ANN/THE STAR – Decades ago, there was a scarcity of children’s picture books with Malaysian content. One notable exception was Hikayat Sang Kancil, which narrated the cunning escapades of a small deer navigating challenges posed by larger forest animals. The popularity of Sang Kancil even extended to TV shows and cassette recordings, enticing kids to […]
A wishlist of Malaysian children s books, you ask? Here are few highlights to take home. Photo: Handout
Christmas is just around the corner. What’s a good choice of gift for the young ones this year? Why, how about some local children’s books?
Here are some whimsical, wonderful children’s books, all published this year, that would make awesome stocking stuffers this holiday season.
Dayak Lore: A Collection From The Indigenous People Of Sarawak (Borneo)
Author: The Tuyang Initiative
Publisher: Tuyang and Heart Initiative
This book contains three folk stories from Sarawak. One is a Kayan tale about a greedy durian loving boy names Ditut, another is a Penan folk tale about Kangkaput, a beloved bird that decides to fly away, and an Iban story about Apai Saloi, a man whose life takes a twist one day. This material is an adaptation of Tuyang Initiative’s Tuesday Tales, a platform for folk-based stories from Sarawak’s indigenous communities.