Children's Literature: Promises a bumper year

The Power of Memory

Launched in 2016, the book series Writing for Little Things by Kim Dong Publishing House is loved by readers for its small essay collections about simple, familiar things in life. Recently, this book series has continued to add two works: Missing Fragrance Lands (Trang Thanh) and Love Land (Tran Thi Thuy Linh).

Writer Vo Thu Huong interacts with students of Dang Tan Tai Secondary School (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: NVCC

In it, poet Trang Thanh takes readers back to the Northern countryside through “reminiscent lands” with gardens filled with canna flowers, green lotus ponds in summer…; while Tran Thi Thuy Linh takes readers back to the West, which the author calls “the land of nostalgia” with bustling boats on the river, simple and rustic roadside stalls…

As a famous author of historical novels, after Bach Dang Noi Song (Literature Publishing House, 2011) and Hung Binh (Tre Publishing House, 2018), writer Dang Ngoc Hung suddenly made his name in children's literature with the work Khu dong dong dong (Tre Publishing House). The work takes readers back to 50 years ago, when Thang Long Bridge was officially started, tens of thousands of cadres, workers and employees from all over were mobilized to the construction site. The bridge workers' housing complex was formed from that time. Also echoing the same tone as Nam Dong Military Zone, Di troi (Binh Ca), these are all works that recreate memories of a time and are widely welcomed by readers.

One thing in common is that the above works are all written from the author's vivid and emotional memories, which is a prominent feature of Vietnamese children's literature from the past to the present. It is from this writing style that many works have remained in the hearts of readers, such as Tran Hoai Duong's "The Deep Green Region" , Vo Quang's "Hometown" , Duy Khan's "The Fierce Childhood ", and recently Thuy Chu's " The Season of Rice Blooming in the Fields" , and Tuyen Nguyen's "When Will the Old Days Come?" . In particular, we cannot fail to mention writer Nguyen Nhat Anh with a series of works that have left a mark in the hearts of readers.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Truyen, Chairman of the Council of Theory and Criticism - Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, said that the nostalgic writing style associated with childhood helps readers, especially those of the same age, to relive their own childhood, to return to the green, pure land of their childhood. However, the disadvantage of this writing style is that it sometimes becomes unfamiliar to today's children.

“Bringing the childhood of decades ago with so many words, actions, thoughts, spaces, events… closer to the lives and psychology of children today is not easy. This not only requires life experience, courage, and love for childhood, but also requires the author’s talent for transforming materials and the art of complete transformation aimed at young readers,” said Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Truyen.

Promising comebacks

Up to this point, the first Kim Dong Literature Award (ending on March 31, expected to award prizes in June 2025) has published nearly 30 works of prose and poetry. Among them, there are many familiar names, promising to bring children a sumptuous literary "feast". These include Snowy Summer (Gia Bao), Loving Small Hamlet (Dao Phong Lan), Flock of Lambs Flying Over the City (Huynh Trong Khang), Heart of the Island (Ho Huy Son), Country of Water (Phat Duong)...

Students excitedly participate in the exchange program "I love the history of my country" at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street

Known as a prominent young writer in the West today, after the novel 100 windows (2022), Phat Duong surprised everyone when he released the poetry collection Xu nuoc . 29 poems accompanied by colorful paintings by Thuy Phan, recreate the scenery and beloved life of the West with images of dismantling rafts, floating markets, dragon boat races, Khmer pagodas...

“Through this collection of poems, I want to preserve memories of the land where I live, so that children will love and preserve traditions. Moreover, I also cherish the desire to connect generations. Parents with knowledge and memories, children with creative and new perspectives, when reading poems and looking at paintings together, maybe everyone will be closer, have a reason to talk and understand each other better,” poet Phat Duong shared.

After the success of the novel Hot Ca Chu Du Truong Sa (5th National Book Award - 2022), recently, writer Bui Tieu Quyen continued to introduce more children's works such as Gray Tiger Crossing the River, and recently Gray Ngo Going to the City , extending the journey of the dog Gray Tiger on Thieng Island with a new adventure, full of attraction and no less interesting.

Writing is a personal task, however, the recent excitement of children's literature has had some impact on authors. Writer Bui Tieu Quyen expressed: "If children's literature were to become quiet, I would still write stories that I personally love and appreciate. But the excitement of children's literature today makes me very happy, feeling as if I were stepping into a field of flowers and grass with countless colors and scents, with good and meaningful stories. And I am also honored to contribute a small part to that pure field, quietly observing and sharing with fellow writers and also silently watering my own flowers."

After only the first 3 months of 2025, domestic children's literature has had a series of new works introduced, such as: Journey to the West in the leaf village (Ngo Khac Tai), Don't open the door for strangers (Cat Tuong), The last farm and Paradise hamlet (Pham Cong Luan), Children of the island (Truong Thi Thuong Huyen), Wake up with the sun (Nguyen Thu Hang), Stories of Dong Hop land (Xuan Ba), Let spring stay (Nguyen Minh Ngoc), From the vegetable fields at Cuc Cu farm (Dy Duyen), Hat De's new home (Ha Mi), The river goes and grows (Nguyen Minh Khiem), Looking for the Tu-Bo land (Tran Duc Tien)...

HO SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/van-hoc-thieu-nhi-hua-hen-mot-nam-boi-thu-post788318.html