Alex’s Musical Picture Book (小智哥教音乐) guides young readers through an exploration of Chinese musical instruments. Each beautifully illustrated page introduces the guqin (qin), the pipa, and the xiao (vertical bamboo flute). The book invites its audience into intimate dialogues, woven from historical anecdotes, cultural contexts, and resonant sounds.

At the heart of the book is Alex (小智), a comic representation of myself. Alex serves as both guide and fellow traveler across thousands of years of musical heritage. Embedded QR codes offer audio companions, which renders each instrument’s unique timbre—the delicate guqin, the expressive pipa, and the ethereal xiao—to be heard. The technology transforms the reading experience into a multisensory journey. Listen closely, and let the music lead you through history.