Title of Picture Book: Vanishing Materials
Author: Jesvin Yeo
Illustrator: Jesvin Yeo, Quek Teng Wan
Publisher and Country (may be self-published): National Library Board and Basheer Graphic Books, Singapore
Publisher’s Blurb: Vanishing Materials is a children’s story based on the intrinsic meaning of the word ‘adaptable’. Drawn from the long history of traditional woodclay, a material originally used in the crafting of Chinese religious objects, its use had changed with the times. Woodclay has been gradually modelled into commercialised figurines souvenirs of early Singapore island settlers like the Satay Man and Samsui Woman. Also, one can see the assimilation of Western pop culture iconographies such as the Halloween pumpkin, Gingerbread man and candy houses into woodclay figurines.
5 Keywords (other than themes): history, culture, craft, Singapore, innovation
Brief Review (in under 50 words): This book is in an accordion-format with one side in English and the other in Chinese. It presents the story of a boy getting acquainted with a material, woodclay, which is used differently.
Where to buy or borrow (if available): NLB Singapore
ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-4897-9
Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses
Asian Picture Books 