"Grandma's Blue Metal Cabinet Wheelchair" Author: Liu Maoning Publisher: Beijing United Publishing Company

There are no bad kids in the world. Love can heal the only childhood.

Please give those children who have done something wrong secretly a chance to reveal their secrets.

Original work by Liu Maoning, an international award-winning animation director

Recommended books for children in the 17th Wenjin Book Award, one of the stories in the unit of the picture book animation film "Towards the Bright Side"

◎ Editor's Recommendation

☆Independent animation director Liu Maoning's first original picture book in a realistic style! Describing the childhood hometown of Chinese people with lifelike pictures

This story is a record of the author Liu Maoning's life in his hometown. The background of the story is the countryside of Henan. The pictures depict and show rural farmers working, children picking persimmons, craftsmen walking the streets, childhood snacks such as crispy sticks, etc., which are full of life. The highly saturated colors in the pictures show the author's unique aesthetic style, which is not only the author's portrayal of the characters' inner thoughts, but also a true portrayal of the Chinese countryside.

☆Telling about the love and regrets in an ordinary family! Focusing on the emotional life of an ordinary rural family

In the story, the little boy takes care of his frail grandmother at his mother's request, but he often disobeys his mother's orders and secretly takes the money hidden in the blue metal cabinet. The boy's behavior reflects the emotional gap between him and his grandmother. At the end of the story, the boy's mother cries when she looks at the blue metal cabinet wheelchair, which seems to imply that there is a slightly alienated love between the mother and the grandmother. This story focuses on the subtle relationship between three generations of grandparents and grandchildren in an ordinary family, showing the family model and emotional connection of a traditional Chinese family.

☆Show the pure and rich inner world of children! Guide children's moral emotions to develop positively and cultivate a sense of responsibility

In the story, the little boy was trapped in the abyss between being afraid of being discovered by his grandmother and hoping to be blamed by her. However, he was saved by a word from his grandmother. This is the climax of the story and a paragraph that can resonate with readers, showing the selfless love and understanding of grandparents for their children and grandchildren. Then the boy spontaneously did something he could think of for his grandmother to reduce his inner shame for her, but more importantly, he was responding to her love. This story is the author's reconciliation with his childhood self, and it will also comfort readers who have similar experiences of "stealing money" and gain spiritual salvation.

☆Healing childhood, releasing the secrets deep in the heart! Build a bridge of mutual understanding between two generations with authentic writing

Liu Maoning wrote in the author's postscript: "When I asked my mother whether she had discovered that I had stolen my grandmother's money, my mother, who was packing my luggage for Beijing, did not answer my question seriously. She just thought for a moment and said, "It was very cold in the winter at that time, and your grandmother had to stay in bed all year round to keep warm. I always wanted to buy your grandmother an electric blanket to put on the bed, but I was always so busy that I forgot. Now I feel very sorry every time I think about it." After listening to my mother's words, I realized that adults, like children, have many unspeakable things hidden in their hearts, and may not have the opportunity to speak them out for a long time. Therefore, I decided to write this story.

☆The book comes with hand-painted paper by the author, creating an opportunity for release and healing for readers who have not been able to tell the secrets and regrets hidden in their hearts. If you can't tell it, then write it down! The editorial department of Langhua Duoduo Children's Books and the author are looking forward to the sharing of readers of all ages.

◎ Introduction

It tells a growth story about how shame grows wildly in a child's heart and then fades away peacefully.

My mother asked me to take care of my grandmother who had bad legs and feet, but I just wanted to play with my friends. One day, I found the money that my grandmother hid in the blue metal cabinet and wheelchair, so I secretly took it to buy my favorite snacks... I didn't know if my grandmother had found out. I was filled with fear, not knowing what kind of punishment I would face, and not knowing that it would be the only time I would cry in front of my grandmother.

Winter passed and spring came. My grandmother passed away. On the way home from the funeral, I saw my mother's tears for the first time.

◎ Celebrity recommendation

"This is a rare picture book about 'stealing money' as a child. I hope that children can release their own 'secrets' after reading it." - Zhu Chengliang, author of the original Chinese picture book "Reunion"

"Mao's illustrations and pictures are very well done. The story is a little sad, but very touching." - Arthur Hubschmid, a famous French children's book publisher and former editor-in-chief of Happy School Press

"The warm and profound truth and calm narration in this story are quite moving." - Ajia, a well-known children's reading promoter, writer and translator in China

◎ Award record

The 17th Wenjin Book Award Recommended Books for Children

Liu Maoning is an animation director, picture book and comics author. He graduated from the Animation School of Communication University of China. His animation works have won many international awards. In 2019, his animated short film "Me, the Magnet and a Dead Friend" was shortlisted for the student unit of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, which is known as the "Oscar of Animation". In 2021, he created a picture book "Grandma's Blue Tin Cabinet Wheelchair" based on his real childhood experience. As one of the unit stories of the first original picture book animation film "Towards the Bright Side" in China, it was released in theaters for the first time in the summer.