By Gina Elia

Jin Bo, a Chinese writer of children’s poetry and books, has been nominated for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen award, the highest distinction given to children’s book authors and illustrators. Here, I review three of his picture books translated from Chinese, all of which involve small elements of the natural world taking on humanoid characteristics to speak with people. They form part of the “Perfect Picture Books” series. Jin Bo’s stories illuminate the importance of keeping curiosity and joy alive both as children and as adults, whether through reading, the enjoyment of nature, or whatever else ignites that spark of wonder for us.

The Book Snail

“I wanted a break from homework. I wanted to go on a big adventure.”

So laments the narrator of Jin Bo’s The Book Snail. His dream comes true when a snail says to him, “I heard you talking about a big adventure…I go on big adventures all the time–every time I read a book!” He tells the little boy that the inside of his shell is replete with a miniature library in which the boy would be able to read to his heart’s content. The boy uses his imagination and successfully shrinks down to the snail’s size so he can enjoy the tiny library until it’s time to go home again. From that point on, he doesn’t feel so overwhelmed by his work because he knows that he can retreat into a book and escape to a new adventure anytime.

The 24-page picture book addresses the stressful reality of school in China. Students put in long hours of class and homework, including after school and on weekends, to make themselves competitive in a country where in any given year about 10 million students apply to 7 million university spots. Yet, Jin Bo’s narrative focuses on the wonder at the heart of learning, rather than its stress. His simple narrative and Wang Zumin’s whimsical illustrations convey the same sense of childlike wonder that the boy feels when he realizes how books can transport him. The story is a love letter to the joy of reading.

Dandelion Oldie

Like The Book Snail, Dandelion Oldie does not disappoint in its ability to conjure up a childlike sense of wonder through its playful drawings as well as its simple yet direct storytelling. In this 30-page story, an old man remembers how he used to blow dandelion seeds in the air and dance along with their movements as a child. However, now that he is elderly, he feels it would not be appropriate. 

One day, he decides to blow on a dandelion for old time’s sake, and to his shock, one of the seeds speaks, asking him why he isn’t dancing. “I’m an Oldie,” the man says, “And Oldies don’t do kid stuff.” The dandelion seed asks, “Why not?…Is that a rule?” The old man realizes he doesn’t have a good response to this question. From that day on, he starts blowing on dandelions and dancing along to their movements again, encouraging children to dance with him as well.

The story suggests that it is okay to remain a kid at heart forever. Gao Qing’s illustrations of an adorable small dog dancing alongside the old man on every page further contribute to the story’s celebration of joy, adventure and life. A valuable read for adults and children alike, Jin Bo’s story reminds us of the virtue of keeping joy and wonder centered in our lives even as we grow older. 

The Rain People

Once again, this 36-page book centers on a small element of nature coming alive and teaching someone, in this case a young boy, how to live well. Through Yi Yusun’s charming illustrations, raindrops on a rainy day splash to the ground and become rain people who wear blue polka dot dresses and have red-and-white horizontal-striped arms and legs and small plants growing out of their heads. They are full of joy, bringing life wherever they go. Mesmerized, the boy decides to imagine himself into a rain person and becomes one. He then leads the rain people to a desolate body of water, devoid of life, called the “River of Tears.” Together, the rain people and the boy transform it into a place of life and joy with their dancing and singing. 

If the “River of Tears” is a metaphor for life’s sadness, the rain people signify the healing energy the natural world can be for all of us, if only we let it. This book is a testament to the magic and wonder of the natural forces around us and a call to always let ourselves be touched by their grace and beauty.

About Gina Elia

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