With a lifetime nourished by art, Cai Gao returns to simplicity and truth, distilling humble, poetic words and images into works offered as gifts to the children she deeply respects.
— Cao Wenxuan, Professor at Peking University Department of Chinese Language and Literature, renowned author

Using the innocent language of a child, 'The world cannot Do Without' launches a philosophical exploration of 'existence' 'The world cannot do without the sun', 'The world cannot do without the wind' ,'The world cannot do without a mirror','The world cannot do without you, me, and him/her'…
The list of 'The world cannot do without' extends from nature to a child's daily life, ultimately pointing to individual existence and the love between people. Layer by layer, it completes a life education that moves from the cosmos to society.
— Zhang Mingzhou,Former President of the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY)

★ A picture book by Cai Gao,winner of the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration!
She is the first Chinese illustrator ever to receive this highest international honor in children's literature, celebrated globally as a "national treasure grandmother" and a pioneering figure in original Chinese picture books.
★ An integration of nature, art and life education.A pursuit of poetry and philosophy in everyday life.
★ A philosophical picture book about existence and love, with "light" as its core image. Through simple language such as "The world cannot do without the sun" and "The world cannot do without a hug", it rediscovers the meaning of all things.
★ Observing the world from the purest childlike perspective, the illustrations feature abundant white space, bridging tradition and modernity. The text reads like a catchy nursery rhyme, connecting nature, art, and life education, while cultivating children’s empathy and artistic sensibility.
★ English translation samples available.

The world cannot do without the sun. Without the sun, darkness would envelop everything.
The world cannot do without clouds. Without clouds, how could the stars find their little quilts and the moon find her little pillow?
The world cannot do without winds. Without winds, where could the baby flowers go to have fun?
…
The world cannot do without me, without you or without him …

This is a brand new picture book by the national - treasure artist Cai Gao. It is a picture book filled with childlike innocence, poetic charm and philosophical thoughts, a poem featuring purity, simplicity and power. Philosophical thoughts can be found in the innocent questions asked by children. Through the miraculous and essential "existence" in their everyday lives, children are able to express
their understandings about the world.

Cai Gao
Winner of the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration! She was also shortlisted for the same award in 2024.
Born in 1946 in Changsha, Hunan Province, Cai Gao is a renowned Chinese picture book artist and a member of the China Artists Association. In the 1970s, she taught for a long time in rural primary schools. In the early 1980s, she worked at Hunan Children’s Publishing House. After retiring in 2001, she devoted herself to creating picture books.

She was the first Chinese illustrator to win the Golden Apple Award at the Bratislava Biennale of Illustrations (BIB)—a landmark achievement in the history of Chinese picture books.

Selected Works: The Peach Blossom Spring, Bao Er (originally published in 1991 as The Fox Spirit of the Wasteland), Mulan, Meng Jiangnü, Fire City – 1938, Hanging Dragon Robes on the Sixth Day of the Sixth Month, The Feathered Robe of a Hundred Birds, The Invisible Leaf, Moon Buns, The Story of Birth, among others.
The Fox Spirit of the Wasteland (now titled Bao Er) won the Golden Apple Award at the 14th Bratislava Biennale of Illustrations (BIB). Mulan and Fire City – 1938 received the Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award for Best Picture Book.