• 2021-11-30

Date: December 4th (Sat.), 2021
Time: 10:00-17:00
Venue: Liberty Square, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

https://trf2021.ncl.edu.tw/marketing.php

FB of 2021 Taiwan Reading Festival:
https://www.facebook.com/trf.tw/

The Taiwan Reading Festival is a reading celebration event in Taiwan only. National Central Library places great importance on the development of illustrated books in Taiwan. It also hopes to show forth the rich energy found in the creation of Taiwan’s illustrated books so that the world can see Taiwan more clearly. Each year renowned illustrators and authors in Taiwan are invited to create unique posters for the reading festival. It is hoped that through these works by great artists, the young generation can be encouraged to engage in the creation of illustrated books and do their part in developing the industry.

For 2021, the NCL invited well-known manga, illustrator, and children’s book creator, as well as ceramics artist, Tsung-ming Liu to be this year’s visual designer. Mr. Liu’s works are full of the innocence of childhood, humor, and a variety of styles and genres. They also emit a love of nature and innocence. The visual design concept came from the influence that the pandemic had on the entire world and the resulting introspection. The children’s version expressed the ideas of “busting out of one’s shell for new birth” and “leaving the cocoon.” The energetic little elephant happily looks at one interesting and knowledge-filled book after another with his friends and little animals on earth. He flies around in the sky, full of new life and hope. The adult version expresses the post-pandemic views of how life starts again, with people leisurely enjoying reading on the grass in the park.

The 2021 Taiwan Reading Festival’s series of events are very rich, variegated, and amazing. The events begin starting in November and run through the end of December in libraries across the island. The main events include Nationwide event: Little Book-Lover’s World, Main site event: Happy Reading Carnival, and the other events held in libraries all over.

1.     Nationwide event: Little Book-Lover’s World

National Central Library is the general planner for the Little Book-Lover’s World event. It starts in November and runs through December. In public libraries in 18 cities and counties, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taizhong, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Pingtung County, Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County, Kinmen County, and Penghu County, over these two months, a total of 61 nationwide linked activities will be held. Children from 0-6 and their parents are the targeted audience, with activity design focused on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and playing. The idea is to help parents cultivate an early literacy through reading.

2.     Main site event: Happy Reading Carnival

Each year the Taiwan Reading Festival’s grandest and most bustling main site event is the Reading Carnival. In 2021 the reading carnival theme is Roaming in the Book Forest – Enjoying a Great Reading Time! It will be on December 4th (Sat.) from 10:00-17:00 at Liberty Square. The event is hosted by National Central Library, with over 150 organizations participating, including National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall management office, public libraries throughout the nation, cultural socioeducational offices, government institutions, various foreign government representative offices, school clubs, publishers, bookstores, TiBE, and civic groups. They will be holding over 250 events that bring together the new curriculum focus, STEAM and bilingual education, and international culture. These innovative reading events differ widely. Some include traditional performances, international cultures, early literacy, interesting popular science, money management learning, color creations, innovative services experience, interesting knowledge about ancient classics, storytelling, unique bookshelves, and creative event stalls. We invite adults and children alike to create a wonderful reading time together.

The Happy Reading Carnival will be held on December 4th at Freedom Square. At 10:00 am, the carnival’s opening ceremony will be held on the Democracy Boulevard stage. From then until 5 pm, a total of 24 events will take place:

1.     Joyful Storytelling Villages

We invited storytelling troupes to read illustrated books in 17 creative and colorful story houses so that parents and children can explore different age-based life experiences together and figure out what types of books are suitable that these various ages. Together they can create a reading memory for both.

2.     Bubble, Science, Flying Man

A crazy science bubble blowing event for children, a paper airplane game, DIY science experiments, helping children learn science through ordinary objects, mastering popular science knowledge, and increasing reading pleasure.

3.     The World Symphony of Reading Enjoyment

NCL especially teamed up with 13 institutions including Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Bureau Français de Taipei, the Polish Office in Taipei, Kaohsiung Public Library - International Picture Book Center, Netherlands Office Taipei, Trade Office of Swiss Industries, Goethe-Institut Taipei, European Union Centre in Taiwan, Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Oficina de Enlace de México en Taiwán, Belgian Office Taipei - Wallonia-Brussels International, to plan out the World Symphony of Reading Enjoyment with its multinational look. This opens a door that works at will to let you “go abroad in a second.” In one day you can pass through several countries, create a tin badge for yourself, and enjoy coloring, classic joint reading, illustrated books from Taiwan translated in other languages, and Christmas activities. We invite you to join with us at the Read Your Way across the World event and experience mesmerizing customs of other countries.

4.     Ancient Art Is So Fun

By telling stories through looking at the past and challenging one’s knowledge of ancient Chinese, everyone is more interested in exploring the charm and beauty of the ancient classics. This will stand on its head your previous understanding and impression of ancient books.

5.     Little Book-Lover’s World  

For children ages 2-5 and their parents. Through singing, talking about the world, reading stories, drawing and writing, and playing with illustrated books participants will be able to navigate the various passes. Parents will need to lead their children. Through the listening, speaking, reading, writing and fun event, toddlers will experience Chinese characters and books. It is our hope that the children will become Little Book-Lover’s World.

6.     Little Financial Expert

This event is designed for elementary students and has unique finance activities for grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. Through guidance by on-site staff, they learn how to save → plan → invest. This helps students learn from a young age the proper ways to manage their money.

7.     WOW! Amazing Painting!

Professional instructors use color related illustrations to guide children in enjoying books and having an interest in colors. They will make handmade cards as a way to train their imagination. There is also a twisty rainbow game that helps children express their ideas about reading.

8.     Library to Your Home

National Central Library has worked hard to take library services to everyone’s home and into the heart of every book lover. Services include NCL in Your Home TV e-books, fun interactive games, and present tense poems and prose to learn about the various services available.

9.     Reading in the City

In conjunction with National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall’s views, open space, and buildings, we selected 8 areas to put energetic and unique bookshelves. On them are books suitable for children and adults to read, thus creating an atmosphere of “encountering reading in the city” and allowing reading events to naturally become a part of city life. We will also be hosting a My Favorite City Book Room voting event. Also, we have a “book crossing area” and a “reading big books area” to make the reading events even more interesting and outstanding.

10.      Amaze with the Robot

NCL robots accompany children of all ages in singing, dancing, expanding knowledge, making things, and stamping beauty pictures, to share with friends. Together we will enjoy the 2021 Taiwan Reading Festival.

11.  Jigsaw Puzzle

Playing with games can stimulate the brain. Through different transportation puzzle games, older children can use their hands to learn more about various modes of transportation.

12.  Run to Read-HAPPY GATHERING

From 2:00-5:00 pm on December 4th, the main stage on Democracy Boulevard will host an English illustration teacher, storytelling troupes, school clubs, popular illustrators, and well-known singers to put on a spectacular performance. In the leisurely afternoon time, the fragrance of books will accompany you amidst sounds of joy. The public will have a chance to experience the goodness of reading. We invite your family to come celebrate the day with us.

Other Reading Festival Carnival events include:

1.     Library Trail

We invited all public libraries in Taiwan to share events, so that the public could the variegated and innovative services of public libraries. In 2021, we have invited 15 public libraries to share in the grand occasion and bring rich and various reading experiences, including the Taipei City Public Library, Hsinchu City Public Library, Taoyuan City Public Library, Taoyuan City Public Library Children’s Toy Library, Luchu Library, Dahsi Library, Taichung Public Library, Kaohsiung Public Library, Keelung City Cultural Affairs Bureau, Miaoli County Public Library, Pingtung County Main Public Library, Yilan County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau, Hualien County Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taitung County Government Cultural Affairs Department, and Penghu County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau.

Event content includes everyone read good books, knowledge Q&A, riddle solving tasks, popular science games, illustrated story time, origami fun, little science classroom, mobile borrowing experience, and events with local flavor, such as the Kaohsiung 100 Year Anniversary, Port City Customs, Humanities in Pingtung Townships and Towns, etc.

2.     Museum Wonderland

We invited museums and government departments throughout the island to promote creative events stalls that are related to our lives called Museum Wonderlands. In 2021, the 19 collaborating institutions include National Education Radio, National Museum of Prehistory, National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, National Taiwan Museum, National Hsinchu Living Arts Center, Ocean Affairs Council, National Taitung Living Art Center, National Taiwan Science Education Center, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, National Museum of Natural Science, Hakka Affairs Council’s Hakka Cultural Development Center, National Museum of History, National Science and Technology Museum, National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Ministry of Culture, Bureau of Cultural Heritage, National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Chinese Association for Industrial Technology Advancement, National Palace Museum, National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Management Office. Events include little radio announcer, archeology exploration, ocean protection, environmental protection, aesthetic experience, culture creation, interactive popular science, the beauty of crafts, local cultures, and health and happy life! We will take you up mountains and into the sea, digging up treasure chests full of knowledge.

3.     Reading Market

Publishers, civic groups, and book clubs were invited to participate. A total of 23 event booths will be set up on Democracy Boulevard. Content included quality stationery booths, book booths, birds of prey preservation, children’s human rights stories, independent publishers, flash mob storytellers, puzzle board games, caricatures, parent-child interaction, Japanese literature experience, DIY crafts, poetry and prose creation, etc.

4.     Joy Campus

Taipei Municipal Heti Elementary School, Taipei Longan Elementary School, Tsai Hsing Primary School, Shih Hsin University book clubs, and Taipei Municipal Xiyuan Elementary School will all display the results of their reading promotion events.

5.     Be Joyful with Library

The “Be Joyful with Library” is cohosted with the Library Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan). We have also asked the 13 cohosting institutions to create innovative stalls. These institutions include the Library Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan), National Chung Hsing University Library, the Department of Cultural Vocation Development at National Taipei University of Technology, National Cheng Chi University Library, National Taiwan Normal University Library, National Cheng Kung University Library, National Taiwan University Library, NTU School History Building and Overall Museum, National Taiwan University Plants Specimen Building, Museum of Zoology, Elementary and Junior High Members of the Library Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Mental Health Association of Taiwan, Social and Family Affairs Administration Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Library Association of the Republic of China Reading and Mental Health Committee. Everyone can explore the wondrous world of libraries!

6.     Mobile Library Display

A library that moves prevents library services from being limited by space. As the knowledge treasure trove known as the mobile library goes around, for this event we have gathered special book vehicles from around Taiwan for a static display, a features guide, help on how to tell which is which, borrowing books, storytelling, and interesting reading promotion events. All are welcome to come and see us!

7.     Other events include Comic Portrait & Comic Knowhow