History of China for the Young Reader 的选材和语言特点 Before writing this book, I set two simple goals: the book must be easy to read, and it must be able to keep my children interested and engaged. After all, it must compete with supercool modern electronic devices. Deciding to write the book was easy. Actually writing it, however, was not. First, I had to decide what to include in my book and what to leave out. It is impossible to write about every event or every famous individual in China’s history. But I did want to make sure that each event or individual that made it into my book was historically significant. Second, conflicting stories exist about certain events or individuals in history. It is hard for historians to tell which version is true due to contradicting records. In such cases, I have told both sides of the story without confusing young readers. Curious minds can explore and make their own judgments. 由于篇幅有限，历史事件和人物不可能面面俱到，选材必须有取舍。我的读者是8岁或8岁以上的读者，故事内容也需要合适。比如赵氏孤儿的故事有史记和左传两个版本。史学界很多人认为左传版本可能更接近历史。但我觉得史记版更适合小读者，所以我就采用了史记版。（左传版本讲到的男女关系不太适合小读者）。有的故事有争议，比如尧，一种讲法说尧自动禅让给舜，另一种讲法说舜迫使尧让位。我把两种讲法都写出来，让读者们自己去评判哪种更真实。
Before writing this book, I set two simple goals: the book must be easy to read, and it must be able to keep my children interested and engaged. After all, it must compete with supercool modern electronic devices.
Deciding to write the book was easy. Actually writing it, however, was not. First, I had to decide what to include in my book and what to leave out. It is impossible to write about every event or every famous individual in China’s history. But I did want to make sure that each event or individual that made it into my book was historically significant. Second, conflicting stories exist about certain events or individuals in history. It is hard for historians to tell which version is true due to contradicting records. In such cases, I have told both sides of the story without confusing young readers. Curious minds can explore and make their own judgments.
由于篇幅有限，历史事件和人物不可能面面俱到，选材必须有取舍。我的读者是8岁或8岁以上的读者，故事内容也需要合适。比如赵氏孤儿的故事有史记和左传两个版本。史学界很多人认为左传版本可能更接近历史。但我觉得史记版更适合小读者，所以我就采用了史记版。（左传版本讲到的男女关系不太适合小读者）。有的故事有争议，比如尧，一种讲法说尧自动禅让给舜，另一种讲法说舜迫使尧让位。我把两种讲法都写出来，让读者们自己去评判哪种更真实。
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