A book-sharing event for the national comic GuoGuo and Guo’s Dad was held in Beijing

Si Nan

A meet-and-greet for the comic GuoGuo and Guos Dad was recently hosted at the SKP RENDEZ-VOUS concept bookstore.

The books author， Gao Qiang， formerly a journalist for the Central Radio and Television Stations channel of finance and economics and currently the vice president of Shenzhen Cultural Property Exchange under the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China， engaged with attendees alongside renowned illustrator Gao Dai and famous publisher Li Bo to discuss the books creation， parent-child relationships， and communication techniques.

Referred to as the Chinese version of Father and Son， this book features over 200 comics， all adapted from daily dialogues between “Guos Dad” Gao Qiang and his daughter “GuoGuo，” making it a humorous and heartwarming collection of parent-child conversations. The book targets both parents and children， making it ideal for shared reading. Its vast content resonates with readers of all ages， offering valuable insights for parents and children growing together during societal transitions.

With an age difference of 44 years， the comedic， hefty father and his quirky daughter seem worlds apart. However， their relationship is one of equality and mutual respect， their exchanges reminiscent of two close friends， adding a delightful contrast for readers. GuoGuo often leaves Guos Dad speechless with her witty remarks. While he might not always grasp her feelings or wishes immediately， their open communication bridges the generational gap， showcasing the profound love between father and daughter.

The most important thing in family education is the harmonious atmosphere between the elders and the young. Setting an example， imparting knowledge and wisdom， teaching by words and deeds， and applying both kindness and authority are the necessary conditions for family education before the child grows up. The various stories and humor in the book all reflect this point.

Appreciation and companionship pervade the over 200 comics， radiating a fathers deep love.

During the event， Gao Qiang， Guos Dad， emphasized the importance of “appreciation” and “companionship” in parenting.

Parents should look for and celebrate their childs strengths. Childrens achievements and strengths should be promptly encouraged and affirmed. As parents and children grow together， over time， parents will discover that children often have insights and approaches that are more intuitive， even superior， than adults. Parents might find themselves learning from their kids.

In todays competitive environment， children face immense academic pressure， with many parents holding high expectations. Gao Qiang candidly shared that while parents naturally have hopes for their children， its vital to support them during setbacks and alleviate their stress. Dont keep “raising the stakes，” making children who are already overwhelmed feel even more lost. Instead， timely recognize and affirm what the child does well within their capability， fostering genuine self-confidence.

Speaking of companionship， todays fast-paced lifestyle and the busy nature of adult work， especially the role of fathers， often means they are on the go and have little time to spend with their children. Though Guos Dad is equally busy， he tries his best to carve out time to be with his child. For him， these moments are incredibly precious. He doesnt want to miss a single moment of his daughters growth. A cherished ritual between father and daughter is their daily fist bump routine. Even when Guos Dad is away on business， the routine persists， and GuoGuo has made it a habit. This ceremonial gesture strengthens the emotional bond between father and daughter.

The over 200 comics in the book all showcase the deep relationship of companionship and mutual support between GuoGuo and Guos Dad. Guos Dad mentioned that to support his daughters piano lessons， he would often sit in on classes. Eventually， he started taking lessons himself and， despite his age， even managed to pass level 8 in piano. This allowed him to better understand his daughters progress and feelings about the piano， and she gained a “companion” on her learning journey.

True appreciation and companionship mean trusting， respecting a childs thoughts， believing in their individuality， allowing them to grow naturally and not interfering too much. Its a form of parental wisdom.

A father plays a crucial role in his daughters growth， serving as her emotional pillar and role model. GuoGuo is a cheerful， healthy， and well-rounded child， perhaps because her father has always been present in her life.

Guos Dad didnt have his beloved daughter until 44， cherishing her all the more， yet also facing a deeper generational gap. Readers will notice that communication between Guos Dad and GuoGuo isnt always smooth. In the book， Guos Dad often appears clumsy and frequently misinterprets his daughter， making readers both laugh and sympathize. However， high-quality companionship and active communication between them have built a strong bridge. This bridge stands firm， thanks to their joint efforts. The dialogues in this book are like the bricks and tiles of that bridge. Reading between the lines， readers can feel the emotions contained within.

Gao Qiang also mentions that when communicating with children， adults need to learn an essential skill — to “shut up.” Adults often assume theyre right and can bombard children with endless lectures， but kids have their own understanding of things and can easily grow tired of such nagging. Continuing to preach has minimal effect. Its better to respect the child and lead by example rather than with words. Learning to “bite your tongue” represents humility and trust and is a form of parental communication wisdom.

GuoGuo and Guos Dad is ideal for parent-child reading， providing opportunities for bonding. I believe it can bring joyous moments to parents and children， especially fathers and their kids.