“The Explorary Path of Joint Creation of Chinese and Foreign Picture Books” Event Was Held at the 61st Bologna Children’s Book Fair

On April 8， 2024， during the 61st Bologna Children’s Book Fair， the event titled “The Explorary Path of Joint Creation of Picture Books by Chinese and Foreign Authors” was hosted by Relay Publishing House in the China Joint Pavilion. This year， China， being the “market of focus country” at the 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair， showcased the rich outcomes of Chinese children’s book publishing on the global stage， promoting the new vistas of the Chinese market and enhancing international exchange and cooperation. The event aimed to foster collaboration and artistic exploration with the vision of cultural prosperity， enhancing the exchange and cooperation in children’s book publishing between China and other countries， and providing high-quality， content-rich works for young readers worldwide.

Chinese participants included Cao Wenxuan， a children’s literature writer and winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award; Bai Bing， editor-in-chief at Relay Publishing House; Chen Hui， professor at the School of Literature of Beijing Normal University and director of the China Picture Book Creation Research Center; Li Hongqiang， general editor at People’s Literature Publishing House; Tang Ling， deputy editor-in-chief at Relay Publishing House; and Li Yaning， head of the children’s division at Relay Publishing House. International guests included children’s literature writer and publisher Alain Serres， senior editor Alexandra Gnech-Ruscone from Italy’s Guinti Publishing Group， and Yu Jiyoung， chief editor at Korea’s Book Bear Publishing. The discussion revolved around favored themes in joint Chinese and foreign picture book creation， as well as the significance and experiences of international collaboration， generating lively debates among the participants. The session was moderated by Hai Mengxue， editor at the infant division of Relay Publishing House.

What qualities make an excellent picture book truly global? Cao Wenxuan believes that first， a picture book is more than just an illustrated book; it needs profound cultural depth and creativity. Exceptional picture books should reflect the author’s erudition， knowledge， and imagination. Secondly， the concepts behind outstanding picture books should be unique and clever， with content that resonates emotionally and evokes empathy among readers. The content of picture books should reveal the mysteries and truths of the world through the lens of seemingly minor details. The creation of picture books should naturally incorporate national culture while emphasizing literary quality， human exploration， and narrative storytelling.

Alexandria Gnech-Ruscone passionately shared her experience publishing The Bronze Sunflower， highlighting Cao Wenxuan’s literary value and artistic merit. She also noted that the collaboration between authors and illustrators requires continuous communication and adjustment to achieve a natural balance between text and illustrations， with publishers playing a very active role in the creative process.

Children’s literature writer and editor-in-chief of Relay Publishing， Bai Bing， stated that the collaborative creation of picture books by Chinese and foreign writers and illustrators introduces a new model of cooperation to the world， bringing vitality to children’s book publishing. Artists and writers from different nations and cultures allow for the exchange and interaction of cultural and artistic elements， resulting in unexpected artistic qualities and spiritual depths in picture books. At the same time， they consider the needs of children from their own countries as well as the reading and appreciation habits of children from other countries， undoubtedly making their picture books more beloved by a diverse range of readers and creating more opportunities in copyright trade， thus attracting a broader audience to the global children’s book market. This artistic and cultural exchange enriches the creation of picture books， advancing the development of picture books in China and globally and fostering better communication among young readers worldwide.

Alain Serres emphasized that in collaborative creations， the illustrator’s freedom can bring unique interpretations to the text and may even uncover aspects and ideas the author hadn’t considered. He further argued that publishers are not just facilitators of the book’s publication but also play an active role in its creation. Alain also stressed the importance of the “spirit of childhood，” which he believes is an area that artificial intelligence and algorithms cannot touch， representing an invaluable human treasure.

Chen Hui， a professor at Beijing Normal University’s School of Literature and director of the China Picture Book Creation Research Center， emphasized the complementary strengths in Chinese-foreign picture book collaborations. Chinese writers typically possess a profound cultural depth and solid narrative skills， while foreign illustrators may bring unique insights and innovations in visual arts and illustration techniques. Chen Hui discussed the foundations for successful collaboration in picture books， including the relationship between text and images， the interplay between literature and art， and the integration and achievements of diverse cultural and historical traditions from different regions. She believes that successful collaboration is based on mutual respect and understanding， requiring creators to jointly explore and innovate.

This event was a distinctive forum that deeply explored the significance， methods， and future trends of the joint creation of picture books by Chinese and foreign authors. Guests from both China and abroad unanimously agreed that the joint creation of picture books by Chinese and foreign writers and artists fosters cultural exchanges and collisions， bringing new creativity and perspectives to picture books. This provides more diverse， rich， and valuable reading resources for young readers worldwide， enriching the content and form of picture books and enhancing the communication and cooperation between the picture book communities and publishing sectors internationally. It plays a significant role in advancing the creation and development of picture books globally and fostering communication among young readers across different countries.