Journal for children celebrates 70 years
A series of activities were launched in Shanghai on Monday to celebrate the 70th birthday of “Children’s Epoch,” the first literature publication for children set up after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The journal was established in April 1950 by then Chinese Vice President Soong Ching Ling, who wrote its name and foreword. In her last message to children, she had written that she wished they could grow like trees to become pillars of society. A number of famous writers, such as Ba Jin, Ye Shengtao and Chen Bochui, and painters including Feng Ziqi, Zhang Leping and Huang Yongyu have contributed to the journal.
In 2007, it was merged with the China Welfare Institute Publishing House and three years later, two other magazines – “Happy Sprouts” and “Happy Babies” – were added to the monthly journal to cover readers aged between 3 and 12.
Eight writers, including Zhao Lihong, Qin Wenjun and Chen Danyan, were awarded as “Ambassadors of April Camphor Tree” in recognition of their contributions to children’s literature.
Meanwhile, the publisher of the journal also signed agreements with several social media platforms, such as video-sharing website Bilibili and podcast platform Himalaya, and animation producer Benlai Pictures to promote traditional Chinese culture with picture books and cartoons based on the publications.
The journal also launched a digital database on Monday to enable readers to read, search and share.
An exhibition was unveiled where visitors can review the journal’s history by looking at previous editions and other material.
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Yang Meiping / SHINE
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Covers of "Children's Epoch" are displayed at the exhibition to celebrate the journal's 70th birthday.
Yang Meiping / SHINE
The China Welfare Institute Publishing House launched a Chinese children’s digital reading center together with a reading platform of People’s Daily and online literature platform China Literature Ltd. The project includes a sub-project to encourage the creation of children’s literature and another to provide quality literature for children from impoverished areas.