Chongqing - The Chinese edition of Amos the Amazing, a children’s fantasy novel set in Chongqing, was officially launched on December 27 at Chongqing Jiulong Xinhua Bookstore, bringing together young readers, families, and literature lovers for a celebration of imagination and cultural exchange.
Written by Canadian author Jorah Kai Wood, who has lived and worked in Chongqing for many years, Amos the Amazing presents a futuristic, dreamlike vision of the city. Blending local cultural elements with science fiction and fantasy, the story invites young readers to explore a world in which familiar urban landscapes are transformed through imagination.
The launch event was jointly hosted by Chongqing Xinhua Bookstore Group and the Western China International Communication Organization, marking the official release of the book’s Chinese-language edition in the city that inspired its creation.
Wood, who also teaches at Chongqing Foreign Language School and works as a part-time editor at WCICO, described the publication of the Chinese edition in Chongqing as a meaningful “homecoming.”
“This story started here,” he said. “It traveled the world in English, and now it has returned to the place where it belongs — in its own language, and for the children who live here.”
Originally published in English, Amos the Amazing gained international recognition as a bestseller, attracting readers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its success overseas made the release of the Chinese edition a particularly significant milestone for the author.
Set against Chongqing’s distinctive urban landscape, the novel draws inspiration from the city’s dramatic topography, dense architecture, and its blend of ancient and modern influences. Wood has often described Chongqing as a source of constant creative inspiration, calling it a “cyberpunk dreamland” where tradition and futurism coexist.
Beyond storytelling, he has long been engaged in cultural exchange between China and the West. Through his writing and media work, he aims to present a nuanced view of Chinese life, culture, and technological development to international audiences, while also sharing Western perspectives with readers in China.
The Chinese edition of the book was translated by Gao Fei, a professor at the School of Foreign Languages at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Gao noted that the setting of the story played a particularly important role in the translation process.
“For Chinese children, especially those growing up in Chongqing, it is very meaningful to read a fantasy story that takes place in their own city,” Gao said. “Many children’s books are set in distant or imaginary places. This story shows that great imagination can also happen right here, in their hometown.”
According to Gao, presenting Chongqing as the backdrop of a fantasy world helps young readers develop a stronger sense of connection and pride, encouraging them to see their city and culture as sources of creativity and possibility.
The launch event also attracted readers from neighboring cities. Some parents said they were drawn to the book because of its unique perspective — a foreign author writing about life in Chongqing through the eyes of a child.
As winter sets in, Amos the Amazing offers young readers an invitation to dream boldly and to rediscover Chongqing through imagination — not as a distant setting, but as a city where extraordinary stories can unfold.
(Liu Yiting, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)