"Summer Rules" Author: [Australia] Chen Zhiyong Publisher: Twenty-First Century Publishing House

Introduction
All the pictures in this book tell the story of the growth of two boys, one older and one younger. The younger brother tries desperately to fit in and catch up with his older brother, but he is easily crushed by his older brother in every way. The older brother makes some strange rules, such as "never eat the last olive at a party", "never step on a snail", "never be late for a parade", "never argue with the referee", etc. The younger brother feels confused and frustrated, and finally explodes...
It is impossible for the two brothers to grow up at the same pace. The age difference will bring about differences in height, strength, mind and other abilities. On the road to growth, the younger one always stumbles and walks slowly, while the older one has to slow down, helplessly watching the younger one constantly breaking his own boundaries and rules... "Summer Rules" vividly shows the two people who grow up out of sync, facing the helplessness and conflict of rules, and facing the companionship and distance of life. Even in a close relationship, there are complaints, conflicts, competition, and deviations... However, if the relationship is deep enough, the moment of reconciliation and forgiveness will always come, and we gradually grow and know ourselves between the recurring tensions.
1. The theme of this story is ultimately about companionship and distance. The two brothers are the only humans in the picture, and there are no other humans. This is their very private little universe, full of fantasy, and may not be intervened by the outside world. In the story, the two brothers have no names, no special identities, and very few words. The picture leaves rich details and huge room for interpretation, which is quite open. The two brothers have care and confrontation, and have gone through a process from competition to reconciliation. In the end, the ending where the elder brother redeems the younger brother confirms the depth of the relationship between the two.
2. The story is told in two lines. The left page is a rule made up of words, and the right page is a picture, showing what will happen if the rule is violated. The left and right pages are contradictory, creating a sense of contrast. The words are like the rules. The calmer and more restrained they are, the more colorful and incredible the pictures will be.
3. The whole book exudes a surreal temperament. Chen Zhiyong is good at grafting seemingly unreasonable fantasy elements into scenes of daily life. He likes to paint with acrylic and oil paints. His paintings are rich in color, with distinct layers, exaggerated and dynamic composition. He is good at expressing the atmosphere and sense of presence of the story, and can capture the senses and curiosity of children.
4. It explores the relationship between brothers in a two-child family. Each page tells the relationship between the two brothers and their relationship with the surrounding environment.
5. This book is also a metaphor for best friends or other close relationships. Separation, differences, disputes and the loneliness that comes with them or is innate are meant to make us truly learn to love.
6. The English-Chinese subtitles of the movie give you a real-time visual experience, satisfying more of the readers’ needs.
7. Neil Gaiman, a famous American children's literature writer, commented on Chen Zhiyong: "One picture is worth 1,000 words. The whole picture book is like a precision instrument, from the structure to the details, there is no redundant part."
² Chinese-English bilingual picture book, oil painting, large format visual enjoyment
² Oscar-winning Best Animated Short Film winner Chen Zhiyong's surreal new work
² Following "Arrival", "Lost and Found" and "Scarlet Tree", this is another milestone work by Chen Zhiyong.
² Industrial absurdity style, summer afternoon style, suburban brother style, colorful fantasy style, wild oil painting style... a unique and can not be easily
Definition of book.
² Two children who grow up out of sync, facing the helplessness and conflicts of rules, and facing the companionship and distance of life.
² When adults are absent, children make up their own rules.
Awards:
² Australian Children's Book Association 2014 Best Picture Book Gold Award
² The Globe "Horn Book" Award for the Best Picture Book of 2014 Silver Award
² NPR Best Books
² Publishers Weekly Best Book
² School Library Journal Best Book
² Kirkus Reviews Best Book
² Blue Ribbon Bulletin Best Book Award
Suitable for readers: 3-6 years old
About the Author
Shaun Tan
Born in 1974 in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, he grew up in the suburbs. His father is a Malaysian Chinese and his mother is Australian. As a child, he was the shortest in the class but he was a well-known painter in the school. He began to draw illustrations for science fiction novels and horror stories when he was a teenager. In 1995, he graduated from the University of Western Australia with a double degree in fine arts and English language and literature. Later, he became a freelance illustrator and served as a modeling designer in the movies "Horton Hears a Who" and "Wall-E". He has twice won the "Hugo Award for Best Art" awarded by the World Science Fiction Association and won the title of "World Fantasy Award for Best Artist" four times. In 2011, he won the Lindgren Children's Literature Award issued by the Swedish government. In March of the same year, the animation "Lost and Found" adapted from his picture book of the same name and directed by him also won the 83rd Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. His picture books include Arrival (won the 2007 Bologna Book Fair Special Jury Award), Scarlet Tree, No Other Country, Summer Rules, Cicada, etc. He currently lives in Melbourne.