ShanghaiMay 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To further promote nationwide reading, the cultural and creative brand fruru, in collaboration with the Shanghai Library Reading Promotion Center, hosted the “Furry Friends in Books” reading promotion series from May 23 to 24 at the Shanghai Library East Branch. Inspired by fruru’s “Furry Friends in Books” plush toy series launched on World Book Day (April 23) this year, the event focused on reading companionship and cultural exchange. It featured one loquat-themed science lecture and four parent-child experiential activities on plant observation and drawing, creating a “Reading+” multi-dimensional experience that conveys the charm of books and nature.
The “Furry Friends in Books” plush toy series is centered on the concept of “reading companionship.” Its design inspirations are drawn from the “Flora of China” housed in the Shanghai Library’s Xujiahui Collection. Each toy is endowed with distinct “personalities” and “reading preferences”—for example, “the calm and patient ‘Slow Persimmon,’ who loves traditional culture,” “the curious ‘Casual Pineapple,’ who enjoys science knowledge,” and “the imaginative ‘Wonderful Custard Apple,’ who adores sci-fi stories”—becoming exclusive “reading buddies” for readers. The “Flora of China” is the first European publication on the nature of the Far East and Southeast Asia, holding significant importance in the history of Sino-Western cultural exchange.
The loquat-themed science lecture held on May 24 invited Dr. Zhang Xueying from the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. With the theme “The Origin and Spread of Loquats,” she guided readers to learn about loquats from different origins and their global dissemination. The four parent-child experiential activities on plant observation and drawing focused on four fruits from the “Furry Friends in Books” series: persimmon, lychee, papaya, and custard apple. Zong Quanquan, editor-in-chief of “Notes on Plant Observation Around Us” and “Plants on Campus,” was invited to teach families scientific observation methods, carefully examining plant shapes, leaf veins, and colors, and encouraging children to record their observations through drawing. Through the process of observing, thinking, and drawing, the activities aimed to cultivate children’s habits of connecting with nature and loving reading, spark artistic imagination, and immerse parent-child bonding in the fragrance of books and greenery.
This reading promotion series represents fruru’s attempt to support nationwide reading through youthful, innovative practices. Leveraging the platform of the Shanghai Library Reading Promotion Center, the initiative aims to use “Reading+” multi-dimensional interactions, with books as the medium and toy IP as the link, to help more readers—especially youth—experience the joy of reading, integrate nationwide reading into daily life, and contribute to building a book-loving society. In the future, the fruru brand will continue to embrace its philosophy of “Embracing the Miracle of Softness,” unlocking more new ways to promote nationwide reading and bringing healing and companionship to more users through warm, thoughtful products.