Mina’s Magic Malong

Title of Picture Book: Mina’s Magic Malong

Author: Eva Wong Nava with June Ho

Illustrator: Novita Elisa

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Penguin SEA

Publisher’s Blurb: Elisa is finding it difficult to cope with her nanny, Mina, going home. She tries hard in her six-year-old way, to stop Mina from leaving. But Mina has to go. A present from Mina forms a magic bond between them. While Mina goes back to tending to her children, her affection and love for Ella flows through the malong.

Mina’s Magic Malong stirs a magical wonder in reminding readers of a universal human emotion that resides in all of us, no matter how diverse we are: Love.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): migrant workers, helper, farewell, parting, memories

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Heartwarming story 

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-9-814-86724-5

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

List: Farrer Park

Title of Picture Book: Farrer Park – Rhyming Verses from a Singapore Childhood

Author: Ann Peters

Illustrator: Lydia Yang

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

Publisher’s Blurb: In tis charming collection of rhyming verses, Ann Peters tells the stories of her wondrous, carefree childhood in the Farrer Park neighbourhood. Embodying the spirit of the people and places in the Singapore of old, these poems are imbued with fond memories that Ann hopes to share with children of today. The poems are accompanied by lovely full-colour illustrations by Lydia Yang, a promising Singaporean artist.

5 Keywords (other than themes): poems, food, memories, grandparents, dengue

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A cheery collection of poems about delightful food and people from the past. Might just be a little challenging for younger readers but should still be fun to be read aloud with them.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-1676-9

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

List: Places

Title of Picture Book: Places – Stories from the Eastern Part of Singapore

Author: Various (see blurb)

Illustrator: Various (see blurb)

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): National Library Board, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Places was conceptualised to introduced the art of creating children’s picture book revolving around cherished landmarks from the East, and to inculcate a love for reading and appreciation of Singapore Literature. As part of the National Library Board and National Arts Council’s initiative to bridge the arts and the communities, this project sought to connect aspiring writers and illustrators with artists at the Public Libraries, facilitating conversations and discussions. Led by a team of 5 established artists from different fields – Adeline Foo, Lee Kowling, Denise Tan, Lynette Morrison and Chan Wai Han, participants learnt various aspects of creating a children’s picture book through techniques in story-writing, editing, layout and illustration.

Author-illustrators represented in this collection is indicated in the photo of the content page below.

5 Keywords (other than themes): landmarks, memories, imagination, cloud, legend

Brief Review (in under 50 words): This is an interesting collection of different kinds of stories and illustrations were done in a variety of styles. The mix includes an imaginary story with a pet cloud, a legend set in Ubin, a visit to great grandma, the life of an old house to an adventurous day in a shophouse.

The text are all written in rhymes.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-5909-8

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: Micah and Grandma at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Title of Picture Book: Micah and Grandma at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Author: Chan Wai Han

Illustrator: Cheng Puay Koon

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Grandma enjoyed many happy moments at the Singapore Botanic Gardens when she was young, one day she brings e for a visit and together they make new memories.

5 Keywords (other than themes): grandmother, animals, plants, whimsical, memories

Brief Review (in under 50 words): The illustrations add a whimsical touch to this simple heartwarming story.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-09-1841-5

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