Special gifts for children from an architect

Author Chau An Khoi (real name Bui Van Huy) originally worked in the architecture industry but has become a familiar name to children. From recycled materials and his own emotions, he has created many "zero-dollar toys" and composed children's poetry collections that are loved by children.

Despite his busy work schedule, architect-poet Bui Van Huy still spends his free time meticulously cutting and pasting cardboard, welding beer cans, and adjusting each wire to create toys for his children. And in quiet moments, when his children are asleep, he focuses on composing many poems as pure and innocent as the first babble of life, like the colorful dreams of children gradually discovering the world around them.

Chau An Khoi is a pen name made up of the names of his three children, and is also the way architect Bui Van Huy entered the world of childhood with the warm heart of a father.

He does not write poems or make toys for any other purpose than a simple desire: to bring children beautiful, safe and memorable things. From those small things, he has created beautiful stories - where poetry, creativity,education and family affection come together.

Impressive works of poet Chau An Khoi.

Chau An Khoi came to children's poetry when he was over 35 years old. He only wanted to write for his children, to preserve beautiful memories of their journey of growing up, but the more he wrote, the more he realized he was touching a magical world: leaves that could talk; sunlight and raindrops carrying the whispers of nature...

Since then, he has published nearly 10 collections of children's poetry with a variety of themes: "Poetry for children learning to speak" (Thanh Nien Publishing House, 2021); "Green Garden", "Children learning to be adults" (Women's Publishing House, 2022); "The warehouse of the sky" (Dan Tri Publishing House, 2024); Thematic poetry collection of 4 volumes: "Baby's stuff", "Animal world", " Discovering yourself", "Discovering nature" (Women's Publishing House, 2024)...

In addition, he also has poems published in Tet holiday publications, such as "Nham nhi Tet" by Kim Dong Publishing House with an interesting article about a dragon inspired by the movie Avatar and a dragon assembly gift for children on New Year's Day.

During the first social distancing period of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Huy started making cardboard toys for his children when he could not go out. From there, he realized that discarded materials such as plastic bottles, milk cartons, beer cans... can all be turned into interesting and safe toys.

With his skillful hands and creative mind, he has created more than 100 recycled toys, both as gifts for his children and to share on social networks, inspiring many other parents.

"Playing with children, I feel like I'm returning to the world of childhood, where there are no worries about food and money. It's a magical world, where anything can happen, where adults can relive their most innocent emotions," he shared.

Poetry books bring children colors and fun sounds.

For him, literary works or each toy are a bridge to help parents get closer to their children, help them learn creativity, practice dexterity, learn about environmental protection and live a simpler life.

Children's poetry in Chau An Khoi's concept is simply the words spoken to children by a father - a companion. His poems are often concise, succinct, rhyming, easy to learn, easy to remember, very suitable for children who are learning to speak and read. In addition to carrying the colors of childhood, his poems also bring many familiar stories: the clock, the glass of water, the chick, the autumn leaf, the mother's voice...

"The newly hatched chick/ Shows off its golden feathers/ Shiny like the color of the sun/ Like thin silk". Through just a few short verses, the author has brought the image of a tiny, adorable newborn chick, evoking close associations with children. Simple comparisons, concrete images, unsophisticated but evocative words are the characteristics that create the hidden charm in Chau An Khoi's children's poetry.

"The pond bank goes to the summer festival/ Dragonflies and stink bugs spread their wings and flutter around"... opens up the lively summer space of the countryside through a unique personification that makes nature seem to have a soul, as if it is also participating in the summer joy of children. Many small creatures through the lens of childhood become the main characters of the painting. Chau An Khoi helps children read poems and feel and imagine more.

A toy made from materials familiar to children.

Reading his poems, children are introduced to the rhythm of language, and at the same time are led back to the childhood ecosystem that grandparents and parents were once attached to, where there are ponds, rice fields, sunny afternoons and the chirping of cicadas. That is also how he connects generations through innocence and pure emotions, as gentle as the breath of the homeland.

Having never attended any writing school, nor working in the publishing industry, Bui Van Huy-Chau An Khoi has persistently brought children innocent and beautiful gifts: pure poems, safe toys and a colorful childhood world. He creates with the love of a father, recording each step of his child's growth and that of his friends.

The author opened a YouTube channel to share how to make toys, both to play with children and to inspire other parents. The toys are not only fun to look at but also bring lessons in environmental protection, appreciation of life, creativity and family connection.

The poet has opened many channels to guide and share with parents.

Many toys were created by the devoted father, including elaborate works such as a coiled dragon made of steel wire, a mobile vehicle made of beer cans, a robot model made of bottle caps... In a memorable moment, he was once picked up by a television car during the city's curfew, bringing "zero-dollar" toys to be broadcast on national television.

Poet Chau An Khoi has brought children joy and faith that is so close, gentle and genuine. What is admirable is that amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, he has chosen to slow down and live more slowly to listen to all the sounds and shadows of childhood. The simple creative value he brings is art, and it is also the way adults preserve memories and nurture children's souls through love with a simple message: childhood does not need too many great things, adults just need to be patient enough to play, dream and walk together.

THUY PHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-mon-qua-dac-biet-danh-cho-thieu-nhi-cua-mot-kien-truc-su-post883764.html