The first Vietnam Children’s Picture Book Festival was held in Ho Chi Minh City in the last week of May, creating a playground dedicated to the picture book genre.
Festival Director Nguyen Huu Quynh Huong said that the theme, “Picture books support children in difficult circumstances,” was chosen for the first festival as a way to re-examine the role of children’s books in the modern world. Picture books tell stories through both words and images while the use of colors, composition, lighting, and visual rhythm in the books encourages readers to observe, appreciate, and connect emotionally with the story.
“Children in the new century face countless ‘visual explosions’ every day. Images come to them constantly, and without attention and focus, that pressure can sometimes create new emotional fractures within them. Therefore, while reading a picture book and looking at images, the children will be slowed down a little compared to watching television or electronic devices. That is the power of picture books,” Huong said.
In Vietnam, greater attention is being paid to nurturing children’s emotional lives. Picture books can help children better understand culture, traditions, and their homeland.
Vu Thi Thanh Tam, Director of O Cua Sach Education and Publishing Company, said: “Although the material living conditions have been improved, when it comes to spending on picture books, many parents still ask why the prices are high or why children should look at pictures when they should read more. People often underestimate illustrations, without realizing that picture books are a child’s first art museum, nurturing their aesthetic appreciation. It’s essential to communicate this to parents, change consumption habits, and give children a happy childhood.”
At the festival, the children could draw and create their own stories. Ha Thuy Tu Uyen, a 10th-grade student, said: “I have a book with very few words, but the pictures can almost tell the whole story. It’s easy to understand. Picture books for children should not have too many words. I’ve read picture books by other artists in manga and anime styles, so my drawings are influenced by that style too. Every book carries a different message. Sometimes my drawings express pressures faced by children, unfairness, or favoritism. I hope adults who read these stories will reflect on their own children and change some of their previous behaviors. Hopefully they can strengthen family bond.”
7th grader Nguyen Thuan Nhien in Da Lat says she created her first picture book at the age of seven. Inspired by her cat climbing onto rooftops and resting beneath rose vines, she transformed a simple everyday image into an imaginative adventure.
“I hope adults can understand children’s drawings, even though the lines may not be perfect, but they carry very deep meanings. Sometimes it’s just a minor sadness or happiness, but it expresses children’s feelings,” said Nhien.
Le Thien Tri, a representative of the Room to Read organization, said that in order to promote the role of picture books, they must be viewed as part of an ecosystem, from creation and publishing to distribution and public awareness. “When children hold a picture book, they read it very differently from other books. They should watch and question “Why was this color chosen?”, “What do these movements mean?” Why is the image layout on a single page or a double-page?” They must combine both illustrations and text to understand. The process of reading picture books helps children develop critical thinking, reasoning, observation, visual analysis, and ways of expressing what they understand,” Tri said.
Picture books also open “windows to the world” and serve as “mirrors” through which children can reflect on themselves.
Tri said: “Writers and illustrators of children books use children as their main subjects, for example what are their joys and difficulties. Little readers can see themselves in the stories, share their problems, and learn ways to overcome difficulties. Because picture book is a type of visual storytelling, readers are encouraged to change the way they read and think.”
In the rapid technological development, picture books offer a complementary experience, a space where children can slow down, reflect, and connect more deeply with their emotions.
The first Vietnam Children’s Picture Book Festival 2026 (VCPF 2026) was held from May 28-31 at the Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library under the theme “Picture books support children in difficult circumstances.” Initiated by Slowbooks, the event aimed to create a networking space, promote Vietnam’s picture book ecosystem, and expand opportunities to bring Vietnamese picture books to the world. The four-day festival featured many activities, including the exhibition “100 Vietnamese Picture Books to Love and Remember,” a book fair, creative workshops, author-illustrator exchanges, thematic discussions, and copyright meetings. South Korea was the guest of honor, bringing to the festival over 90 works and sharing experiences as one of the world’s leading picture book producers.
