Zhang Mingzhou, president of the International Board on Books for Young People. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
With schools closed, no playing with friends allowed and parents working at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many youngsters around the world have a lot of questions about what's going on.
A recent UN report shows that as of mid-April, more than 1.5 billion youngsters have been affected by the school closures that have been enacted in around 188 countries
To help them better understand and cope with the situation, as well as learn about the people on the front line fighting against the virus, a website called Life Tree Books (www.lifetreebooks.org.cn) was launched on April 2－International Children's Book Day－offering free access to quality children's books.
Eleven children's books have so far been translated into more than 10 languages and are available on the website. They can help to explain COVID-19 and the long and complicated relationship between humans and viruses, and offer practical advice about how to prevent the disease from spreading.
Within its first week, the website was visited about 20,000 times by visitors from 53 countries and regions.
"We hope that the platform can answer children's questions about the disease and help them become lifetime readers and learners," says Zhang Mingzhou, the project's initiator and president of the International Board on Books for Young People.
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Established in 1953 in Switzerland, IBBY is a nonprofit organization committed to bringing books and children together. With its secretariat in Basel, it is known for inaugurating the Hans Christian Andersen Awards, the world's highest recognition for children's literature creators, IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award and IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Awards. IBBY is also known as the organizer of the International Children's Book Day and the International children's literature journal, Bookbird. Elected in September 2018, Zhang is the first Chinese person to chair the organization.
A recent UN report shows that as of mid-April, more than 1.5 billion youngsters have been affected by the school closures that have been enacted in around 188 countries.
"Facing the unprecedented challenge, we must take action to protect our children. We are family, and they are our future," Zhang says.
"Our global project can help children worldwide get through the coronavirus and enhance international communication and understanding," Zhang says.
When explaining the website's name, he says the website has been created because of the pandemic, but "like a seed, it will grow into a giant tree when the coronavirus is over". As for the website's poster and logo, he feels very grateful to the designer, Brazilian illustrator Roger Mello, laureate of the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award, for his excellent work, his passion and generosity.
Zhang says that, as time goes on, more children's books on COVID-19 are being sent to him for multiple language translation.
Iranian writer Ali-Asghar Seyyedabadi's Hannah, Our Hero is one example, teaching children how to take care of themselves during the pandemic.
Elena Perikleous, writer and president of IBBY Cyprus, has translated her latest children's book into English and emailed it to Zhang, hoping the book can be translated into multiple languages to reach more children.
"As the pandemic spreads across the world, an increasing number of publishers and writers are creating books full of color and life to help children understand and get through the pandemic," Zhang says.
The poster and logo for the Life Tree Books' website designed by Brazilian illustrator Roger Mello. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Joint efforts
As the first country to report the disease, Chinese publishers have swung into action, creating many coronavirus-themed children's books, which is impressive, Zhang says.
Inspired by these books, Zhang initiated the program on Feb 29, calling for Chinese publishers to donate their international copyrights of the published COVID-19 children's books and calling for translators to help translate the books for free.
Within a week, Zhang received copyright donations for around 60 books from more than 50 publishers, writers and illustrators. More than 400 translators applied, with about 200 from Shanghai International Studies University.
"I have been deeply touched by their devotion in the past month. We have 'fought' shoulder-by-shoulder in our way to combat the virus," Zhang says, adding that it is "a miracle" for the website to be launched with just a month's preparation.
For the translation work, Wu Gang, deputy dean of the Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation of Shanghai International Studies University, is the head of the program's translation team.
"All the students and teachers from the Graduate Institute of Interpretation have taken part in the project. Using their translation skills, they have made their own contribution in the global fight against the virus," Wu says.
Zhang Yanran, head of the Spanish translation group and a student at the Institute, says she has always believed that children's books have a magic power to give readers the courage to conquer difficulties.
Ma Ainong, well-known for her translation of the Harry Potter series, translated Virus, Virus, You Cannot Scare Me!, which is a pop-up book, enabling parents and children to learn about how viruses spread and what people can do to protect themselves effectively.
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She tells Beijing Daily that books always provide children the best company, especially during difficult times, such as the pandemic.
"These books, in diverse ways, help children gain knowledge and power in the face of the crisis," Liu Lei, a senior publisher and leader of the program's design team, tells China Press Publication Radio Film and Television Journal.
The project will be promoted in IBBY's 81 national sections, Zhang says, adding that there will also be promotion activities at major book fairs, including Bologna Children's Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair and Beijing International Book Fair.
