The Evolution and Breakthrough Pathways for Chinese Original Picture Books Going Global: Reflections on Cai Gao's Receipt of the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration

The global dissemination of original Chinese picture books is an integral part of China's international cultural communication. Its evolutionary course—from germination and growth to maturation—reflects, from one perspective, the deeper logic of China's cultural confidence evolving from awakening to consolidation, and from local cultivation to international dialogue. This paper, integrating national policy orientations and the historical development of original picture books, systematically periodizes the "going global" course of Chinese original picture books into three evolutionary stages: the germination and foundation-laying stage, the stage of creative accumulation and initial copyright exports, and the stage of diversified expansion and accelerated growth. The developmental trajectory of Chinese original picture books differs markedly from that of their Western counterparts. Whereas Western picture books underwent a century-long evolution from their inception in the mid-19th century to theoretical maturation in the mid-20th century, Chinese original picture books, having gathered momentum only in the early 21st century, have developed rapidly along a trajectory that took Western picture books more than a century to complete. Looking back on this history, the paper then provides an in-depth analysis of the four major challenges confronting the international dissemination of original Chinese picture books: the immaturity of full-industry-chain IP development, limited access to mainstream international distribution channels, the inadequacy of cross-cultural narrative competence, and the shortage of internationally oriented talent. Drawing upon successful international experiences, the paper argues that high-quality international development requires a synergistic approach across four dimensions—building an industrial ecosystem, expanding distribution channels, enhancing narrative competence, and improving the talent development system—so as to form a systematic optimization framework. Specific pathways include: constructing a full-industry-chain IP ecosystem to amplify value conversion capabilities; expanding the international mainstream distribution and communication network to reach target audiences more precisely; enhancing cross-cultural narrative competence to build a bridge of shared emotions; and strengthening the internationally oriented talent development system to consolidate the industrial foundation. The paper further emphasizes that, in this process, while it is imperative to effectively absorb the proven practices of countries with first-mover advantages such as those in Europe, the United States, and Japan, it is equally essential to ground our efforts in China's actual national conditions and institutional environment. We must fully recognize the objective constraints imposed by our industrial mechanisms, talent base, market environment, and cultural context, and creatively transform and apply international experiences to our specific circumstances.