Poetry nurtures the souls of young children.

The children's poetry collection "The City of Many Wonders" by poet and journalist Ho Huy Son presents an image of Ho Chi Minh City through the innocent, vibrant lens of childhood, and also reflects the poetic effort to build and nurture the spiritual world of the younger generation in the digital age.

The poetry collection "City of Many Wonders" by poet Ho Huy Son.

A method of "psychological therapy".

The rapid development of digital technology provides children with a life full of conveniences but also exposes them to considerable invisible pressures. The overwhelming flow of information and the constant impact of digital devices make it difficult for children to connect with real life, develop critical thinking, and recognize and express emotions. Stress, anxiety, loneliness, and communication difficulties are becoming increasingly evident in children.

Beautiful stories and poems filled with love and empathy thus become a spiritual anchor, helping children live in an open space, develop their creativity, and find comfort, connection, and balance in a flat world .

Responding to the demands of the times, poet Ho Huy Son, in his poetry collection "The City of Many Wonders," uses poetry as a catalyst, a bridge between children and reality, opening up a vibrant world for children, arousing their curiosity and imagination, and inspiring them to actively explore and experience the city where they grow up.

Poet Ho Huy Son.

When discussing the psychological pressure faced by children in the digital age, the poet asserted: "Children also face their own age-related pressures. In this context, literature has been and continues to be a very useful form of mental therapy that many people seem to overlook. Through literature, we are soothed, comforted, and nurtured spiritually."

"Compared to prose, poetry is easier to read, memorize, and remember, and it's also easier to convey to children love for their homeland, family, and nature... In addition, children's poetry helps them develop rich associations and imagination. As mentioned, with its characteristic innocence and purity, children's poetry also helps them find balance in the face of the pressures they are currently facing," the poet expressed.

The poetry collection "The City of Many Wonders" contains 40 poems about Ho Chi Minh City and its familiar landmarks such as Turtle Lake, Ben Thanh Market, the Botanical Garden, Nguyen Hue Flower Street… along with heartwarming images: free iced tea stands by the roadside, bread boxes supporting those in need, or trucks heading to disaster-stricken areas…

The artwork conveys a sense of purity and youthfulness.

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The works depict a city that is beautiful both in its scenery and in its people. For poet Ho Huy Son, poetry is the most suitable means of expressing the emotions of life into the inner world of human beings. In this collection of poems, he has used many poetic forms: three-word, four-word, five-word... to make it easier for young children to read and memorize... thus making it easier for them to understand and empathize.

Writing for children, Ho Huy Son portrays the city through the eyes and mindset of a child, filled with excitement, wonder, and delight. Through a child's perspective, many "strange" things beckon them to explore and discover. Love and pride for the city are thus kindled.

For example, in the poem "The Checked Scarf," the author writes: "Not flashy/ Truly simple/ Scarf morning and evening/ Sowing fond memories!" The image of the checked scarf, representing the identity of Southern Vietnam, is depicted with familiar, genuine, and incredibly endearing language, suitable for a child's perspective. This is also the pure sentiment the author instills in the reader's soul, helping to foster understanding and attachment to national identity.

A lovely poem about the checkered scarf of Southern Vietnam.

Through images that are both familiar and unfamiliar, the poet also conveys his immense love for his homeland; for the land, the people, and the soul of the South. He hopes to present young readers with a miniature city, a "journey" through books for young people from afar, sparking their interest and fostering their love for the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.

"For young children, I hope this will be a 'city tour,' giving them the opportunity to visit and explore a city over 300 years old through poetry. The poetry collection is entirely for children, so I want to empower them to the fullest: to read, experience, and love the city in their own way," the poet confided.

The gap in the routine needs to be filled.

According to poet Ho Huy Son, children's poetry currently has great potential, but the most important issue is that reading and purchasing power remain too low. In the 2025-2026 school year, there will be approximately 26 million students nationwide, yet, except for author Nguyen Nhat Anh, children's books by other authors are printed in modest quantities of only 1,000-2,000 copies. Clearly, not only children's poetry, but other genres are also facing a common "bottleneck," and the situation can only improve when we cultivate a habit of regular reading among both parents and children.

This is an issue that requires the joint efforts of families, schools, and creative artists. Children's needs have changed; compared to previous generations, children today require more from literary works—something engaging, captivating, and psychologically appropriate.

Although the themes in contemporary children's literature mostly revolve around family, friends, teachers, plants, and animals—familiar topics for a long time—"The City of Many Wonders" reveals many new elements used by the author in its content: wit, playfulness, and a touch of humor and naivety—in keeping with the trends of the times. Accompanied by the colorful illustrations of artist Lac An, the poetry collection opens up a vibrant, colorful, and free artistic space for children to explore.

The works also carry traditional educational messages and instill national pride.

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In addition, two other extremely important factors contributing to the formation of reading habits in children are family and school. Children today spend more than half of their day studying at school, attending extra classes, doing homework, etc., so they have very little time for reading poetry or recreational books. Therefore, the cooperation of the family is crucial. After school, children return home and spend time with their parents; this is the ideal time for parents to encourage reading, and it also provides a space for family members to interact and connect with each other.

Regarding this matter, poet Ho Huy Son shared: "In my observation, in recent years, parents have shown greater interest in enriching their children's minds through reading. The image I often see when I go to bookstores is parents and children choosing books together, patiently waiting for the child to read. Therefore, I believe that as long as many parents still believe in the power of books and poetry, reading poetry and books aloud to children will be a regular activity."

With its pure and innocent spirit, the poetry collection also helps awaken the inner child in each person, allowing older readers to once again relive the innocent, carefree feeling of a city with "so many wonders" waiting to be discovered.

JADE

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tho-ca-nuoi-duong-tam-hon-tre-nho-post968612.html