Kid’s Republic is the best designed children’s bookstore I have ever seen. It is so bright and colorful I almost want to hop on a plane just to visit. Kid’s Republic is the first specialized picture bookstore in China. Chinese children’s literature isn’t new, but the emphasis on children’s picture books with art work and appealing pictures that we take for granted in the US is relatively novel in China.
The mission of the store has a decidedly international flair that we rarely see locally:
Against the background thatmore attention is put on international cooperation, [Kid's Republic] devotes itself to the creation and development of a new children as well as picture book culture . . . We take children as the future pillars of each society and the hope of world peace.
While we may find the mission unusual (although very commendible and an example to follow), the bookstore model for Kid’s Republic is similar to US bookstores: events with the author focused on children, arts and crafts events, and story time events (an upcoming event focuses on The Three Billy Goats Gruff).
When my daughter starts taking Chinese in the fall, I’m looking forward to giving her a couple of easy, colorful Chinese picture books from Kid’s Republic.
First Floor, Building 13th
Jianwai SOHO Community
No. 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu
Beijing, China
T: 010-5869-3032
Claire
Kim
