International Youth Library honours Vietnamese children’s book

The book written by author Bui Phuong Tam tells a story of a young girl who imagines the adventures her father has along his route, passing through surreal woods, accompanied by dinosaurs, going across raging rapids with the help of fellow runners, and up steep slopes on his own.

Though he seems to be constantly running in circles throughout Hanoi, with the cycle of the seasons, in the eternal alternation of day and night, he always comes home in time to read bedtime stories to his daughter.

According to Kim Dong Publishing House, Vietnamese children’s book was selected from 200 titles in around 40 languages and from 57 countries by the children’s literature experts of the International Youth Library.

The White Ravens catalogue is a treasure trove for literary discoveries and serves as a compass through the vast children's book market for publishers, libraries, literary festivals, international bookstores, and agencies, as well as anyone interested in international children's books.

The International Youth Library represents the world’s largest library for international children’s and youth literature. Originally founded in 1949 by Jella Lepman, it has since grown to become an internationally recognised centre for children’s and youth literature.

The library is dedicated to supporting international children’s and youth literature through collection, cataloguing, and outreach efforts. The library’s primary mission is the preservation of cultural diversity as it is manifested in global literature.