Aurora, a photo taken by Sebastian Saarloos, used in the Extraterrestrial Civilization for Children.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Although entitled "for children", many parents on leading review platform Douban say they themselves also enjoy the series, and are sharing it with their children or friends, because it is "easy to follow and fun to read".

The five-volume series covers science, including quantum mechanics, cosmology, the theory of relativity, and the history of time itself.

Dong Hui, editor with CS-Booky who planned the series, says the titles hit almost all best-selling lists online and offline.

So far, Li's Quantum Mechanics for Children, first published in 2017(with several reprints), sold more than 200,000 copies. The other titles of his are set to reach 100,000.They won Li numerous awards, including the Wenjin Book Award by the National Library of China.

Li says: "Quantum mechanics is highly relevant to us now, as it is the theory that led to the birth of things like semiconductor chips and the laser. Otherwise, mobile phones would be much larger."

Another of Li's works, Physics in Three-Body, a book that discusses the theoretical roots of the global best-selling science-fiction novel by Liu Cixin, has been received warmly.

"Li Miao has got a spirit seldom seen in Chinese scientists. He is both knowledgeable and equipped with identical vigor for arts and science," Liu writes in the book's preface.

Li says some of his books are sold in South Korea, and may be translated into Spanish in the future.