The name 'Stone Soup' draws inspiration from the beloved children's picture book, which tells the story of three monks who cook a pot of stone soup to awaken a village, opening hearts and revealing the joy of sharing. This story serves as a metaphor for our Initiative's guiding principles: 'Sharing creates abundance, happiness stems from giving, and action inspires change.'

The Initiative works closely with education bureaus and schools to enhance teacher's  professional skills, foster inter-school collaboration, and to cultivate a vibrant reading culture—one that celebrates, values, and prioritizes the joy of reading for pleasure.

The 'Stone Soup Happy Reading Alliance', launched in 2007 in Baohe District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, is a regional multi-school program dedicated to building a collaborative reading culture. Through years of experience, the Alliance has refined the 'Stone Soup' model, offering a proven framework for promoting 'reading for pleasure' in educational settings.