臺灣文學虛擬博物館

Bridge Books: Books Filled with Surprises » Graphic Novels: Where Comic Art Meets Literature » Young Adult Fiction: Stories of Many Themes

 

Children’s literature can be about everyday life, adventures, fantasy, humor, poetry and more. Many stories are brought to life through lively, creative pictures. The possibilities are endless!

Some stories are told with words, while others are hidden inside illustrations. Some need both words and images. There are even stories that are told using only pictures.

Now we’ll take a look at the many ways stories can be told. Let’s read and draw some stories together as we use our imagination to fly into different worlds!

 

 

 

 

Bridge Books: Books Filled with Surprises

Bridge books have more text and fewer illustrations than picture books. Their stories are often humorous or based on everyday life, though many also have surprising and imaginative ideas. 

These books are great for young readers in lower elementary grade levels who are beginning to read on their own. After finishing a book, many feel a strong sense of accomplishment and proudly think, “I read a whole book all by myself!”
 

 

◧ Manuscript on Children’s Fiction
Shao Xian

In this manuscript, Shao Xian outlines key ideas about children’s fiction, emphasizing that such works should be child-centered and help children adapt to society as they grow. He also stresses that children’s literature should embody compassion, a childlike spirit, and wisdom. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Here Comes Sister Wind
Written by Shao Xian 
Illustrated by Lu Yu-min

This picture book was published in 1996 by the Hsin-Yi Foundation as part of the Young Children’s Books series. Using messages carried by the wind in nature to capture children’s attention, the book combines learning with an appreciation of everyday life and the natural world. In 2016, it was republished by Hsinex as part of the boxed set My Little Nature Backpack. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

 

Graphic Novels: Where Comic Art Meets Literature

Graphic novels are a form of storytelling that combines the art of comics with literary fiction. Visually, they may look like comics, but their content and structure differ from traditional serialized comic strips. In graphic novels, stories are told through images and text. Because words and pictures work together, these books can be especially helpful for readers who find long passages challenging, since the images can help them understand more detailed stories.
 

 

 

 

 

◧ The Boy from Clearwater
Script by Yu Pei-yun, Illustrated by Zhou Jian-xi

 

This graphic novel received the Graphic Novel Award at the Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature and has been translated into multiple languages, including Japanese, French, English, German, Korean, Italian, Arabic, and Lithuanian. (Courtesy of Fusheng Illustration Studio)

 

Young Adult Fiction: Stories of Many Themes

Young adult (YA) fiction contains more text and often features more complex plots. These stories cover a wide variety of themes, including personal growth and perseverance, reflections on life, society and awareness, fantasy adventures and science fiction, as well as mystery and suspense.

Through these stories, readers can explore different real-life issues and values. They may also find emotional comfort, build their sense of identity, learn about diverse cultures, and develop skills in logical reasoning and independent thinking.

◧ Ah-Hui’s Heart
Lin Chung-lung

This full-length young adult novel was serialized in the semimonthly Elementary Student Magazine between 1964 and 1965. It portrays the rural experiences and hardships of a boy named Ah-Hui, who lives dependently in another household, while depicting his kind and innocent nature as well as the emotional world of adolescence. The work is considered one of the earliest examples of Taiwanese young adult fiction. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ First Prize Medal for The Soaring Sky Eagle Awarded to Li Tung

In 1985, Li Tung received first prize in the young adult fiction category at the 11th Hung Chien-Chuan Children’s Literature Award for his novella The Soaring Sky Eagle.
He went on to win the same award for two consecutive years with Shunfeng’er’s New Incense Burner and Goodbye, Beach Chrysanthemum. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ The Young Kavalan
Li Tung

First published in 1992 by TienWei Publishing, this novel is a full-length work of young adult fiction. Its protagonist, a sixth-grade student named Pan Hsin-ko, travels back in time to the early 1800s, during the era when Qing-era pioneer Wu Sha developed the Lanyang Plain. Blending history, local customs, and themes of ancestry, the story explores Kavalan identity and culture. The book was later translated into Japanese and adapted into an animated film. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ The Young Kavalan Manuscript
Li Tung

This manuscript contains the inner cover text introducing the novel The Young Kavalan. The story combines themes of adolescent growth, ethnic identity, and time travel. Through the use of rhetorical questions, the author sparks readers’ curiosity and encourages them to further explore the novel. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ The Little Hero and the Old Postman
Ma Ching-hsien

First published in 1994 by TienWei Publishing, this work received the National Award for Arts. The story is told from a child’s perspective and reflects on the upheavals of a changing era. It is often seen as both a reflection of the author’s personal experiences and a microcosm of larger historical transformations. Ma Ching-hsien was a well-known children’s writer who also served as editor of the children’s literature supplement of Mandarin Daily News. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)

 

◧ Mandarin Daily News, 2000

One of the most important children’s literature newspapers in the postwar period, Mandarin Daily News frequently features themed content, such as “Opening New Reading Horizons for Young Readers,” published in 2000. (Collection of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature)