親子專訪｜從加拿大到香港　母與女攜手展開文化之旅　一本童書開啟孩子世界觀　

在全球化與多元文化並行的年代，孩子如何理解世界，往往由第一本書開始。來自加拿大愛德華王子島（Prince Edward Island）的社區文化與教育推動者朱佩儀（Mabel Chu），今次回到香港，帶來的不只是一場文化分享，而是一段由童書出發、橫跨加拿大與香港的教育旅程。

由孩子出發的世界故事

《Princess Meadow & the Rainbow Garden of Prince Edward Island》是一本由 Mabel 女兒 Meadow 創作的兒童繪本。故事以自然、生態、友誼與文化共融為主題，透過孩子純真的視角，描繪加拿大王子島的土地、社區與多元文化生活。「這本書不是教孩子答案，而是陪孩子思考世界。」Mabel 表示。她希望孩子在閱讀故事時，能同時學會尊重自然、理解不同文化，並建立對世界的好奇心與同理心。

從王子島到香港的教育對話

作為長期參與加拿大社區與文化工作的推動者，Mabel 在分享中亦談到加拿大與香港在兒童教育上的不同取向。她指出，加拿大教育較著重孩子與自然、社區及情緒的連結，鼓勵體驗式學習與表達；而香港教育則在語言能力、專注力及學習紀律方面具備深厚基礎。

「我不會說哪一邊比較好，反而覺得兩者可以互相補足。」Mabel 分享道。「孩子可以同時擁有香港孩子的學習能力，也培養加拿大教育所重視的想像力、合作精神與世界觀。」這種「互補式教育視角」，亦正正體現在 Meadow 的繪本之中——既有清晰價值，也保留童真的自由想像。

鼓聲，讓孩子自然理解文化

除了繪本，Mabel 亦積極參與及推動 Canada Day Drumming（加拿大全國打鼓日）。透過鼓樂這種跨語言、跨文化的藝術形式，孩子不需要翻譯，也能感受到節奏、合作與共融的力量。「鼓聲是一種孩子一聽就明白的語言。」她表示，「文化教育，其實可以很自然。」

讓孩子，看見更大的世界

Mabel 希望透過童書、文化活動與教育交流，讓更多香港家庭與孩子認識加拿大、認識愛德華王子島，也同時讓加拿大社區聽見來自香港的故事。「當孩子從小學會欣賞不同文化，未來的世界自然會更寬廣。」

From Canada to Hong Kong　A Mother and Daughter's Cultural Adventure

A Picture Book Opens Children's Worldview

In an era shaped by globalization and cultural diversity, a child’s understanding of the world often begins with their very first book.

Mabel Chu, a community cultural and education advocate from Prince Edward Island, Canada, recently returned to Hong Kong to share more than a cultural presentation. She brought with her a journey—one that begins with a children’s picture book and extends across Canada and Hong Kong, linking education, culture, and community.

A World Story Told Through a Child’s Eyes

Princess Meadow & the Rainbow Garden of Prince Edward Island is a children’s picture book created by Mabel’s daughter, Meadow. Centered on themes of nature, ecology, friendship, and cultural inclusion, the story captures the landscapes, communities, and multicultural life of Prince Edward Island through a child’s imaginative perspective.

“This book is not about giving children answers,” Mabel explains.

“It is about accompanying them as they learn to think about the world.”

She hopes that through reading, children can learn to respect nature, appreciate cultural differences, and develop curiosity and empathy toward the world around them.

An Educational Dialogue Between Prince Edward Island and Hong Kong

As someone deeply engaged in community and cultural work in Canada, Mabel also shared insights into the different educational approaches found in Canada and Hong Kong.

She notes that Canadian education places strong emphasis on children’s connection with nature, community, and emotional development, encouraging experiential learning and self-expression. Hong Kong’s education system, meanwhile, is known for its strengths in language development, focus, and learning discipline.

“I don’t see one as better than the other,” Mabel says.

“I see them as complementary.”

She believes children can benefit from both—maintaining strong learning foundations while also developing imagination, collaboration, and a broader global perspective. This complementary educational philosophy is reflected in Meadow’s picture book, which combines clear values with the freedom of childlike creativity.

Drumming: A Language Children Instinctively Understand

Beyond picture books, Mabel is also actively involved in promoting Canada Day Drumming, a national cultural initiative in Canada.Through drumming—an art form that transcends language and culture—children experience rhythm, teamwork, and inclusion without the need for translation.

“Drumming is a language children instantly understand,” Mabel shares.

“Cultural education can be very natural.”

Helping Children See a Bigger World

Through picture books, cultural initiatives, and educational exchange, Mabel hopes to help more families and children in Hong Kong learn about Canada and Prince Edward Island, while also allowing Canadian communities to hear stories from Hong Kong.

“When children learn to appreciate different cultures from a young age,” she reflects, “the world they grow into naturally becomes wider and more compassionate.”