Little Wayang Kid

Title of Picture Book: Little Wayang Kid

Author: Raymond Tan

Illustrator: Joey Ng Kai Woon

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Brainchild Pictures, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: (No blurb)

Story of an Indian boy learning Chinese wayang.

Theme (Self, Friends, Family, Places, Celebrations, Nature, Technology, etc): Self, family,

5 Keywords (other than themes): Bilingual, culture, arts, performance, harmony

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A simple story with interesting actions.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): National Library Singapore

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-1125-6

Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses Sia

Painting a Tiger

Title of Picture Book: Painting a Tiger

Author: Jiao Lei

Illustrator: Xie Fang Lai

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): China

Publisher’s Blurb: (No English blurb)

English Translation from Chinese by William Su (translated name)

Theme (Self, Friends, Family, Places, Celebrations, Nature, Technology, etc): values

5 Keywords (other than themes): boastful, wisdom, elders, honest, bilingual

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Interesting tale.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): National Library Board, Singapore

ISBN Number (if available): 978-7-5083-5795-9

Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses

The Naughty Mynah

Title of Picture Book: The Naughty Mynah

Author: Evelyn Sue Wong

Illustrator: Tee Sieok Bing

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): AFCC Publications, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Paul Jones, a visiting art teacher who has just arrived in Singapore befriends a clever mynah that can speak English and Mandarin. Agreeing to help Mr Jones learn Mandarin, the mynah accompanies him yo surprise his students on the first day of school. The mynah soon learns from the students and Mr Jones that it is too clever for its own good. Or does it?

This engaging story helps young readers develop an appreciation for the diverse language environment they live in. Through the basic concept of “translating” and “opposites”, readers are encouraged to think about the role and importance of bilingualism in their daily lives. A bilingual glossary is provided at the time of the book for easy reference.

Translation into Chinese by Tan Dan Feng.

Theme (Self, Friends, Family, Places, Celebrations, Nature, Technology, etc): self, friends, nature

5 Keywords (other than themes): bilingual, bird, school, jokes, opposites

Brief Review (in under 50 words): The jokes are best appreciated when one is bilingual in English and Chinese.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): National Library Board, Singapore

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-0338-1

Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses

Mulan

Title of Picture Book: Mulan

Author: Li Jian

Illustrator: Li Jian

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Shanghai Press, China

Publisher’s Blurb: The legend of Mulan and her bravery is captured in this book of beautiful ink paintings.

There was once an extraordinary girl who was as beautiful as she was brave. She knew how to read and write and sew. She loved to ride horses and shoot her bow and arrows. But it was her love for her family and her father that made her into a great soldier.

In English and Chinese. English translation by Yijin Wert

Theme (Self, Friends, Family, Places, Celebrations, Nature, Technology, etc): self, family

5 Keywords (other than themes): bilingual, bravery, gender, legend, ink paintings

Brief Review (in under 50 words): The ink paintings are beautiful

Where to buy or borrow (if available): National Library Board, Singapore

ISBN Number (if available): 978-1-60220-986-2

Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses

List: Why did the Pangolin Cross the Road?

Title of Picture Book: Why did the Pangolin Cross the Road

Author: Emily Lim

Illustrator: Cheng Puay Koon

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Singapore Zoological Gardens

Publisher’s Blurb: Kai and Mei stumble upon an injured Pangolin outside their school.

As the children help the poor animal to safety, it sparks off their interest in the Pangolin and why it risked its life to cross the road.

5 Keywords (other than themes): Endangered animal, forest, deforestation, zoo, go green

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Based on a true story, and with a nice twist in the end.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): NLB, Singapore

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-6987-5

Submitted by (could be your preferred name, including pen name): Moses

List: Vanishing Material

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

List: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Ariel and Her Honesty Pig

Title: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Ariel and Her Honesty Pig

Author: Pauline Loh

Illustrator: Patrick Yee

Publisher and Country: MandarinaKids, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Ariel has a weak leg. She thinks that children will not befriend her because of her leg. She tells a lie about having many friends. Meng Meng and An An help Ariel learn the values of honesty and friendship.

5 Keywords (other than themes): friendship, honesty, birthday, problem-solving, bilingualism.

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A bilingual picture book with Chinese, English and hanyu pinyin. Fun flip ups and an audio CD complements this book that celebrates honesty and friendship.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): https://paulineltl.wordpress.com/

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-9660-0

Submitted by  Pauline Loh

List: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Little Jay Writes an Adventure

Title of Picture Book: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Little Jay Writes an Adventure

Author: Pauline Loh

Illustrator: Evon leAngelis

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): MandarinaKids, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Little Jay does not like to read, but his cousins Meng Meng and An An have their own way of helping him. Meng Meng and An An show what it means to care for the family.

5 Keywords (other than themes): family, love for reading, imagination, problem-solving, bilingualism

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A bilingual picture book with Chinese, English and hanyu pinyin. Fun flip ups and an audio CD complements this book that celebrates family and the joy of reading.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): https://paulineltl.wordpress.com/

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-6180-6

Submitted by Pauline Loh

List: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Grandma’s Eightieth Birthday

Title of Picture Book: Chronicles of Meng Meng and An An – Grandma’s Eightieth Birthday

Author: Pauline Loh

Illustrator: Evon leAngelis

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): MandarinaKids, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Grandma’s eightieth birthday is coming and but it looks like the family cannot celebrate together because everyone is either busy or sick. Meng Meng and An An work hard to solve the problem.

5 Keywords (other than themes): Family, filial piety, problem-solving, bilingualism, Chinese language

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A bilingual picture book with Chinese, English and hanyu pinyin. Fun flip ups and an audio CD complements this book that celebrates family and filial piety.

Where to buy or borrow (if available): https://paulineltl.wordpress.com/

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-1530-4

Submitted by Pauline Loh