As parents, we worry about all kinds of Qs, IQ, EQ, NQ(nutrition quotient not "No Q"), SQ(Social quotient) etc.....  the list of worries goes on..  I am a parent who particularly cares about EQ or VQ(values quotient) because I feel that this forms the basis of several decision process and decision-making is a major part of our lives.

Recently I visited my favourite mobile "bookstore" and chanced upon this set of books for EQ.... Instinctively I realised there would be hope for those who missed the "幸福的种子".   This set of books is equally colourful and fun for children to flip.  The authors of the original stories are from European countries, translated into Japanese and then to Chinese.

I have not completed all but out of the 15 books, 2 of which impressed upon me now is the "爸爸, 我爱你" and "树爷爷".   These books are quite ageless in my opinion because for someone at my age, I can still enjoy them to bits.   These books also come with DVDs.

What I enjoy most in "爸爸, 我爱你" is that in reality, parents do have our down moments.  It would be nice if a child can understand that and know their positive impact on a parent who is down.  In the story, the father faced an accusation and instinctively he reduced in size physically until very tiny.  It took the magic words of the daughter, "Daddy, I love you" to bring him back to his BIG frame.   Of course it is metaphorical for adults but I love the author's way of making it so easy for the children to understand their impact on their parents.  I read this story to my child and another child at the same time.  I could see the sparkling beam in both the children's eyes when they understood why the father could reduce and grow in size.

As for "树爷爷", firstly I love the illustration in the book, the colours are so vibrant and full of vigor that I wish I am inside the book.  It is such a green book and the illustrations come alive in the book with the rest of the colours.  As for the story, it feels like the real world.  In the world of the young, everything is vibrant, beautiful and happening, and it is easy to ignore the aging, humbling themselves at a corner.  However during a crisis,  typically it is the experienced who would stick their necks out to protect the young and this is evident in the story.  The other interesting metaphor that I like is that as the "old" goes his way out to help the young....he in turn gets a new lease of life with green leaves growing all over him once again.  The rejuvenation of the old tree transforming to a young one happens before the eyes of everyone.  In real life, I believe when an older person finds himself or herself useful again, this sudden lease of youth will engulf them, injecting "IMEDEEN" into their lives.

Now you know why I say these stories can appeal to any age?  I do not think EQ is limited to only being developed in the young, I believe it plays an instrumental part throughout our lives and can still be fine-tuned.   So now when I re-read the title of the books again..."影响孩子一生的情商"  I am even more convinced that it is indeed a lifetime's EQ.  However, if you are looking for a Chinese competency level read, the level is from 5-7YO (Singapore's standard) albeit the prescriptive age on the books are 3-12YO.

The 15 book titles:

《火车要开了》中的汤姆乘着想象的火车四处周游； (OA:Francesca Chessa, Italy)

《我想飞》中的胖胖龙在朋友的鼓励下变得强壮，终于学会飞翔; (OA: Anna M. Curti, Italy)

《森林派对》中被误解和排挤的小象在危难当头无私地帮助大家；(OA: Febe Sillani, Italy)

《森林来了一只狗》中的小狗终于在森林中找到了自己的作用与自信；(OA: Eva Rasano, Italy)

《哇，变色了》中的小熊将颜料涂在树上却导致了河流的污染，而它改正过失的过程也让大家认识到了保护环境的重要； (OA: Febe Sillani, Italy)

《怕冷的企鹅》讲述了穿着大衣的企鹅去热带旅行的见闻；(OA: Anna M. Curti, Italy)

《最好吃的蛋糕》中，各种动物学会了各抒所长地合作出最好吃的蛋糕；(OA: Francesca Bosca, Italy)

《胆小的猫头鹰》则让小猫头鹰在帮助绵羊的过程中忘却了恐惧；(OA: Francesca Bosca, Italy)

《好长好长的围巾》通过一条好长好长的围巾表达了祖孙间的爱；(OA: Gemma Sales, Spain)

《我长大以后》的小熊，在小小年纪就开始思考自己的未来，并更加享受童年生活；(OA: Makiko Roderbourg, Born in Japan, now reside in Belgium)

《爸爸我爱你》表达了孩子对父母的景仰与真诚的爱；(OA: Luigi Dal Cin, Italy)

《小狗派克与猫咪》讲述小狗与小猫之间的善意与友谊；(OA; Teresa Novoa, Spain)

《仁慈的树爷爷》以老树的无私奉献让孩子理解祖父母的无私与关爱； (OA: Anna Tousouzova, Bulgaria)

《飞上天空的绵羊》中，小绵羊在朋友的帮助下飞上天空，实现了梦想；(OA: Cristina Garelli, Italy)

《永恒的大树在唱歌》中的村民为了私利砍倒会唱歌的大树，却永远的失去了歌声，在淡淡的伤感中，告诉孩子自然是人类的朋友 (OA: Luigi Dal Cin, Italy)

Here is an example of a page from 火车要开了: