CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King - Hokkien Picture Book

CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King - Hokkien Picture Book Chhiau-chhōe chhiū-ông-kong 【Story Introduction】 "CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King" is set in a future city where nature has been lost, and humanity relies on artificial saplings for breath. The protagonist embarks on a dream journey to find the "Tree King," gradually realizing the importance of nature and the warmth of the earth. Through a fantastical fable and poetic imagery, the work prompts children to ponder: "Without nature, there is no fresh air," and to further understand the inseparable ethical and interdependent relationship between humans and the environment. The themes explored in this project are exceptionally rare in the realm of Hokkien picture books. Hokkien picture books are scarce in the market, and those that touch upon contemporary significant issues like democracy, freedom, the environment, or fake news are even rarer. Most existing works focus on everyday vocabulary or folk themes, seldom carrying public relevance and a sense of the times in the mother tongue. This project is therefore particularly meaningful, with the hope that through funding resources, these two picture books can reach readers, especially mother-tongue families and educational settings, as soon as possible, demonstrating that Hokkien is not just a family language but one that can deeply engage with society and care for the world. Beyond publication and distribution, the project also plans for over ten mother-tongue storytelling sessions and reading workshops to promote the revitalization of the mother tongue in communities and schools, enhancing children's and families' understanding of social issues and their ability to engage in dialogue. We firmly believe that the freedom to breathe comes from reading, and also from the forest; and this freedom, Hokkien can not only express but also deeply resonate with people's hearts. 【Author Introduction】 ⭐ Tō͘ Sìn-liông (Du Xinlong) Born in Wánlǐ, Tainan in 1981, without formal Hokkien education or literary training. Graduated with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from National Central University in 2006, currently working for a foreign company. Residing in Tainan, his parents, who did not receive formal education, always spoke Hokkien at home. He began writing in Hokkien in late 2013, hoping to pass on the Hokkien mother tongue. 【Endorsements】 👍🏻 Ngô͘ Ka-bêng (Founder of "Taiwanese Minced Meat Noodles," Director of the Kaohsiung Hokkien Language Promotion Association) The background of "CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King" is like a cyberpunk movie depicting great technological advancement in the human future world, while the Earth's environment deteriorates significantly. It is very suitable for parents and children to discuss related issues. This theme is appearing for the first time in a Hokkien picture book. Brother Xinlong is excellent at writing modern and futuristic stories, modernizing and making Hokkien language more livable, taking another big step forward. 👍🏻 Nó͘-lah Yóu Pè-kí (Nola You Pei-chi) Dedicated to promoting human rights education, the late writer Hsing Chia-hsin long advocated for using picture books to discuss important matters with children. "CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King" and "My Home Is Also a Library" are excellent examples! Du Xinlong uses fantastical adventures and conflict-ridden plots to allow children to enter the story's world and experience what the protagonist sees. It is very suitable for teachers or parents to guide children in thinking and discussion, building critical thinking neural pathways, accumulating habits of thinking about matters from multiple perspectives, and facing current online scams, fake news, and malicious individuals. They will know how to protect themselves, further cultivate civic literacy, and safeguard our young and fragile democracy and freedom in Taiwan. 👍🏻 Tǒng Lē-khóan (Director of the Hokkien Road Association) "CHHIAU-CHHŌE Tree King" uses a sci-fi approach to make people think, "What kind of future do we want?" The story does not provide an ending, leaving readers with a great deal of imagination. "My Home Is Also a Library" stimulates people to care about real-world issues like "fake news, thought restriction, and even war" through historical events—we must rely on reading to train our critical thinking skills to face the future. Both books start from what is good for children and can extend to many themes. They are truly worth co-reading with parents and discussing together. --- Author: Tō͘ Sìn-liông (Du Xinlong) Illustrator: Tâi-gí Niau (Hokkien Cat) Publisher: Sī Siù-lī Book House Publication Date: 2025/12/01 Price: NT$450 Specifications: Hardcover / 36 pages / 21 x 29.7 x 1 cm / General Audience / Full Color Printing / First Edition Place of Publication: Taiwan ISBN: 9786269928811