The 5th Qinshan Nuclear Power Cup Small October Literature Award Ceremony and Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of "October Youth Literature" were held at the China Nuclear Power Science and Technology Museum in Haiyan, Zhejiang.
It is reported that the Small October Literature Award will start soliciting submissions in May 2026, with five categories including novels, fairy tales, poetry, prose, and science fiction. A total of 2120 valid submissions have been received from Chinese language writers at home and abroad. After three rounds of anonymous evaluation by a judging committee composed of writers, critics, and editors, one gold award work and three excellent work awards were ultimately selected in each of the five categories. During the award ceremony, Liu Jiachen, the gold medalist of the novel category, delivered a speech as the representative of the award.
At the award ceremony, a publishing signing ceremony was held simultaneously. Dai Diling, Deputy Editor in Chief of Beijing Children's Publishing House, signed a contract with award-winning author Jiang Shuangchao. Jiang Shuangchao's award-winning work "Muga's Fire Grass Coat" is scheduled to be officially published in 2027.
At the event, a themed discussion was held simultaneously to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of "October Youth Literature". The event was hosted by Leng Linwei, the executive editor of "October Youth Literature", and participated by Cao Wenxuan, the editor in chief of "October Youth Literature" and a famous children's literature writer, Lan Lan, a poet and children's literature writer, Cui Xinping, a professor and critic at the School of Literature of Taiyuan Normal University, Huang Xin, a young children's literature writer, and Zhu Jingdan, a representative of young readers. The guests discussed topics such as the founding intention, publication quality, reading value of children's literature, growth of young authors, and reading experience of young readers, looking back on the ten-year history of the publication and discussing their beautiful expectations for the next decade.
Cao Wenxuan reviewed the adherence to literary quality since the founding of "October Youth Literature" and emphasized that regardless of the changes in the times, the publication should always prioritize literary quality. He used the metaphor of "everything is evolving, only literature is not" to point out that literature has its constant value scale. In his view, publications always strive to expand children's spiritual world with high-quality works, allowing literature to truly accompany children's growth.
Cui Xinping believes that magazines cultivate children's habit of reading long articles through works that combine readability and artistry, highlighting the aesthetic education function of literary reading. At the same time, she advocates that publications can actively explore ways to engage in dialogue with Generation Z children while maintaining literary quality.
On the day of the event, a themed essay contest for primary and secondary school students in Haiyan County was also launched, inviting local students to record their lives and express their feelings in words, and to try to become storytellers outside of reading. In addition, around this award ceremony, magazine editor Cao Wenxuan, writers Liu Jiachen, Yao Xiaohong, and Wang Miao, guests Lan Lan, Shao Xin, and Yan Chaohua, as well as editors Shi Fan and Tong Zi, conducted 9 public welfare reading activities simultaneously. They visited campuses, libraries, and communities to communicate face-to-face with children, teachers, and parents. (Outlook New Era)