Vinod and the Deepavali Dishes

Title of Picture Book: Vinod and the Deepavali Dishes

Author: Debra Ann Francisco

Illustrator: Madeline Wee

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

Publisher’s Blurb: It’s a busy day for Vinod! He has to follow his Aunty Meera around Little India on her Deepavali shopping errands. Back home, he makes an amazing discovery about his Tatta (grandfather). Find out what Vinod learns about Tatta’s youth and how he puts his creative juices to work helping his family out in this kitchen.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): Food, grandfather, history, culture, Indian 

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A good way to know about common Indian food and spices. 

Where to buy or borrow (if available): NLB

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-47-4798-1

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

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List: Stacey goes to The Peranakan Museum

Title of Picture Book: Stacey goes to The Peranakan Museum

Author: Lianne Ong

Illustrator: James Tan

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

Publisher’s Blurb: When Stacey accompanies her aunt to the Peranakan Museum, she does not realise what an adventure it’ll become.

Boy, is she in for a wonderful surprise …

5 Keywords (other than themes): culture, kebaya, imagination, history, museum

Brief Review (in under 50 words): An imaginative visit to the museum.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-4597-80-7

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

List: Tiny Feet Tiny Shoes

Title of Picture Book: Tiny Feet Tiny Shoes

Author: Adeline Foo

Illustrator: Beth Parrocha

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Grandma was only six years old when she witnessed the planting of a silk cotton seed in a garden. Years later, she returned to bury something in the garden, where ‘X’ marked the spot “seven steps” away from the young tree which had grown in place of the seed. Many, many years later, she was back again, staring in awe at a GIANT of the cotton tree! But try as she might, she couldn’t find ‘X’. Racing against time, she searched hard, desperate to reconnect with memories of a childhood spent in China where she had gone through both pain and joy. Just what was so precious that had been buried? Would she succeed in retracing her steps to find her treasure?

5 Keywords (other than themes): memories, history, grandparent, culture, treasure hunting

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A good springboard for talking about an unusual facet of history.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-9112-8

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

List: Johnny Can Dream – A Visit to a Peranakan Place

Title of Picture Book: List: Johnny Can Dream – A Visit to a Peranakan Place

Author: Benita Fong

Illustrator: Benita Fong

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Johnny loves to explore. On a little street in Singapore, he finds an unusual magic Kam Cheng (spice pot) in an old curio shop. He discovers that when he does a special dance, he goes on a magaical journey into the wonderful Peranakan Place. There he meets a pretty little annoyance girl and her father Baba Pong Tay.and together they solve the mystery of the pineapple tart recipe. Johnny is also introduced to the unique food, fashion and customs of this amazing culture.

Come join Johnny on a magical visit to the Peranakan Place.

5 Keywords (other than themes): history, culture, food, games, language

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A helpful s the meaning and also includes photos of the many Peranakan terms used in this story,

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-98107-4407-6

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: Star Anise, Superstar!

Title of Picture Book: Star Anise, Superstar

Author: Linn Shekinah

Illustrator: OSH

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): The Almond Tree, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Star Anise dreams of being a star. But nobody in Spice Town seems to notice her, so she sets off in search of stardom. Join Star Anise as she goes on a flavourful adventure and finds out what it really means to be a star. This tasty tale is about caring for others.

5 Keywords (other than themes): Spices, Food, Sharing, Cooking, Culture

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A fun way to introduce Asian spices such as star anise, cinnamon, shallot, clover, ginger and chilli. The story is somewhat predictable and the senses associated with spices could have been better engaged. The illustration could also have been more attractive. The Malay text, translated by the Singapore Malay Teachers’ Union, felt like “subtitles”.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-8018-0