Chinese writer Cao Wenxuan (2nd R, front) poses for photos after winning the Hans Christian Andersen Prize in Bologna, Italy, on April 4, 2016.(Xinhua/Song Jian)
China's culture and mythology provide writers with rich material to adapt for success in the children's book market, the Chinese winner of a top literary prize said on Monday.
Cao Wenxuan, who became the first Chinese to win the Hans Christian Andersen Prize earlier this month, said, "China's children literature has made a unique contribution to the world, as the tremendous suffering our country has gone through has provided a lot of unique material for writers.
"There is a profusion of Chinese stories we can write about. This is a unique advantage."
Cao's accolade, which follows that of Nobel laureate Mo Yan and Hugo Award-winning Liu Cixin in securing Chinese writers' place on the world stage, is sure to boost China's children's book market that saw double-digit growth in 2015.
Cao, however, warned of uneven standards among writers, accusing some of lacking dedication to hone their talents and looking for a quick buck.
"Children's literature is so important to the kids. Writers should not be driven by commercial concerns and must instead sit quietly down to write quality works," the 62-year-old Peking University professor said.
