臺灣文學虛擬博物館

 

This forest looks a little different from the ones you’ve seen before, doesn’t it?

Look closely at these poems about clouds, mountains, dragonflies, and butterflies. Can you feel the childlike wonder of the poets? Their words show us that even the stars and sunsets hold their own little surprises!

Children’s poetry explores many different themes and ways of seeing things. These poems about nature are filled with playful pictures and imagination. Follow the paths hidden between the words and see the world through these poets’ eyes. What secrets will you discover in this forest?

 

 

 

 

◧ Selected Masterpieces of Children’s Songs
Edited by Miyao Susumu

Published by the Taiwan Art Association in 1930, this collection contains children’s nursery rhymes from Taiwan and Japan. It preserves the rich, lively character of early children’s song traditions. The book’s cover design and illustrations were created by Tōho Shiotsuki. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Literary Taiwan Vol. 6, No. 3, Issue 33
Summer Special Issue

Released on July 1, 1943, this issue includes a “Family Section,” which promoted the “Momotarō spirit”—a wartime ideal of bravery, loyalty, and service to the nation. It also features a poem and illustration from Momotarō Illustrated, a 1938 picture book created by editor and publisher Mitsuru Nishikawa for his eldest son, Jun Nishikawa. The print shown here was produced by Yatarō Miyata. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ “Moonlight” Manuscript
Yang Kui

“Moonlight” is a traditional children’s song passed down in Fujian and Guangdong, with many different versions. This version was written in Yang Kui’s notebook Fairy Tales, Essays, and Poems. Its light tone and three repeated rhythmic stanzas give the song a rich musical quality. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Scenery Poetry Collection
Yang Huan

Published after Yang Huan’s death in 1954, this collection was compiled and edited by Chi Hsien, Chin Tzu-hao, and Yeh Ni, and published by Modern Poetry Press. The collection primarily includes lyrical poems about everyday life and children’s poems originally published in Children’s Weekly, along with memorial writings by fellow authors. One tribute also notes that the cover illustration was drawn by Yang Huan during his lifetime. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Collected Poems of Yang Huan

An expanded and retitled edition of Scenery, this volume was published by Kuangchi Press in 1964. In addition to a portrait of Yang Huan, manuscript illustrations, and a sketch by Chi Hsien, the book also includes a new preface by Chi Hsien, nine additional poems by the author, and a “Postscript to the Eighth Revised Edition” by Kuei Jen. Popular after its release, the book was reprinted many times. In 2019, Wen Hsun magazine also published a facsimile edition of Scenery. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Soiree for the Fruits

Published in 1978 by Pure Literature Publishing Company, this picture book of children’s poetry by Yang Huan features a cover illustrated by Hsia Tsu-ming and includes color illustrations with phonetic annotations.
The book collects 18 poems from the “Fairy Tales” section of Collected Poems of Yang Huan, including “The Kingdom in Fairy Tales,” “Soiree for the Fruits,” and “Summer Night.” It opens with the poem “Uncle Yang’s Poems” written by Lin Liang. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ “Little Sun” Manuscript
Lin Liang

Little Sun is one of Lin Liang’s most well-known works. This essay collection records moments from everyday family life with his three daughters and their animal companions. The excerpt shown here describes small mushrooms growing in a damp corner of the house. (Courtesy of Lin Wei)

 

◧ “White Rabbit and Yellow Flowers” Manuscript
Lin Liang

Originally published in the “Stories from Pictures” section of Mandarin Daily News on December 22, 2014, this children’s poem depicts a charming white rabbit nestled among yellow wild chrysanthemums, creating a scene in which the flowers and rabbit beautifully complement one another. (Courtesy of Lin Wei)

 

◧ Sixteen Letters from  Dad
Lin Liang

Published by the Taiwan Provincial Department of Education in 1987, this essay collection presents Lin Liang’s reflections written to his daughter from the perspective of a father. The book grew out of a series of questions about life raised by his eldest daughter, Lin Ying, and has accompanied many young readers as they navigate the challenges of growing up.

 

◧ “Appreciating Children’s Poetry” Manuscript
Chao Tien-yi

In addition to writing many children’s poems, Chao Tien-yi also guided readers in how to appreciate and interpret children’s poetry. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

  

◧ The Little Sparrow’s Game Children’s Poetry Collection
Chao Tien-yi

Published by Hsin-ta Publishing in 1984, this collection features a wide range of themes, mostly drawn from everyday life. Its simple, straightforward language reflects a distinctly realist style. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Fireflies 
Lo Ching 

Published in 1987 by the Taiwan Provincial Department of Education, Fireflies is a collection of poems and illustrations created by Lo Ching specifically for children. Written in a gentle tone rich in insight, the work encourages reflection while demonstrating the creative interplay between poetry and imagery. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ The Cuckoo

Founded in 1980, The Cuckoo was a quarterly journal dedicated to children’s poetry, established and edited by Lin Fuan-chan. It was co-initiated with Shu Lan in Taipei and Hsueh Lin in Tainan. Its second issue in 1980 included poems such as “Embroidery” by Fang Su-zhen and “Kite” by Lin Wu-hsien. The cover and interior illustrations were created by the artist known as Grandma Wu-Li Yu-ke. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Walking Beasts Poems and Insect Poems

As part of the Chinese Children’s Book Series, the Taiwan Provincial Department of Education published a series of poetry picture books, including Bird Poems (1987), Walking Beasts Poems (1988), Insect Poems (1991), and Flower Poems (2002). Walking Beast Poems includes works such as “Water Buffalo Image Poem” by Chan Ping, while Insect Poems features poems like “Cicada” by Cheng Chiung-ming, along with works by many other poets. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ “Key Principles of Children’s Literature” Manuscript
Lin Chung-lung

In this manuscript, Lin Chung-lung analyzes key considerations in the process of creating children’s literature. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Mountain 
Lin Chung-lung

Lin Chung-lung wrote a series of poems centered on mountains, each exploring different forms and styles. This visual poem conveys the uneven paths and movement of climbing through its layout and composition. Together with its detailed illustrations, it creates an immersive reading experience. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ “A Cat, in the Heart” Illustrated Manuscript
Lin Fuan-chan 

This manuscript was created during a bus journey to Jiaoxi Township. It combines a poem with an illustration of a cat, integrating text and image into a unified composition that reflects a distinctive visual aesthetic. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)