“宝藏奶奶”蔡皋获国际安徒生奖
Now it is the year 2026. Cai Gao is a famous 80-year-old Chinese picture-book illustrator (插图画家). She is the first Chinese artist to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award (the world’s biggest prize for children’s books).
Cai has a very good memory and a strong imagination. She still remembers an old Hunan folk song her grandmother taught her when she was only three years old.
Cai draws beautiful pictures for traditional Chinese stories and culture. Her popular book Bao’er comes from old Chinese stories. She also gives new meanings to these old stories. Her works teach children about courage, love and the beauty of nature. People call her “Treasure Granny” because her works are warm and wonderful.
Cai gets her creative ideas from everyday life. She keeps diaries carefully every day. Her sweet childhood memories with her grandmother help her draw moving pictures. She learns to find beauty in small things in life. She believes gentle things have great power.