The Places You Will Go

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.