(VOVWORLD) -Books for children are an important market segment for publishing houses and printing companies. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, publishing sales has risen as parents and teachers promote reading among young people.
 Dinh Ti bookstore at Hanoi Book Street |
Since early this month, Hanoi Book Street has collaborated with publishing houses and book companies to organize activities to celebrate Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day on April 24th and the 6th anniversary of Book Street on May 1st. People enjoy going to bookstores instead of buying books online as they were forced to do during the pandemic. Hanoi Book Street has 16 bookstalls of publishers, such as Kim Dong, Tien Phong, Thai Ha, Nha Nam, and Dinh Ti. All publishers offer special discounts to mark Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day.
Bookseller of Nha Nam bookstore Nguyen Thu Huyen said: “Since the pandemic was under control, the number of visitors to our bookstores has increased. The children love to read books at the stores. Nha Nam bookstores always have reading area for children. We open bookstores near schools and the children can come to read books after class while waiting for their parents.”
Last week Nha Nam Book Publisher launched its second Welcoming Summer program, selling 58,000 books at discounts of 30% to 70% at the Vietnam Youth Academy in Hanoi.
 The pupils act out the story of Vo Thi Sau at the Reading Festival of Dong Tam primary school in Hanoi. |
Dinh Ti Books Company, which specializes in books for children and books on parenting, has organized book displays and storytelling events at primary schools. Last Friday it co-organized a book display at Dong Tam primary school in Hanoi, where pupils acted out stories to bring the characters to life.
Pham Thi Thanh Loan, Head of the School Books Department of Dinh Ti Books, said that since the beginning of the year, Dinh Ti Books has organized book displays at 30 primary schools. It plans to come to 100 more schools in or near Hanoi this year.
“We have worked with schools in Hanoi to organize book displays and reading festivals for 17 years. We organize exchanges and games for the pupils to inspire their reading passion. Dinh Ti books are available at all of bookstores nationwide and on several online platforms. At events like this the children can see and touch the books and read them on site, but online sales let us reach more readers.”
Ms. Loan said that, since its establishment, Dinh Ti Books has published books for children and promote a reading community via regular activities such as bringing books to children in remote areas, taking part in activities at Book Street, co-organizing a contest for library staff with the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and sponsoring charity groups.
 Dinh Ti Books Company accompanies the Reading Festival of Viet Hung primary school in Long Bien district, Hanoi. (photo: Dinh Ti) |
Since 2010, the market for children’s books has expanded rapidly, and many new publishing houses have increased the proportion of children’s books in their total sales – Nha Nam to 36% and Tre Publishing House to 40%.
“Dinh Ti is a pioneer in making smart, interactive books for children up to 16 years old. Interactive books engage the children and their parents. We have books with built-in sounds of 10 topics, lift-the-flap books, bedtime shadow books, and interactive books to help children develop their sense of touch, sight, hearing, and smell. We had copy rights from foreign publishers like Osbourn, DK Publishing, and Nathan. Investment in smart, interactive publications is higher than in normal books. But, as a pioneer in this field, we always have new publications and are earning steady revenues,” said Ms. Loan.
Vu Thi Thu Huong, Headmistress of Dong Tam primary school, said books are important to education and the school library is always busy. The public demand for books has no limit and readers are always looking for new books. “Publishing houses need to keep improving their products, from more attractive book covers to more interesting content. It’s the responsibility of both the publishers and the authors,” said Mrs. Huong.