Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin arrived in Taitung on Jan. 27 as a cultural ambassador to read the story "Little Hunchback” to more than 100 children from the areas severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009.
"Parents cannot stay with their children forever, but reading can if we help them to make it a habit,” said Minister of Culture Lung Ying-tai.
"Reading is the best gift for life we can give children. Therefore, we can spend less money on coffee and traveling, but we should never pinch the money for children to buy books,” the Minister added.
Lin first read a short story by Taiwanese novelist Huang Chun-ming about a hunchbacked kid named "Jindou,” who is always bullied. The boy regains self-confidence later from his friend "Gao Kankan,” a small kid filled with a sense of justice.
Lung said the story is about "Little Hunchback” developing self-confidence in a predicament, and encouraged all kids to pursue their dreams.
There are actually not many gifts parents can give their children, noted the Minister, adding that the best gift they can give kids are good books that can help their mental growth.
"When you calm down, books can give you more room for imagination,” Lung said, urging parents not to cut back on buying books for children. "You must ensure that your kids enjoy reading.”
As part of the Ministry of Culture's efforts to promote the habit of reading, the 2013 Taipei International Book Fair will kick off soon, following the two-day event of "A New Wave of Reading” in Taipei and Taitung.