Listen to Gia Bao tell cat stories

“Soai ca Meo Mai Ngoi” and “Nong farm Hoa Dau Biec” are two very cute and attractive children's books by writer and journalist Tran Gia Bao, published by Kim Dong Publishing House in November 2023.

There was a fat cat who was adopted. He was named Lo Nghe, because of his special fur color. Lo Nghe was a happy and kind cat. Even though he lived in a well-off house, with his parents (kind landlords) and Ms. Meo - the person who picked him up and raised him, Lo Nghe still had an adventurous spirit, and liked to explore here and there.

And thanks to those adventures on the roof, he had the opportunity to show his chivalry. He sought out Ms. Cam and Ms. Nga - very ordinary people, not rich in material things but willing to give up rice, fish, meat... to a group of stray cats with a very cool name - the Tile Roof Cats Association.

When the old tiled-roof house where the stray cats were temporarily staying was demolished, Lo Nghe found a way to bring all the stray cats, including a cat that had just given birth, to her house to take shelter, to relieve hunger and thirst during the epidemic that swept through the city.

Who would have thought that a mischievous fat cat, a bit “sly”, always wanting to “fight” would become the savior of the cats. The story is innocent, very childish but also very touching. The most touching image in “Soái ca Mèo Mái Giấy” is the image of Miss Cam carrying the whole bunch of crying cats on a garbage truck, from the old tiled roof house to Lo Nghe’s house.

That strange image made “many curious people run alongside, or run past and turn their heads to look, some take out their phones to take pictures or videos . A group of cats on a tricycle, old and young, big and small, fat and thin…”.

Then the stray cats also had people to adopt them. Lo Nghe continued to follow Ms. Meo to play in the Blue Pea Flower Farm, a place with many "strange guests" ready to welcome him in the most bizarre way. Lo Nghe unexpectedly had another cat named Ca Ro as a friend, and was scared by a "ghost" who specialized in swinging on the house's rafters. But Lo Nghe still proved to be a brave cat, standing up to protect Ms. Meo from danger in a spectacular way...

The appeal of the two books is not only because the content is very familiar and lovely in the eyes of children. Gia Bao tells stories as well as… movies, extremely modern. Many parts are full of animation, opening up a whole world of rich imagination for children. Lo Nghe is also not a traditional cat.

The stylish “online” Lo Nghe chats with Ms. Meo abroad, through the computer screen and has an official fanpage… Interspersed with the clear words are extremely vivid and carefully drawn illustrations.

Cover of the book "Princess Cat with Tile Roof" and "Cyclone Pea Farm".

These two books are not only for children but also for older readers, especially those who have a great love for animals. From a cat lover, Gia Bao has cleverly conveyed his love for animals to children through these two books. From that natural love for animals, children will be able to cultivate the habit of behaving properly and lovingly towards these friends.

Tran Gia Bao was born in 1971, is both a writer and a journalist. She is the first generation, very active in the Vom Me Xanh group - Muc Tim newspaper (pen name Me Dia), the same generation as Nguyen Khac Cuong, Nguyen Danh Lam, Le Do Quynh Huong, Song Khe, Phan Duc Thuan ...

She is currently the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Newspaper (in charge of publications such as Khan Quang Do, Muc Tim, Nhi Dong, Rua Vang, etc.). Gia Bao has more than 25 years of experience in children's journalism. Working closely with children for a long time has helped her nurture the source of children's literature that is natural, lively, and imaginative, yet still connected to real life.

Her feet are “walking feet”, traveling non-stop with continuous business trips. Most of her trips are to children and students, bringing them practical joy. Despite being so busy, she still has a love for literature. This return to the literary world shows her abundant writing power.

Her published works include: “Turn away and cry” (1994), “Seagrass” (1995), “Villages on the slope” (2019), “Brilliant sadness” (collectively published - 2013), “Saigon chooses to remember the things we love” (2021)…

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