Using Chinese painting to tell stories of Chinese opera is the most fitting contemporary medium. This style, both classic and lively, traditional and youthful, may awaken the profound cultural genes within us as we read through this picture book.
— Wang Peiyu, Top Peking Opera Artist, China

This 'Chinese Opera Story Picture Book' series transforms our perception of traditional Chinese opera from distant and obscure to vibrant and accessible. The artists' vivid depictions of opera characters stem from a deep understanding of the art and years of painting practice. They masterfully integrate singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics, and meticulously portray each role type. Thus, their brushstrokes resonate like melodies, and the rhythm of their ink harmonizes perfectly with the operatic narrative.
— Wu Zhili, Renowned Calligrapher and Painter

★ A series of picture books introducing children to the art of Chinese opera, compiled by the renowned children's literature writer Zhou Rui, whose works have received over a hundred awards, including the Educational Film Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France.
★ Illustrated by several well-known artists using traditional Chinese ink-wash and freehand brushwork styles. The illustrations preserve the charm of opera while aligning with modern aesthetics. A balanced 1:1 text-to-image ratio ensures a pleasant reading experience.
★ Features six operatic stories drawn from six major Chinese opera genres: Peking Opera, Kun Opera, Yue Opera, Henan Yu Opera, Huangmei Opera, and Ping Opera. The stories themselves possess strong dramatic conflict and vivid characters, embodying universal values such as justice, courage, wisdom, and family.
★ The books intentionally retain original arias and dialogues from the operas. Accompanied by a supplementary reading guide explaining opera basics and history, they allow readers to fully appreciate the artistic charm of Chinese opera.
★ English translation samples available.

This series comprises 6 books: "Havoc in Heaven" (Peking Opera), "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" (Huangmei Opera), "Fifteen Strings of Cash" (Kun Opera), "Mu Guiying Takes Command" (Henan Yu Opera), "The Nine-Pound Girl" (Yue Opera), "Qin Xianglian" (Ping Opera)

The Monkey King is one of the most globally recognized Asian IPs and also one of China's earliest cultural exports to achieve international success. His influence spans from the hit game Black Myth: WuKong (with global sales exceeding 10 million copies) to the Japanese anime Dragon Ball, captivating audiences worldwide. This book adapts the classic Peking Opera Havoc in Heaven, presenting the beloved story of Sun Wukong's fearless defiance of authority and his great upheaval in the Heavenly Palace. The animated film of the same name, on which this story is based, was featured in multiple international film festivals and won awards such as the Outstanding Film of the Year at the 1978 London International Film Festival, introducing the tale to a global audience long ago.

This book presents "Havoc in Heaven," a representative piece of Peking Opera, depicting the beloved story of the Monkey King's fearless defiance of authority and his great upheaval in the Heavenly Palace. The story begins with the birth of the Stone Monkey from a bursting rock, follows his exploration of the underwater Dragon Palace to acquire the Golden Cudgel, his rebellion against the injustices of the Heavenly Court, his self-proclamation as the "Great Sage Equaling Heaven," and culminates in his earth-shattering rebellion during the Peach Banquet.
The Monkey King's journey from innocence to awakening mirrors the challenges of authority and self-identity that every individual faces while growing up.

[Author/Compiler] Zhou Rui

A renowned children's literature writer, member of the Chinese Writers Association, council member of the Shanghai Writers Association, and a promoter of Peking Opera culture.
He has published over 300 works, including the representative series "Interesting Peking Opera" and "Stories from Peking Opera." His works have been included in Chinese primary school language textbooks, demonstrating a solid reader base and educational recognition.
Long dedicated to promoting Peking Opera culture, he excels at reconstructing traditional opera stories from a child's perspective, balancing cultural authenticity with reading enjoyment.
He has received numerous awards, including the National Outstanding Children's Literature Award, Chen Bochui Children's Literature Award, Bingxin Children's Literature New Work Award, Xia Yan Film Script Award, and the Educational Film Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

[Illustrator] Jie Ji
Original name Liu Xin, graduated from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, majoring in Watercolor. A renowned watercolor artist specializing in ancient-style watercolor creation and technique promotion.
Published bestselling art books include "Illustrating Flora from the Book of Songs," "Illustrating Avifauna from the Songs of Chu," "Watercolor Notes: Hand-painting Techniques for Flora in the Book of Songs," "Warm Love Healing Style: Ancient Style Technique Watercolor Tutorial," "Blue Sky Painting Diary," and "Illustrating Flowers from Tang Poems."
In 2016, his illustration "Flower Map" was shortlisted for the Frankfurt Global Illustration Award, and his illustration "Border Town" was shortlisted for China's First Watercolor Illustration Exhibition. In 2017, his illustration "Crazy Bird" won the Excellence Award at the Frankfurt Global Illustration Award.