The Australian embassy in Beijing has celebrated the launch of five classic Australian children’s books translated into Chinese. Koala Series forms part of the ‘Introducing Australian Children's Literature to China’ project, headed by Professor Li Yao. It has received joint funding from the Australia-China Council and the University of Western Sydney and is published by the People’s Literature Publishing House in China.

The aim of the project is to promote an increased awareness and understanding of Australian children's literature in China as well as Australian values, traditions and the Australian way of life.Two of the five books in the Koala Series, award winning children’s stories Being Bee and Rain May and Captain Daniel by Australian author Catherine Bateson, were translated by students in the Interpreting and Translation program at University of Western Sydney.
The other three Australian classics – Dot and the Kangaroo, Seven Little Australians and Blinky Bill – were translated by Professor Li Yao (pictured right with the Koala Series), Li Yiqun and Qiao Ran.
Professor Li has spent the past 27 years translating Australian works of literature into Chinese including Patrick White's The Tree of Man.
A further five releases are planned for 2010, including Norman Lindsay's The Magic Pudding.