Chinese / People's Republic of China
Chui jing shao de hai zi
(Children blowing the whale whistle)
Zhou, Rui
(text)
Dalian: Da lian chu ban she (Dalian Publishing House), 2016. – 123 p.
ISBN 978-7-5505-1010-4
Autism | Disability | Non-fiction | Whale | Cetacean assisted therapy | Exclusion | Integration
Reading age: 12+
White Ravens issue: 2016
There is a non-governmental institute for autism rehabilitation in the city of Dalian, started by the mother of an autistic child, which offers free winter camp programs for cetacean assisted therapy for autistic kids.This slight but significant book is the result of Zhou Rui’s investigation and interviews with a group of teachers, parents and whale tamers from Dalian. The authentic tone of Zhou’s writing makes it particularly touching. This book is expected to help draw more attention to the marginalized group of autistic people. Born in 1953, Zhou is one of the most outstanding writers of children’s literature in contemporary China. He is best known for his fairy tales and novels including “Yong gan li fa dian” (Barbershop Brave), “Heng ha er jiang” (General Heng & Ha) and “Zhong guo tu zi de guo cao” (Chinese rabbit and German grass). He has won many awards including the National Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature and the Song Qingling Children’s Literature Award.