This picture book, created by author Naoki Matayoshi and illustrated by artist Shinsuke Yoshitake, was first released to Japanese readers in 2022. It revolves around publications with unusual origins or characteristics within the kingdom of books. Beyond the fantastical tales, each work offers a perspective on life, reflecting how people live and love.

The Vietnamese edition of "The wonder in the kingdom of books" was translated by Min Trong Suot, and published by Dan Tri publishing house in collaboration with First News in late 2025. *First News*

The collection of stories begins with an old king who loves books. With failing eyesight, he sends two retainers to travel the world, tasking them with gathering anecdotes about books. One year later, they return but have only 13 nights to recount their journey before the king's passing.

Through the characters' accounts, a wondrous world unfolds where one book can run so fast no one can read it, and another only opens for those consumed by hatred. Some works are so neglected they cannot be opened, while others have pages that can only be read with a childlike spirit.

The two officials also hear many moving stories, such as one about a happy, tattered book that understands its appearance is the result of years of being loved and read thousands of times by its owner. They also learn of a father who wrote many short stories emphasizing resilience but lived a dark life, finding no hope in reality. Though he left his work unfinished, his collected stories and his way of life inspired many.

The first pages of the story collection. *First News*

According to the domestic publisher, the collection of books in the fictional kingdom not only tells strange stories but also reflects life. With the same book, readers can have different experiences, depending on when each person reads it.

"The wonder in the kingdom of books shows us: Books are not just for reading, but also for feeling, connecting, preserving memories, and hoping for the future; for sharing sorrow, joy, love, and striving for goodness. Reading books, we realize there are small books that contain values many times greater than their pages. We see reflected and contained within them the entire human life. We will feel that each person's life is also a book; everyone can write and tell about themselves," reads the book's introduction.

Naoki Matayoshi, born in 1980, is a Japanese author and comedian. In 2015, he debuted his first novel, "Spark", which won the Akutagawa Prize – Japan's prestigious literary award for young writers. One year later, Netflix adapted the work into a film.

Shinsuke Yoshitake, born in 1973, is a Japanese author and children's book illustrator. He has a simple, humorous drawing style that conveys profound content. Yoshitake's works have been translated into 10 languages and have won many awards, including the New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year for "There Must Be More Than That!" (2020). He currently lives in Japan.

Phuong Thao