Chirri and Chirra

Title of Picture Book: Chirri & Chirra

Author: Kaya Doi

Illustrator: Kaya Doi

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Enchanted Lion Books, New York

Publisher’s Blurb: (no blurb)
Born on Tokyo, Kaya Doi graduated with a design degree from Tokyo Zokei University. She got a start in picture books through the Atosaki Juku Workshop, a program at a Tokyo workshop. Doi has created many wonderful books. She lives in Chiba Prefecture and maintains a strong interest in environmental and animal welfare issues.

Translated from Japanese by Yuki Kaneko.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): forest, animals, tours, food, concert

Brief Review (in under 50 words): The two girls’ whimsical visit to the forest and meeting interesting animal friends.

Attractive illustrations.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-1-59270-199-5

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

Under the Neem Tree

Title of Picture Book: Under the Neem Tree

Author: P Anuradha

Illustrator: A V Ilango

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Tulika Publishers, India

Publisher’s Blurb: Everyday after school, Kla and her friends gather under the Neem tree and wait for Nainamma to tell them stories. Today Nainamma tells them about the well-known folktale about Ookamma and Okaiah, sprinkling it as usual with her homilies and conveying her world view.

Under the Neem Tree is not just a story about a story set in rural Andhra Pradesh. In it, two rolds come alive together – the real one in which children make riends, eat, play and watch adults squabble and bully, and the world of Nainamma’s story. And as the story of Ookamma and Ookaiahunfolds, so does the everyday life of the children in all its rich detail, drawing readers inot a world where issues of work and food are constant concerns. When the story ends, the children roll with laughter. And so does Nainamma.

The flowing lines of Illango’s illustrations perfectly capture the liveliness of the story and its ambience.

Translated from Telugu by N Manohar Reddy

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): storyteller, hunger, death, rural life, speaking

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A seemingly wordy but very engaging tale within a tale. Cleverly woven together. Deals with some unusual themes like hunger, death and rural life.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 93-5046-060-2

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

The Shepherd and His Cloud

Title of Picture Book: The Shepherd and His Cloud

Author: Natalia Pang

Illustrator: Drewscape

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Straits Times Press, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Shai is a shepherd, but not the ordinary kind. He is a shepherd of the clouds in the sky.

He is often lonely, but one day, a mischievous little cloud turns his world upside down.

A story about the delicate bonds of friendship.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): clouds, imagination, friendship, loneliness, feelings

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A whimsical tale with depth.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 878-4266-35-2

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

What a Noise!

Title of Picture Book: What a Noise!

Author: Nur Humaira Suleman and Nur Linda Halek

Illustrator: Nur Azmi Mokhtar

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Jojo likes his new home but his neighbours are just too noisy.

English translation from Malay by Huda Mukhlis

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): quiet, neighbours, animal sounds, gratefulness, helpful

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A simple tale about being good neighbours.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-9971-77-782-1

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

Look Up!

Title of Picture Book: Look Up!

Author: Jung Jin-Ho

Illustrator: Jung Jin-Ho

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Holiday House, New York, USA

Publisher’s Blurb: (No blurb)

English translation from Korean by Mi Yung Kim

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): Perspective, spatial awareness, making friends, illustration, high rise

Brief Review (in under 50 words): This story is driven by the intriguing illustration with minimal text. For children growing up in high rise apartments, they will perhaps relate to this. Great book for starting a good conversation.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-0-8234-3652-1

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

Siri Ikun and the Two Birds

Title of Picture Book: Suri Ikun and the Two Birds

Author: Dian K

Illustrator: Alvin Adhi

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): BIP, Indonesia

Publisher’s Blurb: Suri Ikun was a good boy. One day, he got lost in the jungle and the ghosts kidnapped him. There was nothing Suri Ikun could do. Despite all these, he kept on doing good things to others, including to two badly wounded birds that was trapped into the cave he was being held. What would happen next to Suri Ikun? Would he be able to escape from the ghosts?

In Indonesian and English. English translation byDono Sunardi.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): bilingual, legend, helpfulness, sibling, brothers

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Some minor errors in the English sentences.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-602-394-622-8

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

Rochee the Friendliest Cockroach

Title of Picture Book: Rochee the Friendliest Cockroach

Author: Gavin Goo

Illustrator: Gavin Goo

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Straits Times Press, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Despite being the friendliest cockroach in town, Rochee finds it hard to befriend that special someone.
Can Rochee find a way to win her heart? Join him to find out.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): Cockroach, teddy bears, insects, fear, hygiene

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A whimsical tale of an unusual friendship.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-4266-33-8

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

Like Fins for Feet

Title of Picture Book: Like Fins for Feet

Author: Perry Ho

Illustrator: Kristal Melson

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Straits Times Press, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: One day, you awake to find a Blue Whale in your room. It is no different from the wind blowing a moth or a paper bag across your path. Once you get over the whalenss of the moment, your day goes on, like it did yesterday, and most likely, like it will tomorrow. Today however …

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): Poem, feelings, imagination, whale, size

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Poetic and perhaps somewhat philosophical.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-4266-34-5

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

Mabel Moves to Singapore

Title of Picture Book: Mabel Moves to Singapore

Author: Fleur Vella-Chang

Illustrator: Fleur Vella-Chang

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Mabel and her family have been uprooted, they have moved from their icy antarctic home to an exotic country called Singapore. However, this is no pickle for this plucky little penguin who discovers the excitement of adventure and the joy of new friendship.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): penguin, Singapore, moving, changes, friendship

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Delightful illustrations.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-11-5093-7

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