NEW BOOK - The introduction of poetry book Sài Gòn Của Em (My Beloved Sài Gòn) at the HCM City Children’s Book Fair held on the city Book Street on June 4. Photo courtesy of the Writers’ Association

HCM CITY – Vietnamese publishing houses have released new book series on different topics to encourage children to read during the summer holiday.

The Literature Publishing House, in collaboration with book distributor SBooks, introduced a poetry book for children at the HCM City Children’s Book Fair at the city’s Book Street, which closed on Sunday.

The book titled Sài Gòn Của Em (My Beloved Sài Gòn) consists of 100 poems for children by 50 favourite authors such as Nguyễn Khoa Đăng, Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, and Đào Phong Lan.

It features poems which are familiar to several generations of Vietnamese students such as Tre Việt Nam (Vietnamese Bamboo) by Nguyễn Duy, Viếng Lăng Bác (Visiting Uncle Hồ Mausoleum) by Viễn Phương, and Quê Hương – Bài Học Đầu Cho Con (Homeland – Your First Lesson) by Đỗ Trung Quân.

The work is compiled by Bùi Thanh Truyền, chairman of the Theory and Criticism Council of the city Writers’ Association.

Truyền said at the book introduction last week: “Through books, child readers will see that our country is familiar yet strange, and traditional yet modern.”

He added, “The poems also help to connect Vietnamese from different generations, keeping beautiful memories together.”

BOOKS FOR KIDS - The Kim Đồng Publishing House introduces a collection of nine books on the love for country, family and environmental protection by Vietnamese authors for children and teenagers. Photo courtesy of the publisher

Meanwhile, the Kim Đồng Publishing House will introduce a collection of nine books by Vietnamese authors for children and teenagers.

The collection consists of seven short stories such as Hải Âu Đi Tìm Cha (Seagull Looks for Father) by Nguyễn Thu Hằng, Cuộc Phiêu Lưu Của Còng Gió Vân Xanh (The Adventure of the Blue Horned Ghost Crab) by Lê Đức Dương, and Bạn Có Thích Làm Mèo (Do You Like Being a Cat) by Đặng Thị Hoài Thư.

It also includes two poetry books Hạt Bắp Vỗ Tay (Corn Clapping Hands) by Nguyễn Thánh Ngã, and Chú Dế Đêm Trăng (The Cricket Under the Moonlight) by Mai Quyên.

The books reflect different topics such as love for the country and sea, islands and family, environmental protection, and how pollution affects sea creatures.

They also stretch the imagination of children with adventures to space or a little girl’s wish of being a cat.

According to the publisher, all nine books are outstanding literary works for children, which are nominated for the first Kim Đồng Literature Awards.

The awards were initiated in 2023 to encourage Vietnamese authors to write more quality works for children.

The authors can send their entries to the publisher by March 2025. The winners will be announced in June 2025.

All the books are available at bookstores nationwide and on online shopping platforms. — VNS