Nhâm Nhi Tết – Tân Sửu 2021 (Book for the Year of the Buffalo 2021), Đây Là Tết! (This is Tết!), and  Kể Chuyện Tết Nguyên Đán (Stories of Tết) are three new children’s books celebrating Tết printed by the Kim Đồng Publishing House. — Photo courtesy of the publishing house

HCM CITY — The Kim Đồng Publishing House, one of Việt Nam’s leading publishing houses for children's books, has presented new books to celebrate the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival in the Year of the Buffalo.

The book Nhâm Nhi Tết – Tân Sửu 2021 (Book for the Year of the Buffalo 2021) consists of interesting stories, poems, songs, paintings and illustrations about Tết and buffaloes by various writers.

The 150-page book includes funny and warm stories, such as Món Quà Quý (Precious Gift) by Trần Đức Tiến, Mùa Xuân Ấm Áp (Warm Spring) by Thủy Nguyên, and Nghé Con Không Muốn Lớn (Baby Buffalo does not Want to Grow up) by Hương Thị.

The publication features literary works by famous 20th century Vietnamese writers and poets, like Trâu Vàng Hồ Tây (Golden Buffalo at West Lake) by late author Tô Hoài and Thi Nghé (Poems about Baby Buffalo) by late poet Huy Cận.

It also has a copy of Vườn Xuân Trung Nam Bắc (Spring Garden of the North, Central and South), a master painting by lacquer artist Nguyễn Gia Trí.

The book has illustrations by favourite young painters Vũ Xuân Hoàn, Nguyễn Quang Toàn, and Tất Sỹ, among others.

Hoàng Kiều Nga, editor of Kim Đồng, said: “Through Nhâm Nhi Tết – Tân Sửu 2021, readers can feel spring in the different regions of the country, from the peaceful countryside to busy urban areas.”

Another publication, Đây Là Tết! (This is Tết!), features poems by Bùi Phương Tâm and illustrations by Mai Ngô.

The 44-page book includes simple verses about traditional Tết customs and children’s greetings to grandparents and parents for the festive season.

Along with the Vietnamese version, the publishing house has introduced an English version of the book.

The book Kể Chuyện Tết Nguyên Đán (Stories of Tết) consists of fairy tales about preparations for Tết by author Nguyễn Trương Quý.

The 40-page work features stories about the origin of the Kitchen God, Tết totom pole, bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake), and the five-fruit tray.

The book includes large-scale illustrations of painter Kim Duẩn.

Vũ Quỳnh Liên, editor-in-chief of Kim Đồng, said children’s books for Tết began to be popular in 2020, but the publishers have released these kinds of books for 60 years.

“Children’s books for Tết are meaningful gifts during the holiday and help children learn more about the festival,” she added.

All three books are available nationwide at bookstores and on e-commerce websites. VNS