Cao Wenxuan Knihy

A Mei ist anders als die anderen. Mit ihren großen Augen, der hohen Nase und den hellbraunen Haaren fällt sie im Shanghai der 1960er Jahre überall auf. Kein Wunder: A Meis Großmutter Océane ist Französin. Ihr hat es A Mei auch zu verdanken, dass sie so wunderbar Klavier spielen kann. Doch plötzlich ändern sich die Zeiten und A Mei wünscht sich mit einem Mal nichts sehnlicher, als dem Durchschnitt zu entsprechen und ohne ihr besonderes Aussehen, ohne ihre besonderen Begabungen unbemerkt in der Masse untertauchen zu können. Aufzufallen wird mit einem Mal gefährlich. Wie sehr, muss die kleine A Mei schon bald schmerzlich erfahren... Ein schonungsloser Blick hinter die Mauern, hinter denen zahllose Menschen, die man zu „Unkraut“ stempelte, im Zuge der aufwallenden Kulturrevolution sogar innerhalb ihrer eigenen vier Wände der Willkür und Gewalt entfesselter junger Menschen hilflos ausgeliefert waren. Eine Geschichte, die auch uns durchaus etwas angeht: Überall auf der Welt werden immer noch Menschen instrumentalisiert, um andere zu drangsalieren. Cao greift demnach ein – leider unvermindert – aktuelles Thema auf, das sich beliebig übertragen lässt und das uns stets daran erinnern sollte, sich die Meinung anderer niemals unreflektiert anzueignen!

The journey of a lemon butterfly unfolds as it seeks the most beautiful sight—a field of flowers. Traversing desolate landscapes, crossing a vast river, and climbing a stark mountain, the butterfly's quest is one of resilience and hope. This tale culminates in a miraculous transformation, highlighting themes of beauty, perseverance, and the wonders of nature.

A classic, heartwarming tale set to the backdrop of the Chinese cultural revolution, with the timeless feels of Eva Ibbotson's Journey to the River Sea.A beautifully written, timeless tale by bestselling Chinese author Cao Wenxuan, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award. When Sunflower, a young city girl, moves to the countryside, she grows to love the reed marsh lands - the endlessly flowing river, the friendly buffalo with their strong backs and shiny round heads, the sky that stretches on and on in its vastness. However, the days are long, and the little girl is lonely. Then she meets Bronze, who, unable to speak, is ostracized by the other village boys. Soon the pair are inseparable, and when Bronze's family agree to take Sunflower in, it seems that fate has brought him the sister he has always longed for. But life in Damaidi is hard, and Bronze's family can barely afford to feed themselves. Will the city girl be able to stay in this place where she has finally found happiness?

Set in 1960s Shanghai, the story explores the bond between An Mei and her French grandmother, Nainai, as they navigate a challenging environment marked by political turmoil and the loss of their family silk business to the government. Despite societal suspicion due to their European heritage, their close relationship and resilience provide them with strength and comfort in difficult times. The narrative highlights themes of family, identity, and the enduring power of love amidst adversity.

Follow the moving journey of a lone leopard in his search to find other leopards. Along his journey, he meets other creatures, constantly questioning whether he is the last leopard in the world. His wish is, in part, granted when he finally sees another leopard but not in the way one would expect. This bittersweet tale of loneliness and extinction, along with its beautiful illustrations of the grasslands, is bound to touch readers profoundly.

In the middle of a great big river, there stands a single wooden post. It is a seemingly useless piece of wood, because the lone post cannot form a bridge by itself. Day after day, the wooden post longs to have friends and to be free. Instead, it is rooted to the riverbed and forced to watch each time its newfound friends leave him. Its days are brightened when a shepherd boy sits by the riverbank, keeping it company. When danger befalls its new friend, will the wooden post be able to help despite being stuck in one spot?

During a hot summer day in the grasslands, a group of animals race to claim the single spot of shade--under one tiny leaf that clings to a branch. The animals fight until they are inspired by an act of love to offer shade to one another.

Sputter is a windup mouse who always zips a little quicker and zooms a little farther when Jasper cheers for her. What happens when a new mouse joins the house and wants to be Jasper's favorite?

Cao Wenxuan, A literature professor at Peking University, is the first Chinese author to win the Hans Christian Anderson award for children's literature. Cao's best-known children's books include Bronze and Sunflower, Straw House, and The Eyes of Dragonfly. His works are recommended in Chinese schools for the use of language. His novels have been translated into English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. Although Cao has tried many themes, morality, the appreciation of beauty and compassion have remained the three main areas of his writing. The Red Tiles is a collection of Cao's latest short stories. In these stories, he writes beautifully about the complex lives of children facing great challenges. It shows that children's perspectives are not shallow, and that they experience the same cruelty, fear and depth of life as adults. Cao's own childhood was filled with miseries and memories of hunger, so he hopes to provide young readers with an understanding of how to treat miseries. His signature language is peaceful, melancholy and beautiful.

An adventurous umbrella takes flight over Berlin, eager to explore the city's sights and escape the mundane. As it navigates the skyline, the story encourages young readers to embrace independence and self-sufficiency. Through this whimsical journey, children will learn valuable lessons about adventure and resilience.