Lahjih Taiwanese Fables Picture Book • Set of 4

Lahjih Taiwanese Fables Picture Book (Set of 4) To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Reverend Barclay’s arrival in Taiwan and the 140th anniversary of the publication of the "Taiwan Prefectural City Church News," we are proud to present the nation's first original Taiwanese Hokkien fable picture book written in Pe̍h-ōe-jī. Introduction and Features The "Lahjih Taiwanese Fables Picture Book" is the first original Taiwanese Hokkien fable picture book in Pe̍h-ōe-jī in the nation. The content is inspired by Taiwanese animals, plants, and the daily lives of Taiwanese people, offering humorous, heartwarming, and distinctly Taiwanese Hokkien fables. The complete set includes 4 volumes, with 16 stories in each volume, all written entirely in Pe̍h-ōe-jī. Each book also comes with a QR code for authentic narration, inviting readers into a world of engaging fables to read, learn Taiwanese Hokkien, and understand life's profound lessons. Author Lahjih Siau Pêng-tī Siau Pêng-tī has dedicated over 30 years to Taiwanese literary creation, steadfastly committed to preserving Taiwanese life experiences and culture. Beyond writing, he has also participated in various Taiwanese Hokkien educational initiatives, including Romanized script literacy, phonetics, children's songs, Mandarin-Taiwanese vocabulary comparison, Taiwanese proverbs, Taiwanese bird poetry, and curriculum development. These experiences have fertilized his creative endeavors. Expert Recommendations ❖ Cheng Bang-zhen, Former Director, National Museum of Taiwan Literature This is a set of Taiwanese Hokkien fables written for Taiwanese children. The refined language and local themes showcase a rich tapestry of Taiwanese imagery, while also embodying profound Taiwanese experiences and life philosophies. Highly recommended. ❖ Chang Fu-chu, Founding President, Taiwan Romanization Association Teacher Siau Pêng-tī shares the footprints of his 80 years of life, writing in the universally recognized Taiwanese script (Pe̍h-ōe-jī) and authentic Taiwanese Hokkien. It is suitable for students, parents, and grandparents to read together, passing on Taiwan's mother tongue culture and promoting the precious wisdom of the Taiwanese people. ❖ Chiang Wei-wen, Professor, Department of Taiwanese Literature, National Cheng Kung University Just as Aesop's Fables are known worldwide, Lahjih's Fables are a classic that Taiwanese children can read endlessly! Just as Aesop's Fables are known worldwide, Lahjih's Fables are a classic that Taiwanese children can read endlessly! ❖ Chen Mu-chen, Assistant Professor, Department of Taiwanese Literature, National Cheng Kung University This is a set of Taiwanese Hokkien reading materials that are enjoyable to read and provoke much thought, making it an excellent choice for accompanying children as they learn Taiwanese Hokkien! --- Author's Preface Lahjih (Siau Pêng-tī) Taiwanese people need their own fables. In 1948, from entering school to graduating from junior high, I didn't know what fables or fairy tales were. I knew some children's stories, likely introduced through textbooks and told by teachers. Later, as a teacher, I read stories like "The Crow Drinks Water," "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Dog and the Stork," "The Golden Axe," "The Fox and the Grapes," and "The North Wind and the Sun" with my students. Although they were amusing, they didn't spark much interest. Looking at the fable collections and textbooks available today, most are Chinese translations with a few Taiwanese Hokkien versions, lacking original Taiwanese creations. I thought we could also write local fables in Taiwanese Hokkien for children to read. We can use domestic wild animals, birds, insects, plants, and flowers as protagonists and supporting characters, crafting narratives that express proverbs, human relationships, worldly affairs, and moral ethics. This way, children can not only learn Taiwanese Hokkien but also recognize the local ecology, which is something worth realizing. The idea wouldn't fade, so I started writing. Lahjih's Taiwanese Hokkien is pure, and I can write in Taiwanese Hokkien script. With online resources like Google, I began writing one by one, and they gradually emerged. Some people praised them on Facebook, magazines invited me to contribute, and websites wanted to serialize them. In just over a year, I accumulated over 200 pieces. Here, I especially thank my good friend, teacher Chen Kun-ming, for illustrating these fable pictures, helping to convey their meanings and making the pages visually appealing. This set of fables is a selection of 64 of those pieces for publication. I am delighted and hope everyone who reads them will enjoy them. ------ ISBN:9786269980017 Specifications: Hardcover / 160 pages / 19.6 x 27 x 3.5 cm / Full Color Printing / First Edition Publication Place: Taiwan