Four-book series celebrates Chinese history, architecture and culture

The Forbidden City, an Imaginative World History Lesson for Kids

A new series invites children to explore Ancient China. Peering into the world’s largest palace, they’ll discover 800 buildings and nearly 9,000 rooms and learn that Beijing’s Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors, but off-limits for 500 years. It’s a wild history lesson that is enough to make any child’s imagination take off.

That’s one of the reasons why China Institute in America, the oldest American organization devoted exclusively to China, created a cross-cultural learning

experience and new book series based on the Forbidden City.

Part of their upcoming We All Live in the Forbidden City program, four hardcover books and coordinating e-book apps introduce the Forbidden City and the study of architecture, imperial life, and Chinese cultural history to kids, parents, and teachers. Developed in Hong Kong with the Palace Museum in Beijing, This is the Greatest Place! (for readers ages 5-9) and In the Forbidden City (ages 9+) will release in October 2014, followed by The Blessed Bowl (ages 5-9) and Let’s Explore the Forbidden City (ages 9+) in Fall 2015.

Founded in 1926, China Institute in America is a non-profit educational and cultural institution that advances a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business, and art in the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens our global community. China Institute was founded by a group of distinguished American and Chinese educators including John Dewey, Hu Shih, Paul Monroe and Dr. Kuo Ping-wen.

Learn more at ChinaInstitute.org.

This is the Greatest Place was created by internationally renowned children’s book artists Brian Tse and Alice Mak, the book teaches children about Chinese architecture, how nature’s influence can be seen around us, and how people and animals can live together in harmony. The illustrations capture the majesty of both the natural world and the Forbidden City and are enhanced by interactive components for readers, including a gatefold spread and lift-flaps.Tse and Mak are well known for their heartwarming and educational stories for children. They are the creators of the iconic cartoon characters McMug and McDull, who have been featured in numerous award-winning works including books, comics, television shows, and movies.

In the Forbidden City, readers will be accompanied by a mischievous cat as they tour this colossal architectural structure, discovering the secrets hidden inside the palace walls. They will encounter the people who have walked through its halls and gardens, including emperors, empresses, and rebel leaders, and hear exciting tales about the power struggles and intrigues of everyday life.

This large format book conveys the grandeur of the Forbidden City through highly detailed line drawings of its buildings, gardens, and courtyards with numerous foldout spreads. Each page is populated by a large variety of characters and peppered with entertaining anecdotes. Every book includes a plastic magnifying glass for looking at the drawings more closely.

Creator Chiu Kwong-chiu is an artist, designer, and professor who explores Chinese traditional visual arts along with adopting groundbreaking ways to interpret and promote Chinese art and culture.

Disclaimer:  In exchange for this press release, PR By the Book has sent me a copy of each book.