The Places You Will Go

Everyone's a Writer

It seems every other celebrity wants to write children's books. I suppose it's only a matter of time before our own Malaysian famous and shameless also start.

I wouldn't recommend it unless one is passionate about writing, and about writing children's books in particular. It would help if you've also read at least some kids' books.

I'm being very careful with my next picture book. Don't want to rush it as so many things went wrong with the first four, not least that I was foolish enough to be persuaded to write and publish FOUR at a go.

This week's column also touches on child authors. I don't think they should be published unless their age didn't influence the publisher's decision and is not a factor when it comes to reviewing them. What's your stand on this?

Still going strong at 78

TOTS TO TEENS

By DAPNE LEE

I AM writing this column on Nancy Drew’s 78th birthday – April 28, 1930! That was the publication date of The Secret of the Old Clock, the first in the Nancy Drew Mystery Series by Carolyn Keene.

Most readers know by now that Keene is as much a work of fiction as the much-loved girl sleuth. The Nancy Drew books were the brainchild of Edward Stratemeyer, founder of The Stratemeyer Syndicate, a book-packaging house that also produced popular series like The Hardy Boys, The Bobbsey Twins and The Dana Girls (published by Grosset & Dunlap).

Picture Book of the Month: The Way Back Home

April 2008

The Way Back Home Author

By Oliver Jeffers

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books, 32 pages

OLIVER Jeffers' books tend to feature little boys with big dreams, big hearts and big appetites. Here, we have another boy who, finding an aeroplane in his cupboard, flies off in it. The sky's not the limit for this young adventurer: he flies past clouds, stars and planets and, finally, lands on the moon when he runs out of petrol. Luckily, he's befriended by an alien who's suffered the same fate. Hopefully, the pair can figure out how to get out of the predicament they're in. And if they don't, at least they'll have company on the moon.

Local Rhymes from Past Times

Reason to rhyme

TOTS TO TEENS
By DAPHNE LEE

A LARGE colourful book caught my eye in a local bookstore last week. Sayang: Pantun & Seloka Kanak-Kanak (MPH Publishing, 96 pages, ISBN: 978-9833698660 ) is a collection of old Malay nursery rhymes and songs, compiled by Azah Aziz and illustrated by Dzulkafli Buyong.

I recognised many of the rhymes in this book (for example Timang Tinggi-tinggi, Oh Bangau! and Gendang Gendut) from my childhood, , but I also noticed the exclusion of some of my favourites, like Waktu Fajar Saya Bangun, Bangun Pagi and Tektek Bunyi Hujan.

Still, reading the book was quite a nostalgic experience. Furthermore, the illustrations reminded me of a batik art calendar I was given when I was in primary school. The pictures in that calendar depicted farming and kampung scenes and absolutely fascinated me. I used to weave countless stories around those pictures and Dzulkafli's batik-style drawings brought fond memories of the days when a tattered calendar could keep me amused for hours (and days) on end.

Make Space on Your Shelves

See Peter, See Peter Put on an Apron

A reader emailed about my column (StarMag today), in which I expressed reservations about the Peter and Jane series. Her email included this statemend: "I should think young children would probably think boys tidying up doll houses and girls playing with cars as a bit odd, what say you? But perhaps this not the case anymore during these times where anything is possible."

I replied: "I believe that kids would consider boys playing with dollshouses and girls playing with cars odd only if their parents or other adults and children tell them so. Children have no concept of "gender-appropriate" colours, toys, jobs etc, and it's society and peer-pressure that forms and shapes their perceptions of what is "right" for them as girls and boys."

It strikes me as very odd that she, an 18-year-old, would have such thoughts about suitable toys for children, but as she says that she grew up with and loved Peter and Jane, I guess she must have been a little influenced by the books.

Read to Me!

Ekath (my five-year-old) reading to his three-year-old sister I-Shan. Big brother Elesh (11) acts as prompter.

Room to Read

My little Reading Room will finally welcome children to read and share stories on 3rd May. I can't remember when it was that I first started talking about setting up this place. There have been days when I all but lost heart and decided to shelve the idea, but I'm glad I stuck it out.

A big thank you to every one who has helped make my dream come true. Special thanks to The Dram Projects who has given me support in so many different ways, not least providing the actual space (in Section 17, Petaling Jaya) for the Reading Room.   

Saying Goodbye

"Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes," said Benjamin Franklin.

Death is not a common topic in children's literature, but it is something that kids have to deal with and books help to explore the topic, which most adults find hard to discuss with one another let alone little ones. 

Ways to Live Forever is the story of a dying boy from his own point of view. Other YA books that deal with death and dying include winner of the Costa Children's Award, The Bower Bird by Ann Kelley, and Garbrielle Zevin's Elsewhere.

Michael Rosen's The Sad Book (a picture book, illustrated by Quentin Blake) was written in response to the death of his son Eddie.

And Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (illustrated by Maurice Sendak) tells the tale of Old Badger who senses that he will soon be leaving his friends and gathers them so he can say a fond farewell.

Picture Book of the Month: Zen Ties

March 2008
ZEN TIES
Written & Illustrated by Jon Muth
Publisher: Scholastic, 40 pages
ISBN: 978-0439634250
Addy and Michael meet Stillwater, a wise and gentle giant panda who tells them stories based on zen parables. In Zen Ties, Stillwater's nephew comes to visit. The young panda is called Hi and speaks in verse: zen-influenced haiku ("Hi, Koo!" say the children, pun intended on Muth's part). Stillwater introduces the siblings and Hi to an old woman who seems surly but is simply lonely. Miss Whitaker helps Michael learn to spell and he wins a red ribbon at a spelling bee. The friends all celebrate by wearing red ties - zentai is Japanese for "whole" or "togetherness" and Zen Ties celebrates the joy of friendship and being part of a circle of friends.

Tales of the Unexpected

"In an attempt to change the tide of Malay fiction, Sufian Abas' debut collection of stories boasts simple language and tales that will appeal to the average Malaysian."

That was the standfirst for my interview with Sufian (StarMag, 30th March, 2008), but I'm not sure about the "average Malaysian" bit. I think the stories in Kasut Biru Rubina might lead most average Malaysians to conclude that Sufian Abas is a madman. They wouldn't be entirely wrong. However, insanity is, I've always believed, an asset when it comes to creating art.

Sufian's stories are modern art, urban fairytales that shock, inspire and amuse. They've got me thinking that I might write in Malay myself - the sort of Malay that I speak to my children's nanny and the bloke who sells goreng pisang down the road from my flat. However, please, don't hold your breath waiting for my first Malay short story ...

Kasut Biru Rubina is available at MPH Bookstores, Borders Bookstore and Silverfish Books.

For the Love of Blue Shoes

Like me, Priya Kulasagaran, isn't used to reading Malay stories and, also like me, she was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked and "got" Kasut Biru Rubina by Sufian Abas.

I don't know about Priya, but I felt quite chuffed that I could read and understand, and appreciate, something not in English. What can I say ... Kasut Biru Rubina mademe feel quite accomplished!

Choices, choices!

The children’s books market is among the fastest growing in local bookstores with the bewildering array of titles only growing larger every day. What’s a confused parent to do?

Life's a Bitch

The YA Book Club at Borders will be held for the first time on Friday, March 14 at 7-10pm,  at Starbucks, Borders, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The session is open to 14-21-year-olds. All registered participants will receive free complimentary tall coffee of the day and a Borders Gift Certificate.

For enquiries call 03 7725 9303 or email curve@bordersstores.com.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is the featured book.

All Creatures Great and Small

There’s was a Potter who never wielded a wand but who was, nonetheless, very good at creating magic.