Written and translated by Gong Tongzuo 龔同祚 文/譯 VBS 661
The first Ukiah Valley Children’s Book Fair on May 17, 2025, hosted by the Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Schools at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB), was a vibrant celebration of literature, community and culture. The free event included forty authors, a children’s writing contest, dragon dance, lion dance, fan dance, Taiko drumming and other cultural performances.
2025年5月17日，由萬佛聖城培德中學與育良小學主辦的首屆瑜伽谷兒童書展，是一場融合文學、社區與文化的盛會。這項免費活動匯聚了40位作家，包含兒童寫作比賽，舞龍舞獅、扇子舞、太鼓與其他文化表演。
The fair opened at 10 AM with a smiling clown and a lively lion dance. Over twenty children’s book authors took turns reading their books at three different locations. Most of these authors had never visited Ukiah before. Many were enchanted by the scenic drive and the serene beauty of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, with its Tudor-style buildings and roaming peacocks.
書展於上午10點在微笑小丑與熱鬧舞獅中揭開序幕。20多位兒童文學作家輪流在三處不同場地朗讀作品，其中多數作家是首次造訪瑜伽谷。許多人被沿途風景與萬佛聖城的靜謐之美所吸引——都鐸式建築與自在漫步的孔雀構成獨特景致。
The idea for this book fair originated in November 2024 at a children’s book fair in the San Francisco Bay Area. Natasha Yim, a children’s book author residing in Mendocino County, met three Buddhist nuns from CTTB. They observed that while the Bay Area hosts multiple children’s book fairs every year, Mendocino County only occasionally holds such events at the county libraries.
這項書展構想源自2024年11月舊金山灣區的一場兒童書展。當時曼多仙諾縣兒童作家嚴慧明遇到三位萬佛聖城比丘尼，她們注意到灣區每年舉辦多場兒童書展，而曼多仙諾縣只有縣立圖書館零星舉辦類似活動。
Inspired by this, they put together a children’s book fair in Ukiah, to be held at CTTB. They reached out to over two-hundred authors and publishers, and more than forty eventually agreed to attend.
受此啟發，她們決定在萬佛聖城籌辦瑜伽谷兒童書展。她們分頭聯繫逾200位作家與出版商，最終40餘位應邀參與。
Among the authors was Chamisa Kellogg, who traveled from Portland, Oregon, and invited her mother from Napa to join her. Chivaun Oldes from Sacramento and a veteran of children’s book fairs, praised the event. “This was the best out of the eight book fairs I’ve attended,” Chivaun said. “It’s well-organized, the energy is good, and people are so welcoming.”
來自俄勒岡州波特蘭市的作家莎咪薩•凱洛格甚至邀請居住於北加州納帕市的母親同行。沙加緬度兒童書作家史凡•奧爾德茲參展多次，對瑜伽谷兒童書展盛讚不已：「這是我參加過八場書展中最棒的一場，組織完善、氛圍融洽，人們非常熱情。」
Omar Bala, an African American author from Oakland, shared a similar sense of enthusiasm. “This was one of the best events I’ve attended,” he said. “Everyone was kind, and there was so much to do.”
奧克蘭非裔作家歐馬爾•巴拉同樣充滿熱忱：「這是我參與過最出色的活動之一，大家都很友善，活動內容十分豐富。」
Among local authors, Buddhist nun Jin Rou Shi and Natasha Yim stood out as the most prolific, each with over ten published books. Kate Marianchild with her only book about the oak woodlands attracted readers young and old; Brook Thompson wrote a non-fiction storybook about her experience growing up on the Klamath River as a Yurok and Karuk Native American.
本地作家中，比丘尼近柔師與嚴慧明著作最豐，各自出版逾十本書籍。凱特•馬瑞安釵德憑其唯一著作《橡木林地》吸引各年齡讀者；布魯克•湯普森則撰寫關於她作為尤羅克與卡魯克原住民，在克拉馬斯河畔成長經歷的真實故事書。
Two books on Native American history—Injun Country: An Old-Timer’s Memories of the Mendocino County Indians and Two Perspectives of Lake County, California Pomo History: Children’s Version—sold about thirty copies together, reflecting attendees’ interest in local heritage.
兩本關於原住民歷史的書籍——《印第安之鄉：曼多仙諾縣印地安人往事回憶錄》與《加州雷克縣波莫族歷史兒童版：雙重視角》共售出約30本，反映與會者對在地文化的興趣。
The fair also served as a networking hub for authors, illustrators, and publishers. Eileen Hu, owner of Victory Press, gifted Aniya Bala (the youngest co-author at the fair) a copy of The Legend of Mu Lan—A Heroine of Ancient China with a matching doll. Aniya’s younger brother, inspired, promised to join the family’s book-writing efforts in the future.
書展同時成為作家、插畫家與出版商的交流平台。勝利出版社負責人胡愛蓮贈予會場最年輕合著者安妮雅•巴拉一本《中國古代女英雄花木蘭的故事》及配套玩偶。受此激勵，安妮雅的弟弟答應以後要加入家族創作行列。
A reuse booth that offered free gently used backpacks, mugs, folders, and school supplies was so popular that the table was cleared soon after the event began.
Keith and Jess Michalak with their two children from Willits stayed from opening until right before the end, visiting every booth and enjoying the performances. They walked away with five books and hope to return next year.
提供免費二手背包、馬克杯、文件夾與學用品的「資源再生」攤位大受歡迎，活動開始不久即被領取一空。來自威利茨的麥克萊克夫婦帶著兩名孩子從開幕待到閉幕前，逛遍每個攤位並欣賞表演，最終滿載五本書籍離去，期待明年再訪。
Buddhist nuns Jin Jian and Heng Yuan, co-organizers of the children’s book fair, said that their goal was to create an event for the local community. They also remembered Venerable Master Hua’s vow that everyone who comes to CTTB will realize Buddhahood in the future. They were happy that authors, publishers, and attendees who had never been to CTTB now have the chance to realize Buddhahood, too.
書展共同策劃者比丘尼近簡師與恒圓師表示，她們的初衷是為當地社區提供活動，並憶及宣公上人宏願：所有來到萬佛聖城的人，未來都將成佛。她們很高興能讓過去未曾造訪聖城的作家、出版商與參與者同霑法益。
Jerri-jo Idarius, representing La Vida Charter School, did the English calligraphy for CTTB’s first mountain gate in early 1980s. She said that Master Hua loved to make CTTB open to the public and she felt that Master Hua would be very happy about this children’s book fair.
Tzu-Chi Foundation, Service Space, Ukiah Co-Op and Mendocino Book Company all had their respective booth for children. Sheryl Graves of the Mendocino Book Company reflected on the fair’s success: “I left the fair feeling hopeful-about the love of reading being passed on, about the richness of local culture, and about the potential for this to become a meaningful annual tradition.”
1980年代初為萬佛聖城首座山門題寫英文書法的潔芮玖•艾妲瑞爾斯，代表拉維達特許學校來擺攤。她提到，宣公上人樂於開放聖城與大眾結緣，她感受到上人對此次書展必定深感欣慰。慈濟基金會少年組、服務空間、瑜伽市合作社與門多西諾書店均設有攤位。門多西諾圖書公司經理雪柔•葛蕾芙絲分享會後感言：「我帶著希望離開——對閱讀熱情得以傳承的希望、對在地文化豐厚底蘊的希望，以及對這項兒童書展成為深具意義年度傳統的希望。」
Sacramento-based young writer Skyler Farasat attended with her parents—a family that collaborates on books about growing up and self-esteem. They were so fascinated by the Buddhist monastery that they stayed after the fair to tour the campus along with nine other authors.
沙加緬度年輕作家絲蓋樂·法拉賽特與合作出版成長與自尊主題書籍的父母同行，一家三口被佛教寺院深深吸引，書展結束後更與其他九位作家留下參觀聖城。
A few authors gave their reflections after the book fair as follows:
Anna Wong:
From the moment of entering the gates and driving up to the hall, I knew I was in a special place. Being greeted by peacocks was just the icing. I bask in the glow reflecting back to all the people I met. In addition to attendees, meeting other authors was just as heart warming.
部分參展作家會後感想節錄：
黃安妮：
從駛入山門那刻起，我便知身處殊勝之地。孔雀迎賓更添驚喜。與每位相遇者的互動都令我沐浴在溫暖光輝中，和其他作家的交流同樣暖心。
Teri Roche Drobnick:
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was both beautiful and accommodating, with the event being extremely well organized and coordinated.
泰瑞•羅什•德羅布尼克：
萬佛聖城既莊嚴又親切，活動籌辦極具條理且配合無間。
Stefanie Gamarra:
Everything, from the clear and thoughtful email communication to the smooth coordination on-site, was so well organized. I felt truly taken care of…the whole day was just a joy to be part of. It was one of those events that reminded me why I love doing this work.
史蒂芬妮•加馬拉：
從清晰周詳的郵件溝通到現場流暢協調，每個環節都組織完善……整日活動充滿喜悅，正是這類時刻提醒我為何熱愛這份工作。
Marta Pilosio:
I wanted to thank you and all the organizers/volunteers of the book fair. You made us feel welcome and treated us so kindly.
瑪爾塔•皮洛西奧：
感謝您與所有書展籌辦者和義工，你們的熱情接待讓我們倍感溫馨。
Lauren Scott:
The event was well organized and if I had to choose one word for this day, it would be kindness.
勞倫•斯科特：
活動籌備完善，若要用一詞總結今天，那就是「慈悲」。♦