Gia Lai - A bright spot in children's literature

(GLO) - In the flow of literary and artistic life in Gia Lai, children's literature not only has a larger number of writers but also shows generational continuity, subject matter diversity, and fresh signals from young writers.

A welcome continuation

When discussing children's literature, it's impossible to overlook the poet Pham Ho (from An Nhon, 1926-2007), a prominent figure in modern Vietnamese children's literature. He left a profound mark with his imaginative world of poetry, close to nature and the childlike spirit. His poems have become cherished childhood memories for generations of students.

Following in the footsteps of Pham Ho was Nguyen Van Chuong (1943 - 2015), a native of Hanoi but deeply connected to Binh Dinh after 1975. He left behind a series of works including fables, narrative poems, and poems such as: The Diligent Tree (1982), The Green Star (1982), The Little Bamboo Shoot (1986), The Praying Mantis Knight (1986), The Sunflower (1999), Grandma's Gift (2003)... His writings are simple yet rich in educational value, helping children enter the world of nature with innocence and love.

In addition, there is writer Nguyen My Nu with dozens of books of essays and stories for children, such as "Mountain Eyes" (2004), "Summer's Gift" (2007), "Following a Man to the Sea" (2017), "Picking Up" (2023), "Let's Tiptoe Together" (2023)... Her works demonstrate her keen observation of children's lives and her emotionally rich storytelling style.

Instead of imposing rigid moral lessons, she often allows her characters to mature through everyday experiences and emotions. Other notable authors of children's literature from the same generation include Hoàng Trọng Thắng, Phạm Đức Long, Bùi Thị Xuân Mai, and Nguyễn Quang Tuệ…

From the beginning of the 21st century to the present, the number of writers for children has been significantly increased. Many authors such as Moc An, Nguyen Dang Thuy Trang, Nguyen Tran Thien Loc, Mai Dau Hu, Le Thi Kim Son, Truong Cong Tuong, My Tien… have added new colors to the local children's literature scene. Recently, more writers have dedicated their efforts to this genre, such as Mai Thin, Tran Quang Loc, Bui Duy Phong…

Author Mai Dau Hu introduces her published children's book. Photo: Provided by the author.

Dr. Le Nhat Ky, who has spent many years conducting in-depth research on children's literature, shared: "After the merger of the new Gia Lai province, the number of writers for children has increased even more. It's encouraging that successive generations continue this tradition, contributing to affirming the position of Gia Lai's children's literature in the national literary landscape."

New publications

In reality, writing for children has never been an easy task. Writers need not only a rich imagination but also the innocence of spirit, the ability to see the world through the eyes of a child. That's why many authors turn to children's literature as a way to reinvent themselves, to rediscover the innocent emotions amidst the complexities of life.

Poet Mai Thìn, former Chairman of the Binh Dinh Literature and Arts Association, said that after retiring, he had more time to observe life around him, especially the children in the small neighborhood where he lives. The innocence and loveliness of "Cu Bắp" and "Cu Tít" inspired him to write the children's poetry collection "Lest the Clock Eats It Up." He is currently selecting from over 40 poems to finalize the manuscript before publication.

Author Le Thi Kim Son signs books for readers. Photo: NP

Meanwhile, writer Le Thi Kim Son has chosen a path rich in fairytale elements. Her two children's story collections, "Midday Fairytales" and "Beautiful Horns," both published in 2024, reflect everyday life but subtly incorporate elements of wonder and dreams.

She doesn't focus too much on conveying didactic messages, but lets the story develop naturally according to children's psychological logic. "Currently, I'm finishing a manuscript for a children's novel about the Central Highlands and hope to release it to readers soon," writer Kim Son shared.

Another prominent figure is Mai Dau Hu. After her poetry collection "Leaves" (2019) and short story collection "Stories from the Deep Green Forest" (2024), she is completing the manuscript for "The Four Fluffy Cats," scheduled for publication this year. Simultaneously, she is also writing a novel about the friendship between an elephant and an ant, a highly symbolic story about the harmonious coexistence of differences.

Such ideas show that children's literature in Gia Lai is paying more attention to modern humanistic messages such as respecting differences, learning to share, and living together in harmony.

Young author Huyen Thao is creating illustrations for her works. Photo: Ngo Phong

Interestingly, it's not just adults writing for children; children themselves are beginning to participate in this creative movement. The case of Nguyen Huyen Thao (a 5th grade student at Nguyen Van Cu Primary School, Quy Nhon Nam Ward) is a noteworthy example, having recently released her novella, "The Beautiful World of Lazy Sam and His Friends." The work depicts the animal world with compassion and love, and the illustrations were also created by her.

The emergence of young writers like Huyen Thao not only brings a breath of fresh air to children's literature in Gia Lai but also opens up hope for the next generation of writers, contributing to a diverse landscape for children's literature in the province.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/gia-lai-diem-sang-van-hoc-thieu-nhi-post588530.html