Where Are You Going on Sunday? is one of the winning works from the Second KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards published by KPL and Children’s Publications. The new book-sharing session was attended by numerous parents and their children, who came together to create beautiful and unforgettable memories during summer vacation.

【From Kaohsiung】This summer, the Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) organized a new book-sharing session and workshop for Where Are You Going on Sunday?, a winning work from the Second KPL Picture Book Sprouting Awards. Families participating in the event had the opportunity to listen to the author’s story and create characters unique to their imaginations. Moreover, the children in attendance went on from describing the journeys of their dinosaur characters to creating summer travel itineraries together. Such entertaining yet heartwarming interactions demonstrated the picture books’ unique magic and charm!

KPL’s Acting Director Chen Mei-Ying remarked that a total of eight Chinese selected works from the KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards have been published. Where Are You Going on Sunday? is one of the works released with support from the Picture Books Sprouting Support Program for Creators and published in cooperation with Children’s Publications Co., a joint effort realized thanks to KPL-organized matchmaking meetings for creators and publishers. Moreover, KPL is preparing to issue an open call for participants of the third KPL Picture Books Sprouting Program’s “Picture Book Authors Support Awards,” which will be held from July 22 to August 11. Picture book authors will have the opportunity to establish cooperation with various publishing agencies by participating in publishers’ matchmaking events, allowing both parties to come together and introduce innovations to Kaohsiung’s picture book industry. KPL hopes that more original picture book creators can embed their roots and develop their careers in Taiwan through support from the Picture Books Sprouting Support Program for Creators.  

During the selection process, Where Are You Going on Sunday? impressed judges with the richness of its illustrations and suitability to children. Picture book author Shih Jheng-Ting praised the picture book for its character design and incredible likeability among children. The story was creative enough to satisfy children’s wild imaginations while constantly reminding them of the world's wonders. All in all, Where Are You Going on Sunday? is a light-hearted and simple yet thought-provoking work.

As a full-time illustrator, Dong Dong (Liu Wei-Ting) is skilled in crafting artworks of vibrant, dazzling colors. In addition to its colors' brightness and vividness, the newly published Where Are You Going on Sunday? also features a dinosaur, one of the children’s favorite creatures, as its main character and elements linked to traveling in the story. The plot follows the character’s mood change, from the excitement before arriving at his destination to the shift that occurs upon an unexpected incident. Following the main character’s perspective, children learn the importance of enjoying the process, becoming inspired to embark on journeys of self-exploration and discoveries in their daily lives.

During his sharing session at KPL, Dong Dong credited his experiences during the pandemic as the source of his inspiration for the picture book. He was on a long train ride when the train suddenly stopped while making its way through the mountains. While the adults in his railcar either descended into panic or grew impatient with the situation, the children reacted differently. “Wow, this is so fun!” The children had exclaimed. The experience inspired him to create a picture book from the perspective of someone “who keeps enjoying the moment despite unexpected turbulences.”

One of the audience members who responded positively to the book-sharing event was a father with the surname Chen. Mr. Chen was used to making plans and itineraries before travels. His biggest fear was encountering the unexpected during travels. However, after attending the sharing session, Chen understood the importance of accepting and enjoying changes. Children’s innocent hearts are the best teachers of this lesson. In the story, the character continuously develops new ideas in the face of various possibilities, bringing lively midsummer energy to the summer vacation.

Beautiful and eye-catching illustrations from Where Are You Going on Sunday? are currently being displayed on the 3^rd Floor of KPL’s Main Library. The Main Library and branch libraries will organize exciting events, including talks, workshops, storytelling sessions, AR activities, and three large-scale speeches to enrich the citizens’ reading experiences and lives during the summer. In addition, citizens can attend various book fairs and exhibitions. For more information, please visit the official KPL website (https://www.ksml.edu.tw/).