Participants of the bilingual picture book reading event pose for a photo Oct. 20 at the New Era Civilization Practice Center in Maluan Subdistrict, Pingshan District. Photos courtesy of the event organizer

A bilingual picture book reading event themed “Bravely Express Yourself and Grow Happily” was held Oct. 20 at the New Era Civilization Practice Center in Maluan Subdistrict, Pingshan District.

Samuel Sadiq, a German teacher from Shenzhen Technology University, and Su Shengliang, along with local residents, read “The Unicorn That Said No,” a picture book in Chinese and German.

Samuel Sadiq and Su Shengliang read “The Unicorn That Said No” for residents.

The event was part of Maluan Subdistrict’s efforts to develop itself into an international block. At the event, participants learned German culture and vocabulary from the picture book, and used the “hero’s journey” theory to role-play based on the story. They also shared their experiences and reflections on the book. “Hero’s journey” is a storytelling pattern for writers to depict a protagonist undergoing a transformative journey.

During the event, Su used flashcards to introduce Germany, including its geography, national flag, emblem design concepts, and artworks. This planted a seed of cultural exchange between China and Germany and broadened the children’s international perspectives.

Samuel Sadiq uses his expressive performance to tell the picture book story to residents.

When Sadiq and Su vividly read the story in German and Chinese, their candid and humorous tones and expressive performances brought continuous laughter to the audience. They also encouraged children to create their own hero stories and express themselves confidently.

A participant said the event was a valuable opportunity to learn and exchange international parenting concepts. “I hope to participate in more international community activities organized by Maluan Subdistrict in the future.”

An official from the subdistrict said that they will continue to organize language activities with international volunteers in the subdistrict, and utilize various cultural resources to create a top-notch multilingual environment for residents to have more opportunities to learn foreign languages while enhancing the integration of expats into the Chinese community.

Samuel Sadiq and Su Shengliang interact with children during the bilingual picture book reading event.