Sponsored by National Publishing Fund
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Selected and Editted by Children’s Literature Committee of China Writers’ Association ◎ Consultant Bo Jin ◎ Chief Editor Hongbo Gao
Chinese Original Classic Picture Books
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A Mermaid Came to the Forest Written by Suzhen Fang Illustrated by Xiaoyu Zhao
Best National Children’s Literature Award
Best Book Award for the Project of “Five One” Soong Ching Ling Children’s Literature Award Bing Xin Children’s Literature Award
A Mermaid Came to the Forest
Chinese Government Prize for Publishing
Chen Bochui Children’s Literature Award
Awards n well selected from honorable wri ole collectio ters. The wh
Comments Wenxuan Cao Vice Director of Children’s Literature Committee of China Writers’Association Professor of Peking University
CCPPG
Chinese Original Classic Picture Books will knit a colorful tie for all the children. It will help them to build up an imaginary castle and make a beautiful wish.
Chinese Original Classic Picture Books Written by Suzhen Fang
Illustrated by Xiaoyu Zhao
A Mermaid Came to the Forest Edited by Children’s Literature Committee of China Writers’ Association Consultant Bo Jin Chief Editor Hongbo Gao
Ximilu
What? A mermaid would visit the Forest of Fairy Tales? That’s big news! It’s a fish! How can a fish play in a forest? Monster Ximilu was very curious. He got up early and went to see what was going on at the Big Stage. 2
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A group of elves were coming and going, busily filling their buckets with water. Ximilu asked: “What are you going to do with so much water?” “Don’t you know? Mermaid is most afraid of dryness, so we must sprinkle water over her all the time!” “We will also give performance to welcome her!” 4
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Before long, Mermaid showed smilingly. Wow! What a beautiful mermaid! Ximilu gazed at her. Mermaid said gently: “I am very pleased to visit the Forest of Fairy Tales. It’s very kind of you!” Wow! How beautiful her voice was!
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The welcome party started with Mermaid presenting a gift for the Forest: it was a conch. She said: “There is sound of sea waves in it!� One by one everybody took turns to place their ear on the conch, listening excitedly to the sea waves roaring one surge after another.
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Mermaid said: “I heard you have some shows to offer? I just can’t wait to see them!” Elf Dongdong was the first to perform. She painted a flower on an egg and miraculously the egg soon hatched a beautiful flower! Mermaid and Ximilu both applauded. “Thank you!” Dongdong said happily. 10
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Next came Jimmy the braggart. He bowed to Mermaid: “Just tell me what you are most fond of doing, and I can guess your constellation.�
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Mermaid thought for a while and said: “Blowing bubbles at the bottom of the sea is my favorite.” Jimmy rolled his eyes: “You are an Aquarian, because you need a bottle to put the bubbles in!” Everybody laughed. Ximilu and Mermaid both applauded. Jimmy got off cheerfully.
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Elf Xiangxiang played the violin. She sprayed perfume inside the violin, and when she played the fragrance was slowly spreading. Both Ximilu and Mermaid were intoxicated!
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Elf Prince sent Mermaid four shining pearls. He said: “I will build a swimming pool in the Forest, so you can come and live here as my bride.” Mermaid gave a shy smile! Ximilu encouraged Prince with a big clap. Prince bowed to him, saying: “Thank you for your support.” 18
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The following was the Forest Exhibition. Everyone had brought their collections and was eager to show off.
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Big Head Monster showed his maple leaves of different colors: “I like collecting maple leaves. The number of leaves is equal to the number of the forests I have been to.�
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India
Spain
Congo Canada
Mini Beast presented his stones: “I collected these stones from countries around the world. I have as many stones as there are countries I have been to.� (Congo, India, Spain, Canada) 24
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le
app
rr y
e strawb
n ba an a eam ice cr
cake
te
ola choc
e
grap
van
orange
illa
tea
rose
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What One-eyed Monster showed was many glass bottles: “This is orange flavor and that one is of lavender. No touch! They are for show only!� 27
Mini Beast said: “No touch? If we don’t open it, how can we know it smells perfume?” But One-eyed Monster still declined to have those bottles open. “All fragrance will leak out once the bottles are opened!”
apple
grape
ice am
cre
a
banan
cake orange
chocolate
ry
stra wb er
vanilla
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Ximilu followed Mermaid and appreciated carefully each of the treasures displayed on show. Every time a collectable was introduced to him or to Mermaid, Ximilu would ask curiously: “Is it true? How wonderful!” “Wow! How beautiful!” Everybody felt more and more proud as Ximilu kept admiring the exhibits.
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Suddenly Mini Beast asked Ximilu: “What have you collected?” Ximilu was embarrassed and answered: “Me? I haven’t collected anything. But I am very happy seeing so many goodies you have collected. ” 32
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Hearing this, One-eyed Monster immediately hit the bottle with his hand, saying: “It costs me so much time and effort to have collected all these. Why should I let you see them for nothing?�
ice
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am
cre
lavender
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Big Head Monster also said: “I’ve spent a lot of time collecting those maple leaves. Why should I let you see them for nothing?” Mini Beast also covered his stones with both hands, discouraging Ximilu to see them.
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Ximilu blushed. He rubbed his nose and left. The exhibition soon became very quiet … Very, very quiet … 38
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Everyone looked round, but there were no more spectators as enthusiastic and curious as Ximilu. The busy forest soon became quiet and it smelled embarrassment. Mermaid said: “When you gave performance, it is the spectators’ applause that makes you happy, isn’t it? I think your collectables will only be meaningful if appreciated by all. Don’t you think so?” 40
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Wasn’t it true! Without Ximilu, the exhibition became so quiet and there was no more fun at all! S o a l l s h o u te d to g et he r, “ C o m e back, Ximilu! We need you for more goodies!”
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Ximilu returned and Mermaid gave him a big hug kindheartedly. Ximilu was so touched that he hoped Elf Prince could finish the swimming pool soon, so that Mermaid could live in the forest forever! 44