Samples and published products of Tired, Exhausted Zoo and Perfect Mr. Bear, Small Gil Huang’s works nominated for the second Picture Book Sprouting Awards.

Small Gil Huang’s Tired, Exhausted Zoo, a work nominated for the second Picture Book Sprouting Awards, has been successfully published with assistance from KPL.

Looking for the perfect way to start the New Year? Join Mr. Bear on his journey to create the perfect day in this delightful picture book! Nominated for the Kaohsiung Public Library’s (KPL) Picture Book Sprouting Awards, Perfect Mr. Bear was recently published by Little Hilltop, the children's book imprint of Sanmin Book. Since its release, the book has received widespread praise from readers. Small Gi Huang, the work's author, is scheduled to speak during a book-sharing event to promote the newly published Perfect Mr. Bear at KPL on January 11. KPL warmly invites everyone to join this engaging and delightful event.

According to KPL Director Chin-Yang Lee, Small Gi Huang attended the “Picture Book Sprouting Courses” in 2020. Fueled with knowledge and inspiration from the courses, Small Gi Huang created two picture books during the program, which were eventually nominated for the second Picture Book Sprouting Awards. KPL assisted in providing a platform where she could be matched and negotiate with publishing companies. One of the two works from her time in the program, titled Tired, Exhausted Zoo, was published by Yuan-Liou Publishing in September 2024. Following its predecessor's footsteps, the newly-published Perfect Mr. Bear has also garnered excellent reviews. 

From the initial sparks of their creation during her time at the Picture Book Sprouting Courses to their official publication, Small Gi Huang’s two picture books are evidence of both her talent and the author’s journey in realizing her dreams. Her touching story not only cement the importance of the “Picture Book Sprouting Program” but also demonstrates KPL’s capabilities and capacity to cultivate authors’ talents and promote their works in the industry.

Perfect Mr. Bear is a humorous story about the perfectionist Mr. Bear, who strives and struggles for nothing but ultimate perfection in all matters of life. He begins his days by buying “the perfect toast” and is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he has “the perfect day.” However, he is oftentimes confronted with sudden twists and turbulences throughout the day, many of which render him frantic and often end in bouts of clumsiness. That being said, Mr. Bear always manages to find solutions to the problems he encounters, albeit in humorous and comical ways. As the story progresses, he gradually learns to implement different methods to overcome various life challenges. Small Gil Huang credited her perfectionist husband as the source of inspiration for the picture book. Perfect Mr. Bear incites readers to reflect on their definitions of “perfection” and lightly encourages them to utilize their creativity in seeking solutions for their problems.

The first book-sharing session for the recently-published Perfect Mr. Bear will be held on January 11 at the amphitheater-style presentation space on the 3^rd floor of the Kaohsiung Main Public Library. Small Gil Huang, who will be reading and guiding the audience as they read through the picture book, will personally open the doors for readers to step into Mr. Bear’s perfect world. The event will also feature activities such as collage-making and sharing sessions for children to talk about the creative process and interesting stories behind the creation of picture books. The event opens an opportunity for parents to read and discuss the picture book with their children. Such activities serve to train the children’s capacity for independent thinking and strengthen their problem-solving.

KPL has always been committed to cultivating local creative talents. The “Picture Book Sprouting Program” is a channel that provides picture book creators with learning resources and opportunities for publication. Through the program, KPL continuously organizes events and activities to carve a place for original Taiwanese picture books on the global stage, enabling more readers to experience the magic behind the tapestry of illustration, culture, and creativity.