doll — the whole story is perfectly connected to the “shell” of the paper book.
About the annual top 10 children’s booksIn 2005, Parents Must Read Parenting Media and Red Mud Book Club jointly launched the “Top 10 Children’s Books of the Year”—a children’s book list unique to Chinese media, themed “Reading Illuminates Childhood.” For 11 years, the “Top 10 Children’s Books of the Year” rankings, through a multi-dimensional selection process, have highlighted the professionalism and accessibility of the books selected. Their unique credibility and influence have resonated deeply with thousands of young parents, becoming a guiding light for a growing number of Chinese parents in their children’s book choices. For over a decade, Parents Must Read Media has recommended thousands of excellent children’s books to millions of Chinese families, disseminating new insights into parent-child reading from experts in various fields, including child psychology, education, reading, literature, art enlightenment, and picture book creation. Furthermore, it has provided a valuable platform for communication and discussion among parents, early childhood educators, and publishers.
