Good afternoon, everybody.
I am April.
Eight years ago, I got the biggest and best present ever, of my life.
After reading me books every night since I was about two,
my mom opened a children's bookstore.
I still remember the day I stepped into the warm, lovely place,
sunshine glowing on the bookshelves, and I smelled the scent of books.
And I still remember the happy moment
my mom held me in her arms and read me a book.
"In an old house in Paris That was covered with vines,
Lived twelve little girls In two straight lines."
Time passed, and I grew from a little kid who was often mistaken for a boy
to a big girl standing in front of you on this stage.
However, the love of reading has been kept unchanged,
except that I don't suck my fingers anymore while I'm reading.
Having the freedom to read and the freedom to choose
is one of the best gifts my mom ever gave me.
Although running a bookstore is not always a good choice for making money,
mom never regrets quitting her high-salary job
and devoting herself to the small bookstore.
She is very proud of her work,
that brings a passion for reading to me and other children.
Surrounded by books, I am enthusiastic about reading.
I bring a book with me wherever I go.
I read in restaurants while I'm waiting for a meal.
I read in the metro on my way to school.
I read every night before I go to sleep.
To read is to voyage through time,
to visit places you would never otherwise know,
to experience a world of imagination, adventure, and discovery.
Take Alice in Wonderland as an example.
When I read that book, I fell with Alice into her Wonderland.
It's so weird, so visual.
There, rabbits can talk, playing cards can watch,
and cats can vanish at will.
As I read that book,
my mind kept wanting to return to Wonderland
and experience all this nonsense again.
So I drew this picture.
I drew the Cheshire Cat,
the Caterpillar on the giant mushroom,
and the girl.
I didn't know if the girl was Alice or myself.
I was too young when I drew that picture,
but I really wished
that I could've lived inside that book.
So you can see in the book,
bored Alice followed a rabbit and tumbled down to Wonderland,
whereas in the real world,
a book can always lead you to escape the boredom of everyday life
and enter a magic world.
For example,
we can take the Magic School Bus to explore the human body,
or we can escape into nature by reading Fabre's Book of Insects.
We can even travel back to ancient Greece or Rome
in the series of Horrible Histories.
With a book,
we can go anywhere and be anything.
Reading is also a good way for us to connect with others.
It's amazing how when you're reading a book on a train,
a stranger next to you says,
"Hey, I love that book too."
This is a true story between me and Yoyo.
We then immediately started a discussion about characters in that book.
Yoyo's mom and my mom also found that they had a lot in common.
Last year, our families took a trip to Singapore together.
This is us on our first day in Singapore.
We went to a big bookstore and spent half a day there.
This is not the only story.
When I share fun "Did you know?" book facts with my friends
or help other readers my age find the book that's just right for them,
we build up relationships and get to know each other better.
Also, I believe that when parents read to their children,
it brings back good memories from their own childhood.
This is a strong relationship
that can get rid of gaps in between generations.
Another amazing thing about reading is,
when you're reading,
in a way, you're engaging in a conversation with the author.
One of the authors I admire very much is Bill Bryson,
who is humorous and witty.
When reading his great book "A Short History of Nearly Everything,"
I feel like I'm accompanying the author as he travels through space and time,
from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.
His deep curiosity of the world we live in
and encyclopedic knowledge of these topics
impressed and touched me.
Another beloved author is Roald Dahl,
whose hilarious, breathtaking books are so attractive
that I don't even want the story to end.
I have read all of his books for children,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, The BFG, and many others.
When asked in an interview, "How do you get your story ideas?"
the author answered, "I always start with a little seed of idea, a little germ.
Every time I get a great idea,
I would pull out a notebook and write it down,
or else it would disappear like a dream."
These tips helped me a lot when I first started writing.
I use my idea notebook to write down my seeds of ideas.
And in the stories of The Minpins, Roald Dahl told us,
"Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you
because the greatest secrets are always hidden
in the most unlikely places."
I was inspired when I read this.
I've taken it as advice not only from the great author
but also from a wise man who had a keep insight into our world.
Just like Roald Dahl's character the BFG, Big Friendly Giant,
whose job was to collect and blow pleasant dreams to small children,
Roald Dahl, Bill Bryson, Sheldon Allan Silverstein,
Dr. Seuss, and other writers,
they had blown big dreams to me and every other reader.
I dreamed that, one day, I can make magic of my own as an author,
for myself, my friends, my kids, and other children.
Here, I want to share a poem I wrote on a kite I made in an art class.
Soaring above us like a bird
Is a big, amazing kite.
The wind is howling,
Making it dance.
What a beautiful sight!
Yes, what a beautiful sight.
But I know making this dream come true will be a very long and slow process.
I will keep on reading and writing every day
and, above all, keep watching with glittering eyes
the whole world around me, just like Roald Dahl.
And there's one thing I know for sure:
reading will be a life-long love for me.
I read because loving one life is just not enough.
Today I stand here to share my reading stories with you
because I believe that reading can light up the whole world.
So, why not surround yourself with books,
sit down quietly,
and enjoy the words, the pictures, and how they fit together so beautifully.
As an end of my speech,
I would like to recite one of my favorite poems.
"No one believes a whole book Could ever come
From something as simple as butterflies,
That don't even live that long.
But on paper, things can live forever.
On paper, a butterfly never dies."
Thank you.
(Applause)