HCM CITY (VNS) — Veteran author Nguyen Nhat Anh's latest book for children will hit bookshops in HCM City tomorrow.

The 290-page book, Chuc Mot Ngay Tot Lanh (Have a Good Day), is brought to life with 40 illustrations by talented artist Do Hoang Tuong and tells the story of two little pigs, Lo Noi and Deo No, as they discover the world together. As in his previous books, Anh's latest offering highlights the beauty of friendship and love, with his usual flair and imagination.

More than 38,000 copies of the book have been printed by the city's Tre Publishing House, and already they have announced the reprint of another 15,000 copies.

The official book signing is at Le Van Tam Park on March 25, and is expected to attract hundreds of young and adult readers. Anh will then continue his travels, and will be introducing his new book to fans all over Viet Nam.

"Anh's books are popular with both children and adults because they are full of mythical beings and brave characters," said Nguyen Thi Ngoc Oanh, mother of two.

"I love reading Anh's books because he always listens to his readers and he knows what we think. I'm looking forward to reading Chuc Mot Ngay Tot Lanh and will be going to his book signing," said Phan Nguyen Binh, a 10-year-old boy from District 3.

The HCM City-based Anh began writing in 1984 and is known for his simple style and accurate depiction of children's minds. He is one of the city's only authors that writes for children, and has penned many contemporary classics, including Kinh Van Hoa (Kaleidoscope) and Thang Quy Nho (The Mischievous Boy), which have become favourites for thousands of children and teenagers around the country.

In 2007, Anh's Cho Xin Mot Ve Di Ve Tuoi Tho (Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood) and Toi La Be To (I'm Be To) sold more than 20,000 copies in the first weeks of their release.

In 2010, the Viet Nam Writers Association nominated Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho, the story of an urban boy named Mui and his three friends, for the Southeast Asian Writers Award. It went on to win the award and was subsequently bought by the Thailand-based publisher, Nanmee Books, and it has since been translated into Thai.

His Co Gai Den Tu Hom Qua (The Girl Comes from Yesterday), which Tre published in 1995, remains one of the country's best-selling kids' books and Moscow University recently included it in the curriculum for Vietnamese-language students.

A trailer featuring Chuc Mot Ngay Tot Lanh is on the Tre's fanpage at www.facebook.com/nhaxuatban.tre. — VNS