Category: Picture Books

Oyez! EBooks

26/7/2016

We are pleased to announce that Oyez!books are now available as e-books in the pdf format for children to read on their tablets and smart phones.

At present we have nearly 60 books released as e-books and will continue to add more in the near future. The books are uploaded on Google Play.

Children's and art ebooks from Oyez!Books

Children get enormous pleasure from reading our books and we would like to give them the option of having books downloaded on a tablet.

The ebooks not only have lower price but also do not incur shipping costs. This is attractive especially for our customers overseas. In addition, the books are available for reading within minutes and not days.

You can access our e-books in a few ways :
1. EBooks listing on Oyez! website
Browse the EBook menu on our website. Each e-book product will contain a link to Google Play where you can proceed to purchase.

From the EBooks product details, click the Google Play link

EBook can then be purchased from Google Play Store

2. Print books listing on Oyez! website
The second way is by browsing our print books in the Shop menu on our website. Any print book that has an EBook available will have a Google Play link which you can click on.

3. Direct from Google Play Store
Alternatively, you can browse for our titles in Google Play Store directly. Look for books published by Oyez!Books, or search for your favourite Oyez! author or title.

At Oyez!Books, our philosophy is not only producing quality books but to keep listening to our customers. And we will keep working towards getting the books to you through as many channels and mediums as possible.

We welcome your feedback.

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Around the World in Picture Books: Singapore

19/7/2016

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Singapore's children's picture books are growing in numbers and there are several writers and illustrators who have made their name internationally. Here we highlight two books that were published in what can be said to be the early days of children's picture book publishing in Singapore.

1. The Bird Who Was Afraid Of Heights
Writtenby Farah Bagharib-Kaltz, illustrated by Eeshaun, published by Straits Times Press

Eddie was a mynah bird who lived behind an abandoned old house. Eddie was afraid of heights which was rather a problem. But Eddie had a good and only friend, Matt the rat and they got along just fine. However, one day, Matt was captured and Eddie had to find hidden resources within himself to save his friend.

The line illustrations in flat colours are effectively used in this picture book. The illustrations will certainly encourage children to pick up their pencils and start drawing.

The Bird Who Was Afraid of Heights by Farah Bagharib-Kaltz, illustrated by Eeshaun

2. Guai Wu the Chinese Elf
Written by Adeline Foo, illustrated by Christine Lim Simpson

Guai Wu was a little orphan boy. He looked different from other children. Because of this, they teased and shunned him. One rainy day, Guai Wu met a seamstress who took him into her house. She was a poor widow who had also lost her little girl. The seamstress let Guai Wu stay with her although she did not have much. Then, mysteriously, beautiful embroidered shoes started appearing in her home.

This story is similar to Grimm's The Elves and the Shoemaker with a different setting and in this case, the 'elf' is a real boy.

Guai Wu the Chinese Elf by Adeline Foo, illustrated by Christine Lim Simpson

The detailed illustrations are a joy and complements the story very well.

We are giving away picture books from different countries each month as part of our Around the World in Picture Books year-long programme. Get a chance to win with any purchase from Oyez! online bookstore!

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Chickaboo To Feature in a Picture Book!

23/6/2016

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Chickaboo the runaway ostrich has been making news after jumping out of a car and racing along the Federal Highway last Thursday, 16 June.

Reading the news, Heidi Shamsuddin was inspired to write a story based on Chickaboo while separately, Lim Lay Koon had drawn Chickaboo and posted it on her Facebook page.

According to Heidi, "I saw the video of an ostrich running down the Federal Highway and almost immediately a story popped into my head. I was relieved that Chickaboo was found safe and sound, and returned to the farm. Afterwards, I found out more about Chickaboo's life and was inspired to write a story."

"The fact that an ostrich sprinted along Federal Highway put a smile on my face. And I simply love her name, Chickaboo. When I shared my painting on Facebook, Heidi revealed to me that she also wrote a story. Basically, we were both inspired by the fine-feathered bird. I am looking forward to making this book with Heidi! " said Lay Koon.

Heidi Shamsuddin is the author of the Door Under the Stairs series, about three children who discovered a door at school that took them to Malaysia's historical past. Lim Lay Koon is the illustrator for the series and has also illustrated other books including Atuk's Amazing Sarong and Menagerie.

Heidi Shamsuddin

Lim Lay Koon

It is a natural choice that the two should collaborate on a new picture book featuring Chickaboo and Oyez!Books is delighted to publish the book. Having just signed for a series of books featuring local animals, the publisher is happy to add another book to introduce animals to Malaysian children.

The book's publication is planned for early next year.

Chickaboo the Ostrich - children's picture book by Heidi Shamsuddin, illustrated by Lim Lay Koon, to be published by Oyez!Books

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Oyez!Books To Publish Picture Book On How Technology Connects

22/6/2016

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Oyez!Books will be publishing a new picture book that addresses how families who are living in different parts of the world can connect using technology. The new book, titled Hello Cyber Grannie, is written by Jane Tyrrell and illustrated by Lee Kowling.

Hello Cyber Grannie - children's picture book by Jane Tyrell, illustrated by Lee Kowling

Jane Tyrrell who lives in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, Australia, has two children (and three granddaughters) who live in the UK and Germany . While she travels annually to visit them, when she’s back in Australia Jane stays connected with them via the internet. She even reads to her eldest granddaughter that way. It's no substitute for warm grannie but sometimes, Cyber Grannie will just have to do!

Lee Kowling lives in Singapore and is a much sought-after illustrator who has illustrated more than 30 books with her works featured in Stories from Asia - The Asian Children’s Literature Collection. She is passionate about children’s books and is inspired by people, friends and animals in her life when she paints.

Oyez!Books is a children's book publisher based in Malaysia that has published a number of award-winning picture books. The publishing house is active internationally and it was at the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore that the publisher was introduced to the illustrations of Lee Kowling.

Hello Cyber Grannie will be published in mid July 2016.

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Oyez!Books Signs Animal Series by Beverley Hon

21/6/2016

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Oyez!Books will be publishing a series of animal concept books written by Beverley Hon. The books aim to introduce local animals to children six and below. Each book will describe one animal, highlighting its key features, using simple rhythmic text and accompanied by illustrations. The first five books in the series will introduce the slow loris, the binturong (bear cat), the Malayan tapir, the orangutan and the pangolin. The publication date for the first three books is set for November 2016.

By David Haring / Duke Lemur Center - email, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12310853

By TassiloRau at the German language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=207524

By Piekfrosch at the German language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1788311

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180337

By Eleifert - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3913620

Beverley Hon spent her childhood playing with wild animals – at home, in the jungle and at the zoo – and grew up with flying foxes, slow lorises, a civet cat and wild boar as pets. She was a journalist with The Star for 13 years and has been involved in cheerleading since she was 14. Beverley has now paired her love for animals and writing with her knack for rhyming in this upcoming series.

The illustrator for the series is Lim Lay Koon who illustrated Atuk's Amazing Sarong, Menagerie and the chapter book series, The Door Under the Stairs.

Beverley Hon

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Around the World in Picture Books : Switzerland

6/6/2016

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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 by Jainal Amambing, published by Oyez!Books

The Magic Buffalo - Malaysia edition by Oyez!Books

The Magic Buffalo by Jainal Amambing, German edition published by Baobab 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? by Yusof Gajah, German edition published by Baobab 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!

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Children's Book Week 2016 - Up Close with Fengyi Lai

12/5/2016

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Fengyi Lai was born in Malacca. She graduated from The One Academy, majoring in Graphic Design and Illustration. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hertforshire in 2013. Fengyi is passionate about illustrating children’s book and enjoys using different mediums. Her passion for design is linked to her desire to inspire people everyday with her art.

1. What do you like to do on Sundays?

I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends. Whether we are making dinner or watching movies, going thrift shopping or grabbing a quick lunch, as long as I am amongst great company with good conversation, I am happy.

2. Why do you like children's books?

I enjoy a lot of bedtime stories - flipping through children's picture books just makes me relax after a long day at work. I get lots of pleasure and inspiration from them, and it's cool when your ideas and imagination become visible.

Fengyi Lai

3. Draw or doodle your favourite animal.

Dinosaurs!

4. What is the best day of your life?

I have many best days in my life. But if I can only pick one, then it'll be the day when my parents agreed to let me further my studies in Art and Design and then later on majoring in Illustration. I was a science stream students, so it was tough for them. Haha!

5. Who is your favourite author/illustrator and why?

I love Eric Carle's book, I love the way how he plays with textures and bold colors. And also local illustrator, Lim Heng Swee's earlier works (寻找遗失的乐园 and 美丽人生).

Fengyi Lai made her debut as a children's book illustrator in the delightful book written by Feng Feng Huthins - Do Dinosaurs Share?

She will be conducting two Craft time sessions - Make Your Own Dinosaur Egg! - during Children's Book Week 2016 on Saturday, 28th May and Sunday, 29th May at the Concourse, Bangsar Village II.

Mark your calendars and bring the kids for some Dino fun!

Do Dinosaurs Share? - children's picture book by Feng Feng Hutchins, illustrated by Fengyi Lai, published by Oyez!Books

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Around the World in Picture Books : New Zealand

4/5/2016

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We are introducing three non-fiction illustrated books courtesy of Gilt Edge Publishing, New Zealand. These three books are carefully planned, using photographs with simple repetitive text to develop literacy and introduce nature to preschoolers. Curious young children will love these books as a parent or teacher reads or talks them through the books. They will learn to observe and see the world around them and to appreciate it. They will also gain confidence as they build up their knowledge. A note of warning - you may find yourself overwhelmed by more questions!

Each book also comes with notes for the parent or teacher with suggestions for discussion points and activities to reinforce learning.

1. Here Comes the Bees

Here Come the Bees by Jan Baynes - Around the World in Picture Books promotion by Oyez!Books

2. From Egg to Frog

From Egg to Frog by Aliese Husmann - Around the World in Picture Books promotion by Oyez!Books

3. This is My Home

This is My Home by Gay Church - Around the World in Picture Books promotion by Oyez!Books

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Three Picture Books from the Philippines

9/4/2016

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Continuing our Around the World in Picture Books adventure, here are three delightful picture books from the Philippines. They are bilingual books - English and Filipino. These three books are published by Lampara Books.

1. Si Nina sa bayan ng Daldalina = Nina in the town of Daldalina
Author: Aliona Silva
Illustrator: Luisito Chua
Translator: Becky Bravo

Nina lives in the town Daldalina where everyone likes to talk loudly. It is known as the noisiest town in the whole of Philippines! "If you have a soft voice, perhaps people don't need to hear what you have to say," that was the belief. Unfortunately, Nina does not have a voice. What is she to do? But one day, Nina found her voice - in her drawings - and the town people learned to appreciate her voice. They also learned to stop talking sometimes to listen to people who have weaker voices.

Si Nina sa bayan ng Daldalina, Nina in the town of Daldalina by Alonia Silva, Around the World in Picture Books by Oyez!Books

Ang lumang aparador ni lola, Grandmother's antique wardrobe by Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, illustrated by Jose Migeul Tejido, Around the World in Picture Books by Oyez!Books

2. Ang lumang aparador ni lola = Grandmother's antique wardrobe
Author: Genaro R. Gojo Cruz
Illustrator: Jose Miguel "Jomike" Tejido.

There's an antique wardrobe in the house that used to belong to Grandmother. The little girl is convinced there must be a fearsome monster in it. She avoids going near the wardrobe and mother will not let her near it. But one day, mother takes out a beautiful pink dress for her to wear on her birthday. And for Language Week in class, mother got out a Filipino dress for her to wear.

It was so beautiful and delicate with butterfly embroidery. One day, she plucks up her courage and tries to open the door of the wardrobe but it will not open. She asks her mother who opens it for her - inside the wardrobe are old pictures and many things that have been passed down including many beautiful clothes that her grandmother had sewn which had been worn by her mother and now her.

3. A Lesson from Juana
Author: Becky Bravo
Illustrator: Jonathan Rañola

In the island where Juana lives, little girls are taught to sew and weave while little boys are taught to fish. Unfortunately, Juana is not very good at sewing or weaving. So she asks her father to teach her to fish. Everyone is shocked but her father takes her along for his next fishing trip. Juana learns that the best fish are further away but their little boat cannot reach it safely. Juana feels the wind blowing her hair and she has an idea. She works all night and the next morning, her father's boat has a sail made up from the cloths she had tried to sew. That day, their boat went further and came back with the biggest fish.

A Lesson from Juana by Becky Bravo, illustrated by Jonathan Ranola, Around the World in Picture Books by Oyez!Books

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Around the World in Picture Books : India

9/3/2016

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Today we visit India - the land of many wonders and stories. We select four picture-story books from India's Children's Book Trust, an NGO. These four books are only 16-pages each but the stories are fun to read with bright colourful illustrations to accompany them. India produces some wonderful and award-winning books - think of Tara Books, Katha, Tulika and Karadi Tales. But we select these four books although they are not produced in hardcover or use thick paper because of the sheer pleasure one gets from reading the stories.

1. Surprise Gift
Author: Asha Nehemiah
Illustrator: Sujata Bansal

Aunt Farida enjoys making things and decides to make a present each for Bina's family. She makes a jar of apple jam with cloves and ginger for Bina's mother; a colourful lampshade for Bina's father; a pen stand that can hold many pens for Bina's brother and a hair decoration piece with feathers for Bina.

The gifts were sent by post but in the process, the gift tags were separated from the boxes. So Bina and her family do not know which gift is for who.

First, Bina's father picks up the bottle of jam. Ah, he says, how does Aunt Farida know I need a jar of gum for my carpentry work. He is happy with his present.

Bina picks up the lampshade. Oh, Aunt Bina has made me a beautiful skirt. She really likes her present.

Oh, this is nice, something for me to clean my computer and CDs ,says Bina's brother, as he picks up the feather hairpiece.

Bina's mother is thrilled with her present - a sprinkler - just what she needs. They write a letter to Aunt Farida to thank for the gift of gum, skirt, CD cleaner and sprinkler.

2. The Tiger and the Mosquito
Author: Mrinalini Srivastava
Illustrator: Subir Roy
Translator (from Hindi): Alaka Shankar

This simple story is wonderfully illustrated with different perspectives. A tiger is annoyed by a mosquito buzzing in his ear. He smacks it but ends up smacking himself several times. In the end the tiger gives up and walks away. The mosquito says after him, "Each is great in his own way." A good lesson indeed.

3. The Story of the Road
Author: Poile Sengupta
Illustrator: Mickey Patel

The repetitive text in this story is effective in helping us to hear how busy the road is. One can imagine children reading this story together and making the sounds. This book can be used for choral reading with the children divided into groups and making the different sounds or words. The brightly-coloured illustration style is unusual but suits the story.

4. The Runaway Wheel
Author: Asha Nehemiah
Illustrator: Subir Roy

This book is written by the same author who wrote Surprise Gifts. It's an amusing story with a satisfying ending. Stories like these are what make children beg for more.

Ramu and Kamala saw a poster advertising a circus. They begged to be taken to the circus and their father happily agreed to take them in his shiny, red tractor. On the way, they had a puncture and had to stop. Ramu and Kamala were asked to hold to the wheel but they got distracted and the wheel started to roll downhill, causing some mayhem along the way.