The book, entitled Con Cho Nho Mang Gio Hoa Hong (Puppy Brings a Basket of Roses), is authored by Nguyen Nhat Aùnh.

Fourteen distributors have bought 70,000 copies of the book before its release on February 28.

The publishing house made the decision, thanks to the writer's fame. Anh is a best-selling writer and is among Viet Nam's most successful and prolific writers of children's books.

"The HCM Book Fair will be held in March. It will be a good chance to introduce a new book," Nguyen Minh Nhut, director of the Youth Publishing House, said.

Puppy Brings a Basket of Roses has five chapters, comprising of 86 stories about five puppies living with a family.

The stories tell about the relationship among the puppies, between the puppies and the members of the family and the puppies and guests of the family.

The five puppies -- Haili, Bato, Suku, Eme and Pig -- have human emotions and characteristics such as friendship, love, passion and bravery, besides fears and dreams.

Nguyễn Nhật Ánh talks about his latest upcoming book in the press conference on February 19. — Saigon Times Photo

Youth Publishing House's decision to print 10,000 copies is good for promoting writing for children in accordance with the appeal of the Viet Nam Writers Association's Children Literature Department.

The department was re-established at the ninth congress of the Viet Nam Writers Association, held in Ha Noi last July.

"We need focus on developing writing for children," Huu Thinh, chairman of the association, said.

"Literary works for children were neglected during the 2010-15 period. I think we have to adjust in the new period," he said.

The chairman said that all members of different departments in the association should write for children.

He said it was necessary to have an annual prize for children's literature just as other prizes for poetry, literature, translations and theory works.

In addition, the association will co-ordinate with relevant bodies such as the Youth Union, the Women Union and the Young Pioneer Union to organise writing for children contests.

It needs to take advantage of state funding of field trips, creative camps and activities to popularise quality manuscripts.

The Children Literature Department will focus on uploading good stories written by professional writers and by children themselves on the association's website vanvn.net.

According to writer Tran Duc Tien, head of the Children Literature Department, the re-establishment of the department showed the determination of the Viet Nam Writers Association to encourage authors to write for children, which had been neglected for a long time.

"During the 2010-15 period, there was very few new works for children. Writers were not encouraged to write for little readers," Tien said. "Many writers think that it is easier to become known if they write for adults. I recommended some children literature works for the annual award of the association. But the works failed to deliver at the beginning of the award process." 

VNS