Around the World in Picture Books : Switzerland

In June, we head off to Switzerland, to Baobab Books, a wonderful publisher of children's books.

A registered charitable association based in Basel, Switzerland, Baobab Books is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity in children and youth literature. The impressive Baobab, the African monkey bread tree, is their symbol because Stories are told in its shadows, traditions are passed on to the next generation for centuries.

Baobab Books have selected some of the finest books from around the world to add to their list and we are proud that they have selected and published two from Malaysia. 

The first book is Jainal Amambing's The Magic Buffalo which had won a prize in UNESCO's Norma Concours. A popular illustrator from Sabah, Jainal has written and illustrated several picture books which have been published by Oyez!Books. These include Longhouse Days, The Proud Butterfly and the Strange Tree, The Wonderful Sparrow and of course The Magic Buffalo.

The story of Sansarinaga, a young orphan boy who found friends is infused with the magic of Jainal's illustrations which also showed scenes of village life in Sabah.

The Magic Buffalo - Malaysia edition by Oyez!Books

German edition by Baobab Books

The second book is one of Yusof Gajah's classic - Where is My Red Ball?  As the book is targeted at very young children, Baobab has published it using child-friendly, non-toxic materials in awareness that babies like to bite and chew their books!

Where Is My Ball? by Yusof Gajah - published by Oyez!Books

Where is my Ball? - German edition published by Baobab Books

These images of different coloured elephants are unforgettable and indeed this book has been translated into German and Arab.

Watch out for a Yusof Gajah and Jainal Amambing collection to be published by Oyez!Books to add to your library of Malaysian picture books!