Trickle to nourish children's hearts- Remembering the children's literature journal "Little Stream"

Hunan Daily New Hunan client reporter Zhu Yonghua correspondent Liang Xueming

On the morning of July 28, Deng Xiangzi, executive editor of the children's literature journal Xiaoxiliu, was sharing his reading experience with children from the Yinxing community in Yinbinling Street, teaching writing experience to these young seedlings with literary dreams. As the name suggests, since its release in 1980, "Little Stream" has been like a babbling brook that nourishes the young heartland and accompanies the growth of generations.

Pure to pure, good to beautiful

"Puppy without nose", "Geese and ducks", "Flying flower children", "Crow crow crows"... These are all interesting anthropomorphic images from the works published in "Little Stream". From the perspective of children, they exert their uninhibited imagination, and convey their yearning for beauty and vision of the future to children in a silent way. For more than 40 years, "Little Stream" has adhered to the child-oriented position, promoted truth, goodness and beauty, and is committed to creating "a small stream of children's literature and a peach blossom source in the spiritual world". Zhang Tianyi, Chen Bochui, Yan Wenjing, Ge Cuilin, Xie Pu, Zhang Haidi... These dazzling stars in the world of children's literature pour emotion into this "stream" and leave good works.

"In this charming 'stream', you can not only read clean and pure words, but also feel the power of seeking truth and seeking beauty." Wu Shuangying, editor-in-chief of "Little Stream", said. No matter how the times change, "Little Stream" has never changed the pursuit of the pure beauty and good quality of literature.

See the big in the small, write the era

"Little Stream" originated in a square inch, running towards the boundless "sea".

Small articles, big literature. Truly excellent children's literature can become a classic across different age aesthetic standards. "Little Stream" focuses on excavating new perspectives of children's literature, expanding the scope of children's literature, inviting writers of different ages and styles to create short and medium-length works for children, opening up a vast weather and a deep and broad pattern.

Little readers, big writers. Some of us around us proudly say, "We grew up reading Little Stream!" For many writers who have now "achieved fame", "Little Stream" is the starting point for their creation. "I didn't expect that the first fairy tale I learned to write was adopted by "Little Stream", and it gave me great motivation to write." Tang Sulan, a well-known writer of children's literature, said.

Small corners, big worlds. "Little Stream" originated in a corner of Hunan, but it sang all the way to all over the world. From the first World Chinese Children's Literature PEN Association in the 1990s, the 28th International Federation of Periodicals and Publications, to the 14th Asian Children's Literature Congress in 2018, many international large-scale events have left her presence.

Small publications, big times. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized "telling The Chinese story well", which gave important enlightenment to the creation of children's literature in the new era. Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, "Little Stream" has closely followed the theme of the times and published a series of children's literature works with red themes, such as Xue Tao's "Fighting Devils in the Mountains" and Liu Haiqi's "Victory back to the camp", etc., which have deeply planted the feelings of loving the party and the country in the hearts of children and young people.

Shouzheng innovation, leading growth

"Flowing" for more than 40 years, "Little Stream" has won many honors: it is a hundred excellent newspapers and periodicals recommended by the State Press and Publication Administration to children and young people across the country, one hundred key social science journals in the country, one of the top ten social science journals in Hunan Province, and has won the Nomination Award of the National Journal Award...

After more than 40 spring and autumn seasons, "Little Stream" has always maintained its innocence and vitality, and its shape and beauty. He has planned new columns such as "Xi Ge Non-Fiction" and "Stream Double Exhibition", and also invited calligraphers in the province to excerpt wonderful passages to enrich the beauty of literature; organize editors and writers to go deep into campuses, communities, rural areas and other places to stimulate children's interest in reading; continue the fine tradition, discover and cultivate the new strength of children's literature; integrate innovation, launch high-quality books, create brand IP, design and produce peripheral cultural and creative products, and lead the growth of children in a more diversified way.

Originally published in Hunan Daily (06 edition on July 30, 2021)

[Editor-in-charge: Yao Shuai]

[Source: Hunan Daily· New Hunan Client]