Kids’ Books Ahead of Shanghai’s Book Fair


A bid for children’s success boosts ‘comic+’ and other books for kids among parents, as seen in the China’s September bestseller lists.

The towers of Shanghai emerge above morning clouds. The 11th China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair — a collaboration with Bologna Children’s Book Fair and Bologna Book Plus — runs Novmeber 15 to 17. Image – Getty: Mag 1c Zhou

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Books for Children That Help Out Parents

With the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair opening soon to run November 15 to 17, we take a look today (November 6) at a couple of key points being spotlighted by our market-research associates at Beijing OpenBook on trends in mainland China’s September book-market data.

‘Treasure Hunting in Jilin,’ No. 1 on the September children’s bestsellers list in China

Of special interest are the comic+ phenomenon in the Chinese market, a term that refers to comic books that address parents’ concerns about what we’re told are three areas of their children’s development:

  • “Pioneering spirit”
  • Etiquette
  • Social Skills

In September Treasure Hunting in Jilin, published by the 21st Century Press Group, was ranked at No. 1 in the OpenBook children’s book bestsellers.

‘Backbone of a Nation: The Scientific Life of Chinese Academicians and The Development History of Chinese Science,’ No. 2 on the children’s bestseller’s list in September

Overall, this and other comic+ books continued to make a strong showing in the children’s market, with works by award-winning authors drawing significant attention.

If anything, “pioneering spirit” now is taking on a somewhat wider context in these books’ classifications, with parents calling for insights into boosting self-motivation in many of their children.

The exploration of self-motivation apparently is a concern many parents have for their children. And an August release, Self-Discipline Changes Destiny: Making Your Child a Top Student Starts With Self-Discipline, debuted on the charts in short-video social-media channels (though we have not seen it appear yet on this series of bestseller rankings).

Where we do see movement is in titles including Comic Teen Adventures: The Way of the Wolf, a four-volume series that “promotes the spirit of determination through cartoon comics,” our associates say, “awakening the inner drive of children.” That one is ranked No. 4 on the September bestsellers list in children’s content, a book by Kou Qiankun from New Buds Publishing House.

‘Guess How Much I Love You,’ No. 3 on the September children’s bestseller list

Another key feature in children’s books in China, especially as they have to do with parents’ perceptions of their kids’ needs, has to do with the National Outstanding Children’s Literature Award, which was created in 1986 and is designed “to encourage children’s literature creation and promote the prosperity of children’s literature.”

A series named for the award focuses on winning authors seemed to perform well in September on the market, and may  be identifiable in the bestseller appearances of some books going forward.

Below, then, are OpenBook’s overall lists from September 2024 of bestsellers in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, followed by its lists of bestselling fiction and nonfiction in China by authors from outside the country. At the end of our article, as always, you’ll find notes on how the lists are constructed.

A bookstore in Hangzhou, set in the Qiaoxi historical district near the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Image – Getty: Mark Zhu

OpenBook’s Fiction Bestsellers, September 2024
 September 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787536097261 2022-07 Someone To Talk To Liu Zhenyun Flower City Press
2 9787020008735 1998-07 Journey to the West Wu Cheng’en People’s Literature Publishing House
3 9787530221532 2021-10 To Live (2021 Edition) Yu Hua Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
4 9787020002207 1998-07 Dream of the Red Chamber Cao Xueqin People’s Literature Publishing House
5 9787020139590 2019-06 The Last Quarter of the Moon Chi Zijian People’s Literature Publishing House
6 9787572608582 2022-10 The Litchi Road Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
7 9787544291170 2017-08 One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Nan Hai Publishing Co.
8 9787201112695 2017-03 Siddhartha Hermann Hesse Tianjin People’s Publishing House
9 9787530221396 2021-06 Ordinary Word (3 Volumes) (2021 Edition) Lu Yao Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
10 9787540487645 2018-06 Moments We Shared Zhang Jiajia Hunan Literature & Art Press
11 9787519013295 2016-07 Dream of the Red Chamber Cao Xueqin The Publishing House of the China Literary Federation
12 9787515373850 2024-08 Red Crag Luo Guangbin, Yang Yiyan China Youth Press
13 9787559484550 2024-03 Go On a Long Trip at Eighteen Yu Hua Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
14 9787572610912 2023-05 The Annoyance of the Gods Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
15 9787536692930 2008-01 The Three-Body Problem Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
16 9787020164776 2020-07 A Late Bloomer Mo Yan People’s Literature Publishing House
17 9787559484543 2024-07 I’m as Timid as a Hare Yu Hua Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
18 9787544766500 2017-01 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Yilin Press
19 9787536693968 2008-05 The Dark Forest Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
20 9787229030933 2010-11 Death’s End Liu Cixin Chongqing Publishing House
21 9787020008742 1998-07 Water Margin Shi Nai’an, Luo Guanzhong People’s Literature Publishing House
22 9787541161834 2022-07 Notebook of a Grave Robber (1) Nanpai Sanshu Sichuan Literature & Art Press
23 9787536094420 2021-07 Laughter and Tears: A Novel Liu Zhenyun Flower City Press
24 9787572616099 2024-03 The Journey to the South Ma Boyong Hunan Literature & Art Press
25 9787544787932 2022-01 Ben Ba Liu Liangcheng Yilin Press
26 9787020008728 1998-07 Romance of the Three Kingdoms Luo Guanzhong People’s Literature Publishing House
27 9787541161841 2022-07 Notebook of a Grave Robber (2) Nanpai Sanshu Sichuan Literature & Art Press
28 9787513348744 2022-11 The Seventh Day Yu Hua New Star Press Co., Ltd.
29 9787541161858 2022-07 Notebook of a Grave Robber (3) Nanpai Sanshu Sichuan Literature & Art Press
30 9787201141527 2018-10 Strait is the Gate Andre Gide Tianjin People’s Publishing House

OpenBook’s Nonfiction Bestsellers, September 2024
September 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787557033118 2024-06 If History were a Group of Cats: The Late Ming Dynasty and the Early Qing Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
2 9787536094352 2021-09 My Altay Li Juan Flower City Press
3 9787020084357 2011-04 I and the Temple of Earth Shi Tiesheng People’s Literature Publishing House
4 9787122450791 2024-04 Comic The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine Zhang Jiaming, Wang Jing Chemical Industry Press
5 9787516837375 2024-01 There’s An Elephant In Every Mosquito: Why We Don’t Get Upset About Little Things For No Reason Ernstfried Hanisch, Eva Wunderer Taihai Publishing House
6 9787550232822 2014-10 Common Knowledge of Ancient Chinese Culture (4th Edition) Wang Li Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
7 9787557031589 2023-11 If History were a Group of Cats: The Ming Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
8 9787111495482 2015-04 The Courage to Be Disliked Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga China Machine Press
9 9787201161693 2020-08 Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure Robert de Board Tianjin People’s Publishing House
10 9787504781512 2024-04 Plan the World Gao Wenfei China Logistics Publishing House
11 9787512622456 2013-12 Nothing In Life Can Not Be Put Down – Hongyi Wisdom Of Life Song Mo Tuanjie Press
12 9787557030162 2023-05 If History were a Group of Cats: Late Yuan and Early Ming Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
13 9787020116133 2016-06 Red Star Over China Edgar Snow People’s Literature Publishing House
14 9787520216210 2024-09 History of Tang Dynasty (3 volumes) Bo Hai Xiao Li Encyclopaedia of China Publishing House
15 9787557030599 2023-06 If History were a Group of Cats: Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
16 9787544276986 2019-10 Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover Nan Hai Publishing Co.
17 9787101127867 2017-09 Translation and Annotation of the Analects of Confucius Yang Bojun Zhonghua Book Company
18 9787115543424 2020-09 Cognitive Awakening: The Driving Force Behind Self-Change Zhou Ling Posts & Telecommunications Publishing House
19 9787521760323 2024-02 Timelines of World History Dorling Kindersley Limited CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
20 9787557028657 2022-10 If History were a Group of Cats: Southern Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
21 9787540484880 2018-01 The Gay Genius: The Life and Times of Su Tungpo Lin Yutang Hunan Literature & Art Press
22 9787557020149 2019-09 If History were a Group of Cats: Three Kingdoms Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
23 9787557024413 2021-05 If History were a Group of Cats: Prosperity of the Tang Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
24 9787550207516 2012-06 Illustrate the World: Travelling Around China Editing Group of This Book Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
25 9787530214657 2015-01 We All Live in Disparity Yu Hua Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
26 9787557030582 2023-06 If History were a Group of Cats: The Spring-autumn and Warring State Period Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
27 9787557020132 2019-09 If History were a Group of Cats: The End of Eastern Han Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
28 9787502078942 2021-05 Talmud Guo Yongshui Emergency Management Press
29 9787557023041 2020-10 If History were a Group of Cats: Sui and Tang Dynasty Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House
30 9787557027063 2022-04 If History were a Group of Cats: Song, Liao, Jin Dynasty and the Western Xia Regime Fei Zhi Guangdong Tourism Publishing House-

 

OpenBook’s Children’s Bestsellers, September 2024
September 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Chinese Publisher
1 9787556882236 2024-08 Treasure Hunting in Jilin Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
2 9787559728920 2023-02 Backbone of Nation: The Scientific Life of Chinese Academicians and The Development History of Chinese Science Academic Divisions of The Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
3 9787533274269 2013-08 Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram Tomorrow Publishing House
4 9787530778494 2024-09 Comic Teen Adventures: The Way of the Wolf (4 volumes) Kou Qiankun New Buds Publishing House
5 9787532767373 2014-08 Charlotte’s Web Elwyn Brooks White Shanghai Translation Publishing House
6 9787570819768 2024-01 Animals HOLLO BOOKS Tomorrow Publishing House
7 9787544288590 2018-06 Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window (2018 Edition) Tetsuko Kuroyanagi Nan Hai Publishing Co.
8 9787556070183 2018-02 Jinbo Four Seasons Fairy Tale (4 volumes) Jin Bo Changjiang Children’s Press
9 9787556878871 2023-11 Treasure Hunting in Shanxi Jingding Comic 21st Century Press Group
10 9787533273477 2013-05 Diary of a Worm Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss Tomorrow Publishing House
11 9787531332091 2008-05 Xili Hulu The Little Pig (Zhuyin Version) (Vol.1) Sun You Jun Chunfeng Art & Literature Publishing House
12 9787559706522 2018-05 The Foolish and the Unhappy (With Chinese Pinyin) Ren Rongrong Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
13 9787531333227 2008-06 Xili Hulu The Little Pig (Zhuyin Version) (Vol.2) Sun You Jun Chunfeng Art & Literature Publishing House
14 9787534256301 2009-09 Dreaming of Being a Wolf King (2018 Edition) Shen Shixi Zhejiang Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
15 9787556830411 2017-10 The Cricket in Times Square George Selden, Garth Williams 21st Century Press Group
16 9787558187926 2020-08 Xiaobazhang Tonghua (8 volumes) Zhang Qiusheng Jilin Publishing Group Co., Ltd.
17 9787533273460 2013-05 Something from Nothing Phoebe Gilman Tomorrow Publishing House
18 9787535766229 2011-03 Fast Reading for Age 4-5 (Story Collection) Yang Qiduo Hunan Science & Technology Press
19 9787570823659 2024-06 The Diary of Smiling Cat: Growing Up Is Not Easy Yang Hongying Tomorrow Publishing House
20 9787550188723 2024-05 Little laurel. Chinese Award-winning Masters Grow Up Happy Reading Book Series(10 volumes) Bing Bo, Zhou Rui Nanfang Publishing House
21 9787570819706 2024-01 Transports HOLLO BOOKS Tomorrow Publishing House
22 9787536587694 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: I am a Pupil Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
23 9787536587717 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: A Dog Called Rat Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
24 9787536587724 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Look at This Family Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
25 9787536587700 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: My Good Friend Tie Tou Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
26 9787533299224 2018-10 Fantastic Mr. Fox Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake Tomorrow Publishing House
27 9787533264062 2010-12 Let’s Get Mung Beans, Momma! Zeng Yangqing, Wan Huaguo Tomorrow Publishing House
28 9787534618727 1998-07 The Straw Hut Cao Wenxuan Jiangsu Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House
29 9787543464582 2007-05 My dad Anthony Browne Hebei Education Press
30 9787536587731 2018-04 Mi Xiaoquan School Experience: Trouble of the New Deskmate Bei Mao Sichuan Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House

Foreign Author Fiction Bestsellers, September 2024
September 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Author nationality Chinese Publisher
1 9787544291170 2017-08 One Hundred Years of Solitude (50th Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Colombia Nan Hai Publishing Co.
2 9787201112695 2017-03 Siddhartha Hermann Hesse Germany Tianjin People’s Publishing House
3 9787544766500 2017-01 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee United States of America Yilin Press
4 9787201141527 2018-10 Strait is the Gate Andre Gide France Tianjin People’s Publishing House
5 9787208061644 2006-04 The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini United States of America Shanghai People’s Publishing House
6 9787511379054 2019-10 The Moon and Sixpence William Somerset Maugham Britain China Overseas Chinese Press
7 9787201142708 2018-12 Klingsor’s Last Summer Hermann Hesse Germany Tianjin People’s Publishing House
8 9787544291163 2017-08 Journey Under the Midnight Sun (2017 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
9 9787521748239 2022-12 Goodbye, Eri Tatsuki Fujimoto Japan CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
10 9787513932134 2020-12 Siddhartha Hermann Hesse Germany Democracy and Construction Press
11 9787513348362 2022-08 Look Back Tatsuki Fujimoto Japan New Star Press Co., Ltd.
12 9787544298995 2020-09 Miracles of the Namiya General Store (2020 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
13 9787530683859 2022-12 The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Mei Hachimoku, KUKKA Japan Baihua Literature & Art Publishing House
14 9787544269452 2021-12 Malice (2022 Edition) Keigo Higashino Japan Nan Hai Publishing Co.
15 9787544297059 2020-03 Love in the Time of Cholera (3 Million Sold Anniversary Edition) Gabriel García Márquez Colombia Nan Hai Publishing Co.
16 9787532175512 2020-05 13 Steps Kazuaki Takano Japan Shanghai Literature & Art Press
17 9787530217054 2017-12 The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Brazil Beijing October Art & Literature Publishing House
18 9787555913726 2022-08 Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes United States of America Henan Literature & Art Press
19 9787559614711 2018-01 Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Jeanette Winterson Britain Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
20 9787541166051 2023-04 Six Lying College Students Akinari Asakura Japan Sichuan Literature & Art Press

Foreign Author Nonfiction Bestsellers, September 2024
September 2024 Ranking ISBN Release Date Title (Translated) Author Author nationality Chinese Publisher
1 9787516837375 2024-01 There’s An Elephant In Every Mosquito: Why We Don’t Get Upset About Little Things For No Reason Ernstfried Hanisch, Eva Wunderer Germany Taihai Publishing House
2 9787111495482 2015-04 The Courage to Be Disliked Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga Japan China Machine Press
3 9787201161693 2020-08 Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure Robert de Board Britain Tianjin People’s Publishing House
4 9787020116133 2016-06 Red Star Over China Edgar Snow United States of America People’s Literature Publishing House
5 9787544276986 2019-10 Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover United States of America Nan Hai Publishing Co.
6 9787521760323 2024-02 Timelines of World History Dorling Kindersley Limited Britain CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
7 9787521768527 2024-08 Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI Yuval Noah Harari Israel CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
8 9787574217324 2024-02 Why Is Hunger Good? Yumi Ishihara Japan Tianjin Science & Technology Press
9 9787550268517 2016-07 Positive Discipline (Revised Edition) Jane Nelsen United States of America Beijing Union Publishing Co., Ltd.
10 9787521762181 2024-04 The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI Fei-Fei Li United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
11 9787522200514 2021-05 Nonviolent Communication Marshall B. Rosenberg United States of America Huaxia Publishing House
12 9787520711531 2019-11 A Compass to Fulfillment Kazuo Inamori Japan Orient Press
13 9787515350622 2018-04 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey United States of America China Youth Press
14 9787111551447 2016-12 The red book Carl Gustav Jung, Sonu Shamdasani Switzerland China Machine Press
15 9787108009821 1998-07 1587, A Year of No Significance Ray Huang United States of America SDX Joint Publishing Company
16 9787220126437 2022-08 Somewhere Towards the End Diana Athill Britain Sichuan People’s Publishing House
17 9787559470027 2022-11 Decisive Moments in History Stefan Zweig Austria Jiangsu Literature & Art Press
18 9787521755459 2023-06 Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be Becky Kennedy United States of America CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
19 9787521719253 2020-08 The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) Philippa Perry Britain CITIC Publishing House Co., Ltd.
20 9787513909884 2017-01 The Fall of Imperial China Frederic Wakeman United States of America Democracy and Construction Press

Notes on the Charts

OpenBook is a privately owned industry-data research firm based in Beijing. It functions somewhat as Nielsen and NDP do from the West, and Nielsen Book Research International has worked with OpenBook in Asian operations. With authoritative data and information resources, OpenBook is able to deliver consulting service to partners who would like to explore the Chinese book market and identify suitable partners.

At last report, OpenBook monitored more than 18,000 online and offline bookstores.

The online channel includes digital retailers such as large self-operated online stores, platform stores, and small- and medium-sized stores. The offline channels include more than 4,800 bookstores. Coverage includes most of the state-owned and influential privately owned bookstores in 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet are not included in OpenBook’s system.

In 2022, OpenBook tracked around 76.21 billion RMB in sales (US$10.62 billion).

Retail outlets include:

  • Traditional bookstores
  • Supermarkets
  • Campus bookstores
  • “Professional” stores, said to be small stores with a specific industrial or trade focus
  • Airport stores

In addition, OpenBook is drawing data from online bookstores of three main types:

  • The “Tmall” stores of Alibaba (Tmall is described as a marketplace of companies that create storefronts online to sell products including books)
  • The “JingDong” Stores of JD.com (similar to Tmall as a marketplace of both individual companies and bookstores operated by JD.com)
  • Ten independent online bookselling retailers

China has 500 or more publishers in operation today. Most of them are government-owned. Private publishers are required to generate ISBNs for their titles from a publishing company that is government-owned—which, in other words, creates a system in which all ISBNs are registered through government channels. The government approves each book published in China.


More China bestseller reports from Publishing Perspectives are here, and more on the Chinese book publishing market is here.

About the Author

Porter Anderson

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Porter Anderson has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair’s International Excellence Awards. He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London’s The Bookseller. Anderson was for more than a decade a senior producer and anchor with CNN.com, CNN International, and CNN USA. As an arts critic (Fellow, National Critics Institute), he was with The Village Voice, the Dallas Times Herald, and the Tampa Tribune, now the Tampa Bay Times. He co-founded The Hot Sheet, a newsletter for authors, which now is owned and operated by Jane Friedman.



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