Melancholy Town

　　Once upon a time, there was a small town,
　　where the people often couldn't sleep.
　　A large, bright sign displaying the number of insomniacs showed a continuously rising insomnia rate,
　　making everyone increasingly anxious.

　　To solve the townspeople's insomnia, the mayor
　　offered free bathwater, broadcast hypnotic programs, and promoted sheep-counting activities, but nothing worked.
　　The townspeople began to worry that the high insomnia rate would cause the sign to explode,
　　so they sought folk remedies for sleep. They tied "sleep-dead" dolls, ate expired cakes, and planted tall plants, but still to no avail.
　
　　One day, there was a power outage in the town,
　　the insomnia count sign stopped working,
　　and that night seemed particularly quiet and peaceful...

Book Features

　　★ The first innocent and straightforward picture book by an emerging artist
　　Hannah Shieh's painting style is unrestrained and free, with colors and brushstrokes as uninhibited as a child's drawing. Her words and plot are light and cute, yet infused with a mischievous charm, effortlessly drawing readers into a world of whimsical imagination.

　　★ A fantastic fable full of imagination and infinite interpretative space
　　The story of the town troubled by insomnia is full of imagery, prompting readers to consider: What is true worry? Could it be that sometimes, worries are self-inflicted? Can stopping worrying actually solve the problem? Readers of different ages and in different states of mind will gain different insights from this story, making it worth careful reflection.

Well-Rested Recommendations

　　Wong Chiu Tat｜Cartoonist, former lecturer at the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University
　　Liao Po-Chiao｜Psychiatrist, award-winning writer
　　Tsai Po-Hsin｜Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, writer
　　Mao Yu  ｜Bologna-selected illustrator
　　Picture Book Takes Me on a Journey｜Reading promoter
　　(Listed in order of number of strokes in surname)

　　Wong Chiu Tat｜Cartoonist, former lecturer at the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University
　　Insomnia is truly annoying. The more you try to cure it, the more fierce it becomes, the more it wants to entangle with you. Just like in life, worries always come one after another, and the more eager we are to solve them, the greater the pressure we face. Sometimes, simply setting them aside might reveal a glimmer of light.
　　"Worry-Sleep Town" was a piece Hannah created years ago in an illustration class at university. At the time, she probably didn't imagine it would be published. Perhaps, similar to the content of the book, instead of deliberately making things happen, gently letting go of some ideas allows them to slowly grow and eventually blossom when the time is right.

　　Liao Po-Chiao｜Psychiatrist, award-winning writer
　　Each reading offers a different interpretation, making it suitable for asking children, "What did you see this time?" Learning not to be so attached is a valuable practice to share with children.

　　Mao Yu｜Illustrator
　　Hannah's drawings remind me of the joy of drawing I felt when I first started, after years of working on commissions. Her loose lines and vibrant colors are full of sparkling passion and freedom, a rare style in Taiwan. I look forward to her infinite possibilities.

　　Picture Book Takes Me on a Journey｜Picture book reading promoter
　　Everyone in the town was suffering from insomnia. The more worried people became, the less they could sleep.
　　Then, one day, there was a power outage. Could it be a turning point?
　　This is a story that allows you to choose to cast aside your worries every day and sleep soundly.

　　Tsai Po-Hsin  Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, writer
　　Why is it about insomnia, yet I feel a sense of smooth digestion after reading it?

　　Brain Planet Series Introduction
　　Inside a creator's mind exist several parallel universes. We decided to embark on a spaceship to discover these story planets hidden within various minds. This is a grand mission for Earth's peace (?) and cosmic rediscovery (!), and also a gift we wish to give to our readers. We hope to showcase the rhythm and artistry of the perfect combination of pictures and words, and we hope you can find that one story planet that moves you, that belongs to you. So, please smile and untie the ribbon!