Chinese / Taiwan
Tongku Saveq. Taki Ludun tu Vazaz Tiang
(Dong gu sha fei. Shan de hai zi Di ang)
(Tiang. Child of the mountain)
Neqou Soqluman
(text)
Maoyu
(illus.)
Taibei: Si ye wen hua (SACCA Publishing Company), 2025. – [56] p.
ISBN 978-626-96841-6-8
Picture book | Taiwan | Ecology | Mountains | Bunun <people>
Reading age: 7+
White Ravens issue: 2026
The story follows young Tiang, who desires to climb Tongku Saveq, the sacred mountain of the Bunun people. Although his father – a high-altitude porter who wants to shield his son from back-breaking labour – is at first reluctant, they embark, together with the grandfather, on a trek that requires courage, responsibility, and physical stamina. Weaving in mythology, ecology, and ancestral wisdom, the narrative follows their ascent to the summit, where Taiwan’s breathtaking beauty unfolds. Illustrator Maoyu’s intuitive approach rejects stereotypical »tribal styles«; using coloured inks to interweave reality and fantasy, she depicts thin air, mist, textures of trees, rocks, mythical creatures and the well-defined calves of the hard-working Bunun. The book reflects the worldview of the Bunun and their desire to reclaim their sacred mountain. Author and illustrator have received numerous national and international awards. This book was awarded the TIBE Grand Prize 2026 for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. (Age: 7+) [LO]