Summer reading for kids: Famous author’s short stories reprinted

A collection of four short stories for children by late author Tran Hoai Duong is being reprinted by the Kim Dong Publishing House. Photo courtesy of the Kim Dong Publishing House

The books are Nhung Doa Hong Bach Dang Tang Andersen (White Roses for Andersen); Chuyen Vui Ve Chu Ech Com (Funny Tales of the Green Frog); Be Rom (Straw Doll); and Tieng Mua Xuan (Call of the Spring).

All four books are magical, meaningful adventures into the world of animals, plants and kids.

The latest editions have been illustrated by four young artists Ha Trang, Linh Vuong, Tran Thuy My and Miny Nguyen, adding freshness to the captivating stories.

The four books are reprinted by the Kim Dong Publishing House, which specialises in children’s books, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of its establishment.

Tran Hoai Duong was born Tran Bac Quy in Hai Duong province in 1942.

He released his first short story collection for children titled Em Be và Hoa Hong (The Child and the Rose) in 1963, and then published 24 short stories and novels.

He won top prizes at national contests like Literature Awards given by the Vietnam Writers’ Association for a short story collection titled Cuoc Phieu Luu Cua Nhung Con Chu (The Adventure of Letters) in 1968, and for his novel Mien Xanh Tham (Green Land) in 2001.

He also wrote scripts for animation films and puppet shows.

His script for animation film Be Rom won the best screenplay prize at the Vietnam National Film Festival in 1983.

He worked at Tap Chi Hoc Tap (Study Magazine), currently Tap Chi Cong San (Communist Review); Van Nghe (Literature and Art) newspaper; and Mang Non (Bamboo Shoot) Publishing House, now Tre (Youth) Publishing House, before becoming a freelance writer in 1992.

Duong died in 2011 after suffering a heart attack.

VNS