The Yummiest Cupcake

Title of Picture Book: The Yummiest Cupcake

Author: Leila Boukarim

Illustrator: Barbara Moxham

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Alex loves cupcakes. He loves to bake them, he loves to ice them and most of all, he loves to eat them! But there is one thing Alex doesn’t like. He is only ever allowed one. That’s the rule. Just one cupcake. When Alex can’t decide which cupcake to choose on his birthday, it seems like nothing is going his way … until he gets home to find a wonderful birthday surprise!

A sweet story about passion and perseverance from the creators of Hello, Goodbye Little Island and A Warm Christmas.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): Cupcakes, passion, perseverance, baking, birthday 

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Comes with a cupcake recipe too.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-971-48-4128-3

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

Elizabeth Meets the Queen

Title of Picture Book: Elizabeth Meets the Queen

Author: Gwen Lee

Illustrator: Arai Kreva

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

Publisher’s Blurb: Born in the jungles of Borneo, Elizabeth Choy travels to Singapore and becomes a teacher. As a result of helping prisoners-of-war during the Japanese Occupation, she goes through much suffering and torture. Journey with our wartime heroine as she tides through hardship towards freedom and finally meets the Queen of England.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): war, history, perseverance, heroine, helpful

Brief Review (in under 50 words): A simply told biography.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-4757-00-3

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

List: Little Otter Goes Fishing

Title of Picture Book: Little Otter Goes Fishing

Author: Emily Lim

Illustrator: Scrawl Studio

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Singapore National Co-operative Federation

Publisher’s Blurb: Little Otter wants to catch his own food. But does he know where to begin. Find out how Little Otter larns to fish for himself and has some fun along the way.

5 Keywords (other than themes): learning, perseverance, sharing, mutual-help, self-help

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

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-07-1858-9

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

List: I Can Do It

Title of Picture Book: I Can Do It

Author: Emily Lim

Illustrator: Scrawl Studios

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): marshal Cavendish for Ministry of Education, Singapore

Publisher’s Blurb: Paid the little parrot cannot speak well like the others. Will he give up or keep trying to speak better? Come join Padi on his learning journey.

5 Keywords (other than themes): Perseverance, language, parrots, speaking, encouragement

Brief Review (in under 50 words): Illustration features iconic places in Singapore.

Although sponsored by bilingualism.sg, the review copy only had English text.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-08-8176-4

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

List: Manjhi Moves a Mountain

Title of Picture Book: Manjhi Moves a Mountain

Author: Nancy Churnin

Illustrator: Danny Popovici

Publisher and Country (may be self-published): Creston Books, U.S.A.

Publisher’s Blurb: Dashrath Manjhi used a hammer and chisel, grit, determination, and twenty years to carve a path through the mountain separating his poor village from the nearby village with schools, markets, and a hospital. Manjhi Moves a Mountain shows how everyone can make a difference if your heart is big enough.

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

5 Keywords (other than themes): social justice, perseverance, vision, patience, service

Brief Review (in under 50 words): “Manjhi’s story is an excellent reminder of the power of one person to change the world and bring communities together.”
— Clare Doornbus, Diesel Bookstore
“Manjhi Moves a Mountain” is a true modern treasure and wisdom life story.”
–Midwest Book Review

Where to buy or borrow (if available): amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, crestonbooks.co

ISBN Number (if available): 978-1-939547-34-7

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

List: The Runaway Who Became President

Title of Picture Book: The Runaway Who Became President – SR Nathan’s Journey of Hope

Author: Amanda Kee

Illustrator: Patrick Yee

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

Publisher’s Blurb: President SR Nathan had a difficult childhood. His father died when he was only eight years old. He was twice kicked out of school. Ashamed to face his mother, he ran away from home, begging for food and sleeping in street corners. But each time he was in need, a stranger would help him. Nathan remembered these acts of kindness and never lost hope. So when he became president, he wanted people to know that a little kindness can go a long way.

5 Keywords (other than themes): President, kindness, helpful, perseverance , history

Brief Review (in under 50 words): While a little text-heavy, it does tell an exemplary story of kindness and humility.

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

ISBN Number (if available): 978-981-170-0-606

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