Translations of two of the poems

But I still miss my mom

When the farmers were already at work,

Mom asked me to get up and have breakfast.

Then I went to school.

When I came back from school,

Mom had run away from home.

She should have gone to work.

But I still miss my mom.

I also wanted my dad to stay with me at home.

He would send me to school.

He would buy me breakfast.

(Xiaoyu, 5 years old, recorded on Jan 10, 2021. Translated by Zhou Yan and Celine Tan)

Play

Let's go to Beijing to play games.

Let's go to an amusement park and play Space Party games.

Let's go to Jinniuling to see the flowers.

And I will go to see my sisters.

I will go to Shuangchuang Square to have some snacks.

I will hold an exhibition in a little park.

Let's take a walk in the Verdant Garden.

(Yueliang, 12 years old, recorded on Nov 19, 2022. Translated by Zhou Yan and Celine Tan)

China Daily