Harry Potter in China
People’s Daily Online has a commentary about why Harry Potter
- “…quite a number of children’s books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment. Children often have a feeling of being ‘educated’.”
- “children’s reading materials involving ‘idiom stories’ and ‘Chinese talents’ stories’, though always in different covers, are usually much the same or plagiarized. One knows the ending as early as in the beginning.”
I’ve written about this problem before. The main reason I don’t read Chinese books to my son is because I’m just plain lazy. Another reason is that many of the books are not very good quality; they’re often printed on flimsy material, have amateur illustrations, and the stories are not engaging.
English may be the language of world commerce, but Chinese is spoken by at least two billion people–both in and out of China. I think it’s time for some fluent Chinese speakers to seize the opportunity and let their creative juices flow.
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POSTED IN: Children's Books (6 to 10 yrs)
8 opinions for Harry Potter in China
Tammy
Aug 6, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Lei, I know you need something else to do [grin]. Why not write one yourself and see about publishing it?
Lei
Aug 6, 2005 at 8:36 pm
Tammy, Thanks for encouragement! Unfortunately my Chinese is pretty much limited to conversational and I’m too clueless about some aspects of Chinese history and culture. I can just imagine the research I’d have to do for a short children’s book not to mention taking remedial Chinese classes! LOL
Qadira
Aug 6, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Perhaps you could co-author with someone fluent in written Chinese. If the kids love Harry Potter, they’d probably love nonsense stories (like Too Many Lollipops: http://www.biblio.com/detai...)
or science stories ( the New Way Things Work: http://www.houghtonmifflinb...)
too.
Cuz you have so much free time in which you do nothing! *har har har!*
Lei
Aug 6, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Q, That’s a good idea. I’m not too interested writing children’s books, though…. :P What we need more of is not translations, but original stories that encompass Chinese culture and values.
Qadira
Aug 8, 2005 at 9:41 am
I didn’t mean to imply translating books, just that kids get bored with preachy-teachy books and I’m guessing that’s a universal trait among kids regardless of country :) So maybe they need some goofy fun stuff, or some modern science stuff. Culturally valid and using references from one’s own identity as a people, but not "old & stuffy".
I’m not interested in writing childrens’ books either ;)
Lei
Aug 8, 2005 at 11:22 am
Q, Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m guessing that most of the stories written in China are slanted towards their way of thinking if you know what I mean. That doesn’t mean we Chinese speakers outside of China have to put up with that. Maybe I’ll be inspired someday or at least encourage others to do it. :)
Rosie
Aug 8, 2005 at 11:38 pm
I find this very interesting - because as someone who enjoys actually "using" Chinese as opposed to sitting in class droning on and on, and as someone who loves reading, I wish there were more easy to read and interesting childrens’ books in Chinese. I’ve looked in bookshops, and found mainly Disney-related things, which are hardly very fun to read, or strange Chinese things that, as you mentioned, don’t look very engaging! I’m going to hang on to the idea of writing childrens’ books in Chinese… I’m not at the right level yet, but it’s something I would love to do!
Lei
Aug 9, 2005 at 3:35 am
Rosie, I can’t wait to see what Chinese children’s stories you come up with. We’ll be one of your first readers. :)
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