Cover and bookmarks from Chang Hoang Dã - Gấu (Saving Sorya, Chang, and The Sun Bear) are dedicated to wildlife, available in English. Photo courtesy of the publisher

HCM CITY — An art book about wildlife by writer Trang Nguyễn and painter Jeet Zdung will be released in the UK in September following a copyright agreement signed by the book’s publisher, Kim Đồng Publishing House, and its partner, Pan MacMillan. 

The book, Chang Hoang Dã - Gấu (Saving Sorya, Chang and The Sun Bear), features the journey of Chang, a young girl with big dreams of saving endangered wild animals. It tells stories about animals that are close to extinction.  

Chang’s adventure begins when she meets Sorya, a sun bear saved from traffickers by the Bear Rescue Centre. She is determined to return Sorya to nature.

Chang and her new friend, Sorya, help readers discover the beauty of nature and wild animals' lives through their stories. 

Chang Hoang Dã - Gấu includes 120 watercolor paintings by Jeet Zdung. The pictures are the result of a two-month field trip into the wild. 

The 120-page art book Chang Hoang Dã - Gấu (Saving Sorya, Chang and The Sun Bear) was released in Viet Nam in March 2020. Profits from the book’s sales will be sent to wildlife projects in Viet Nam. Photo courtesy of the  publisher

The 120-page book was released in Viet Nam in March 2020. Profits from the book’s sales will be sent to wildlife projects in Viet Nam. 

Pan MacMillan has issued it in five countries, China, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, and the US. 

“I hope the book can touch readers’ hearts and encourage and inspire people to dream and protect nature and the Earth’s vitality,” said the book’s writer Trang, 31, who has a PhD in Biodiversity Management from the University of Kent in England.

Trang Nguyễn, writer of the artbook Chang Hoang Dã - Gấu (Saving Sorya, Chang and The Sun Bear) and founder of WildAct, an NGO that monitors illegal wildlife trade markets offers conservation education programs for Vietnamese youth. — Photo courtesy of the  publisher

In 2013, Trang founded WildAct, an NGO which focuses on monitoring illegal wildlife trade markets and provides conservation education programs for Vietnamese youngsters. She also received a scholarship for wildlife conservation from Cambridge University. 

In 2019, Trang was included on the BBC’s list of the top 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide.

Artist Jeet Zdung, whose real name is Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, was born in 1988. He has won prizes for his illustrations. His works were shown at the Cartoon Festival organized by the Wallonie – Bruxelles Delegation in Viet Nam in 2012. — VNS