Taichung Public Library continues to deepen international cultural exchanges. On February 11, in collaboration with the Belgian Office in Taipei(比利時台北辦事處), the library invited Belgian picture book author Maud Roegiers and Sophie Van den Bril, representative of Alice Publishing, to Taichung. Together, they provided a creative and delightful cross-border reading experience. Through paper story theater and workshops, they inspired children's creativity, guided them in exploring Belgian culture, expanded their global perspective, and helped them experience the boundless possibilities of reading.

According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, since Mayor Lu(盧市長) took office, she has actively promoted Taichung’s internationalization by enhancing the city's competitiveness through diverse cultural and economic exchanges.  Taichung Public Library has been continuously fostering international reading collaborations. This year, it once again partnered with the Belgian Office in Taipei to invite a Belgian picture book author and a publishing house representative to introduce picture books to schoolchildren, enabling them to connect with the world through reading. The upcoming opening of the Green Museumbrary(綠美圖) at the end of the year will further serve as a key hub for international cultural exchange, offering a rich and diverse global reading experience.

This event took place at Shangfeng Branch(上楓分館) Library, where Maud Roegiers shared her creative journey with elementary school students, inspiring their passion for illustration and storytelling. She also introduced the traditional Japanese paper theater technique, Kamishibai, using hand-drawn illustrations to narrate stories. The students were captivated, fully immersed in the storytelling experience. This not only sparked their interest in reading but also showed them that illustrators do more than just draw—they use stories to open doors to the world!

In addition to offering children the joy of reading, Sophie Van den Bril from Alice Publishing shared insights on picture book education and parent-child reading, emphasizing the vital role of picture books in children's learning and cultural understanding. Teachers expressed that the event not only enhanced students' reading abilities but also encouraged them to express themselves through artistic creation, broaden their global perspectives, and truly experience the diverse value of reading.

Taichung Public Library highlighted that children's reading services have always been a key focus in Taichung. With the upcoming opening of the Green Museumbrary, the library will continue to deepen international collaborations, making reading an essential bridge for children to explore the world. This event was made possible with strong support from the Belgian Office in Taipei and the Wallonia-Brussels International Agency. In addition to inviting a renowned Belgian author and publisher to Taiwan, the event also showcased several of Maud Roegiers’ books and other works from Alice Publishing in their Chinese-translated editions, making it easier for the public to access outstanding literary works from around the world. Citizens are encouraged to visit Taichung Public Library to borrow these books and enjoy the joy of international reading!