NPIIL and Yu-Shan Co-host Picture Book Creation Workshop, Launching 'Climbing the Mountain of Emotions' E-Book Exhibition

The '2026 Picture Book Creation Workshop: Creating Worlds with Stories – From Visual Narratives to World-Building Exercises,' co-hosted by the National Public Information Library (NPIIL) and the Yu-Shan Cultural & Educational Foundation, will be grandly held on August 13–14, 2026, at the Yu-Shan Bank Dengfeng Building in Taipei. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their collaboration, NPIIL is launching a special 'Climbing the Mountain of Emotions' e-book exhibition on its e-book service platform.

This year's workshop breaks from traditional formats by focusing on 'integrating picture books with real-world thematic inquiry.' It guides creators beyond fictional boundaries, encouraging them to build rich, layered micro-universes grounded in real-world research and psychological exploration.

Contemporary picture book creation has evolved beyond simple text-image pairing, emphasizing the integrity of 'worldview architecture' and the depth of 'visual storytelling.' This year’s program moves beyond conventional drawing techniques, treating picture book creation as a form of real-world inquiry. Participants will engage in 'world-building exercises,' exploring macro-level story settings and temporal logic, down to micro-level character emotions and behavioral motivations.

The workshop also introduces educational themes such as Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), teaching creators how to concretize abstract psychological states—like self-awareness, interpersonal burnout, and resilience—into the rules of a picture book’s world.

To ensure in-depth, practical instruction, the workshop has invited a 'mentor team' comprising Golden Tripod Award-winning children’s book authors, senior children’s literature researchers, and professional picture book editors. Ms. Su-Ching Chang, Editor-in-Chief of Szu-Yeh Publishing, will lead 'Cross-Domain Story Hacking: Constructing Original Story Worlds,' guiding participants in deconstructing visual universes. Golden Tripod Award-winning illustrator Mr. Ju-Ching Lee will share 'Expanding Grand Scenes with Small Stories: The Art of Historical Research and Realistic Narrative in Picture Book Creation.' Ms. Shih-Wei Chang, Editor-in-Chief of Yuan-Liou Publishing, will present 'The Editor’s Magic: From Good Stories to Great Picture Books.' Mr. Yi-Wen Huang, Openbook Award winner, will analyze 'Entering the Fantasy Garden: From Multiple Perspectives to 'Images That Speak' in Visual Storytelling.' Mentors will openly share their personal creative processes and offer deep insights into competition judging criteria, highlighting the key traits of award-winning works.

The Yu-Shan Cultural & Educational Foundation remains committed to promoting original picture books. Beyond providing administrative support, accommodation, and meals for participants, it collaborates with NPIIL to extend creative energy into digital sustainability. Participants will return to their schools to guide students in picture book creation, with the opportunity to have their works included in the 'Dream-Realizing Picture Book Database,' allowing these created worlds to expand infinitely in the digital realm.