BEIJING: Eighty-year-old Chinese artist and renowned children’s book illustrator Cai Gao has won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award 2026, one of the highest international honors in children’s literature, becoming the first Chinese female illustrator to receive the coveted award.
Cai Gao’s artwork is widely recognized for its vivid portrayal of childhood memories, rural life, Chinese culture and the beauty found in the small details of everyday life. Her illustrations combine simplicity, warmth and emotional depth, giving her a distinctive place in the world of children’s literature and illustration.
Born in 1946 in Changsha, the capital of China’s Hunan province, Cai Gao has often described her childhood memories as the greatest treasure behind her artistic work. Stories told by her grandmother, local songs, traditional festivals, Chinese opera and the days she spent playing in the family courtyard later became recurring elements in her illustrated books.
Cai Gao did not receive formal training in art. Instead, while teaching children in rural areas, she closely observed her surroundings and began sketching villages, fields, roads and the people who lived there. These experiences gradually shaped her artistic style and helped establish the strong connection between her work and traditional Chinese rural life.
She later joined a children’s publishing house, where she spent several decades working on illustrated books for young readers. Among her well-known works are “Mooncake Ballad” and “Wherever the Moon Goes, I Go,” both of which reflect childhood memories, family emotions and elements of Chinese rural culture.
Cai Gao has said that there are many things in life that people cannot choose for themselves, but regardless of circumstances, everyone can choose how they want to live their lives. This philosophy has remained an important part of both her personal outlook and her artistic journey.
Even at the age of 80, Cai Gao considers herself open to new ideas, experiences and creative possibilities. She believes that age should not prevent anyone from beginning something new and that a fresh start remains possible at any stage of life.
Her selection for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2026 represents recognition of her decades-long contribution to children’s literature and illustration. It also highlights the growing international recognition of Chinese children’s literature and visual storytelling.
Cai Gao’s achievement demonstrates that creativity, observation and life experience can transcend age and cultural boundaries, allowing an artist’s work to connect with and inspire children and readers around the world.
