Explore the World Through 70 Maps: German Children's Literature Map Exhibition at Taichung's Green & Music Library

A single map opens the world to children—and brings the world to Taichung. The Taichung City Public Library, in partnership with the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, launches the international collaborative special exhibition 'Travel the World Through 70 Maps—Cartographic Treasures from 300 Years of Children's Literature' at the World Lecture Hall of the Central City Library (Green & Music Library) from today until December 20. This exhibition features 70 carefully selected classic maps from children's literature spanning 300 years, presented for the first time in Taiwan, inviting people of all ages to embark on a reading journey across borders, connecting imagination and knowledge through stories and imagery.

Ms. Pan Mei-Chun, Special Commissioner of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, attended the opening ceremony on the 7th, stating, "Reading is a universal language that transcends borders, and maps serve as vital bridges linking knowledge, culture, and imagination." Last year, the Taichung City Public Library formally established a partnership with the International Youth Library in Munich. This year, Deputy Director Shi Chun-Fu led the Taichung library team on an exchange visit to Germany, engaging in in-depth discussions with Director Dr. Christiane Raabe and her team on exhibition planning, reading promotion, and youth reading policies. This exhibition in Taichung showcases the tangible results of their collaboration, bringing the world to Taichung while connecting Taichung’s reading culture with the global stage.

The exhibition gathers representative cartographic works from the history of children's literature, ranging from Comenius’s Orbis Pictus (1658) to Korneck’s Das große Bilderbuch für die ganze Welt (2014), tracing three centuries of creative evolution. It illustrates how maps have transformed from tools for knowledge transmission into media that inspire imagination and exploration of the world. Thematic areas include adventure stories, myths and legends, historical civilizations, natural ecosystems, and fantasy literature. Each map is not merely a spatial depiction but a gateway to different cultures and eras through reading.

According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the exhibition is curated around three major themes: 'The Real World,' 'The Transitional World,' and 'The Imaginary World.' Visitors are guided from real landscapes, human civilizations, and footprints into the imaginative borderlands where reality and fiction intertwine, then onward to explore fantastical kingdoms and unknown realms—experiencing the rich and boundless creativity of children's literature.

In addition to the international main展区, a dedicated Taiwan展区 highlights local responses to the exhibition’s thematic and narrative framework. It features selected map-themed publications and translated literary works, including two illustrated map creations by Taiwanese artists: Chen You-Ling’s 'Taiwan Map' and Huang Yi-Wen’s 'Secrets of the Zoo.' These works demonstrate how local creators integrate memories of the land, regional culture, and daily observations into visual storytelling, enabling a dialogue between Taiwan and the world within the same exhibition space. Visitors are invited to rediscover the land beneath their feet through the convergence of maps and stories, embarking on an imaginative journey across borders.

The Central City Library emphasizes that this exhibition not only represents a concrete achievement in international collaboration but also marks a crucial starting point for promoting 'reading diplomacy.' Moving forward, they will deepen partnerships with international libraries and cultural institutions through exhibitions, collection exchanges, and reading initiatives to establish Taichung as a hub for global reading perspectives. Beyond viewing the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to borrow related collections on world geography, history, travel literature, children’s picture books, and map-themed titles to extend their reading experience and continue exploring the world. For more event details and library resources, please visit the official website of the Central City Library (https://gov.tw/ub8).