Introduction

From its beginnings in the early twentieth century, modem Chinese children's literature was cast as an ideological tool to reshape China. It aroused deep controversies over concepts of childhood, education and language. At the core of the controversy was its role in China's push for modernization. Revolutionaries-from Lu Xun to Mao Zedong-insisted that the future of China would be decided by Chinese children themselves. To this end, they needed their own distinctive literature.