The Magical Little Grass

This picture book is The Magical Little Grass, part of the “Stories of Scientists” series, written by Xu Lu, illustrated by Italian illustrator Alice Coppini, and jointly published by China Children’s Press & Publication Group and China Children’s Publishing House. It is suitable for children aged 3–9.

This biographical picture book tells the story of the growth and scientific journey of Tu Youyou, China’s first Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine.

The story begins when, as a little girl, she meets an old Chinese medicine doctor gathering herbs and is drawn to the magic of medicinal plants. As an adult, she devotes herself to researching traditional Chinese medicine; after more than 190 failures, she finally finds inspiration in Ge Hong’s Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies from the Eastern Jin dynasty, successfully extracts artemisinin, and saves the lives of millions of malaria patients around the world.

The book not only shows the hardship and persistence behind scientific discovery, but also conveys the deep heritage of traditional Chinese medicine and the spirit of scientific exploration. The cover is full of natural charm: a little girl lies in lush green grass with a woven bamboo basket beside her, surrounded by sweet wormwood, wild berries, and ferns, while a red lantern hangs in the upper right corner. The scene is warm and peaceful, rich with Eastern aesthetics, echoing the “little grass” theme and its traditional cultural background.