Asian children's literature event opens in Tainan with sustainability focus

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Around 150 children's literature professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Tainan, southern Taiwan, on Friday for a three-day convention exploring how books and reading can promote sustainability and global citizenship.

Organized by the Society of Children's Literature, R.O.C., the 17th Asian Children's Literature Convention 2026 is being held through Sunday at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature.

The event focuses on children's literature and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with support from the Ministry of Culture, Tainan City government and other partners.

It is being held in Taiwan for the first time in 10 years, marking the country's fourth time hosting the convention and the first time it has been staged in Tainan, said Huang Hui-Ling (黃惠鈴), president of the society and the convention's Taipei branch.

Participants include writers, scholars, children's book editors and elementary school teachers from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, according to the convention handbook.

Through academic presentations and discussions, the convention is examining how children's literature can address environmental protection, social equality, cultural diversity and technology while supporting sustainability education, the organizer said.

Its academic program includes 21 paper presentations, 10 poster presentations and a keynote address by professor Liu Shu-Wen (劉淑雯).

National Museum of Taiwan Literature Director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said the museum has also organized a children's literature exhibition to coincide with the convention.

Children were invited to help curate part of the exhibition from their own perspectives, while other activities include tours led by children and a display of translated editions of original Taiwanese picture books, Chen said.

The convention will conclude Sunday with two literary tours of Tainan, one exploring locations featured in local children's literature and the other visiting historic sites in the Anping area, the organizer said.

Huang said the Asian Children's Literature Convention was launched at South Korea's initiative in 1990 and is generally held every two years, with South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan taking turns as hosts.

Taiwan previously hosted the convention in Taipei in 1999 and Taitung in 2008 and 2016, according to the handbook.

Related exhibitions at the museum feature books by convention participants, Taiwanese children's books addressing the SDGs, original picture-book illustrations and translations of Taiwanese literature, the organizer said.

It also used bags made from recycled fabric sewn by women working with a Tainan-based social enterprise as convention gifts, in keeping with the sustainability theme.