Chinese netizens are furious over a controversial math textbook for Chinese students

The latest controversy in China over a math textbook for elementary school students is the children’s picture book Sweat! There is something wrong with the content. The picture book is supposed to introduce the cause of sweating to children, but there are two boys licking the girl’s arm on one page, and the conversation emphasizes “Sister, you are so beautiful. What is the smell of sweat?” “Well, salty, too.” The picture book has sparked heated debate on the Internet, with a large number of netizens criticizing it as “extremely obscene”.

In China, a children’s picture book, “Sweat!”, was published in 2012. Recently, netizens found some contents of the picture book not only inappropriate, but also disgusting. According to Chinese media reports, the book, published by Jiangsu Oriental Doll Magazine, aims to explain why humans sweat, but it shows two boys licking the sweat from a girl’s arm, with the caption: “Sister, you are so beautiful. What does your sweat smell like?” “Well, salty, too.”

The incident sparked heated debate on the Chinese Internet, with many netizens criticizing it on Weibo, saying, “Our characters have been blocked, but children’s books are directly illustrated.” “Are there any textbook picture books that have not been infiltrated by such garbage images?” “I can’t believe that no one felt uncomfortable during the whole publishing process?” “Is that two boys licking? Can’t you see that’s two creepy uncles? It’s creepy.”

It has been nearly 10 years since the book was published on June 1, 2012. The third edition has already been printed. In the first edition, a boy licks the girl’s arm, while another boy covers his mouth and watches. In the second and third editions, the girl’s arms are longer and two boys are licking them.

In this regard, the editorial department of Oriental Dolls also issued a statement today (27), referring to the picture book Sweat! One picture has aroused discussion on the Internet, and the editorial department takes it seriously. The book has been removed from the shelves and re-read by experts. The editorial department emphasizes that it will actively absorb the good suggestions put forward by everyone, and strive to publish better books for children and provide more complete reading services for families of school-age children.