(VOVworld) – The Phan Thi Communication, Education, and Entertainment Company has published the first volume, entitled “Sovereignty affirmation”, of its comic book series “Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa”. This is the first comic book about Vietnam’s sea and island history and a new attempt to introduce patriotism and sea and island sovereignty to young readers.

Cover of the comic book “Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” – the first volume. (Photo: chaobuoisang.net)

“Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” is a continuation of the widely popular comic book series “Vietnamese Child Prodigies”. The comic book follows the familiar characters Trang Ty (Prodigy Ty) and his friends in stories about the history of the Hoang Sa-Truong Sa archipelagos and Vietnam’s sovereignty over its sea and islands. The first volume, “Sovereignty affirmation”, provides historical documents demonstrating that King Gia Long in the early 19^th century established and confirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over waters and islands in the East Sea, mentions King Minh Mang’s resolute attitude on Vietnam’s sovereignty, and shows the first national flag on Hoang Sa Island. The Phan Thi Company’s aim is to teach young people about Vietnam’s sea and islands. Phan Thi My Hanh is the company’s director: “The company traded on the success of the already well-known “Vietnamese Child Prodigies” to publish this comic book about Hoang Sa and Truong Sa to get young readers interested in the subject of sea and island sovereignty and show them the evidence that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam.”

The company struggled with the challenge of presenting historical information while preserving the humorous style of a comic book. The historical evidence had to be accurate but suitable for young people. Fortunately, the company has had previous success in publishing a comic book series. Hanh again: “The company has found its own direction, so everything is working out. We received strong support from historian Doctor Nguyen Nha and the Navy High Command who provided the company plenty of documents to make sure our young readers got accurate information.”

Historian Nguyen Nha said the first volume of “Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” used accurate documents about Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. (Photo: chaobuoisang.net)

The characters lead readers to learn more about Vietnam’s sea and island history, such as the National Historiographer Office under the Nguyen dynasty and the establishment of milita and naval forces to exploit, protect, and fully map the two archipelagos. In the first volume, Prodigy Ty and his friends, who include a princess from the Nguyen dynasty, discover the islands. The volume affirms that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos belong to Vietnam. Doctor Nha said: “I’m very keen to transmit what I consider necessary content to young people. First, children of all ages can easily and quickly absorb the message of the book through pictures that affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands. Second, there is a summary at the beginning of the stories that’s suitable if not for children, then for students and young people.”

Pages of the first volume “Sovereignty affirmation”. (Photo: chaobuoisang.net)

The first volume of “Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” has had a good reception. Duong Thi Ngan is business manager of the Quang Loi Book and Cultural Supplies Company: “My company distributes the Phan Thi series “Vietnamese Child Prodigies: Hoang Sa-Truong Sa”. Sales are quite high because many young people are interested in Vietnam’s sea and islands, including Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos.”