Picture books are attracting grown-ups

Picture books for adults are the latest trends around the country, especially those originally created by Chinese illustrators and writers.

Such books with delicate drawings and relaxing stories about office life, family and love are targeted at office workers in big cities, offering them channels of escape from the pressure of urban living as well as food for thought.

Modern Press released its first issue of Modern Pie magazine in November. It hopes to make the series a flagship for original Chinese adult's picture books.

"The market potential is there," editor Zhang Juncheng says.

SDX Joint Publishing Company launched its 11th original picture book recently.

Editor Liu Yang says the 164-page book, Fairy in the Bowl, comes from Fan Wei, a rare talent she and her team scouted.

Liu also says the publisher has faith in long-term cooperation with Fan to produce first-class picture books for adults.