Author : Golda Mowe |
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| In ‘A New Beginning’ Rashid and his little sister are the only two survivors of an atomic bomb strike on their home. There is nothing left of their home, just a big hole in the ground and there is nothing left for them to eat or drink. Who or what can save them from certain death?  |  ‘The Container of Grass’, deals with a future world where the ozone layer, which protects the earth’s surface has been destroyed by pollution. Here everyone lives in fear of the sun and their lives are carefully controlled by the authorities. But Sunil discovers a few grass seeds stuck to his trousers and with these, he sets in motion great change. |
How would you like to go to a zoo full of half - half animals or chimeras? In ‘Main Attractions’, Siew Ping, the zoo keeper’s daughter worries about the tapir-bear, the monkey cats, and the small elephant cross bred with a tiger, as they seem so dispirited, never want to play and die young. Can she help stop the trade in these poor creatures?
In the final story, ‘The Way of Puteri Gunung Ledang’, Golda weaves an old legend into the future. The beautiful alien Milipa does not wish to marry the great alien general Pedo. In desperation she turns to her human slave girl, Anita, for help. Anita tells Milipa the story of the demands made by Puteri Gunung Ledang when Sultan Mansur Shah sought her hand in marriage. Can Milipa use the same trick to ward off general Pedo?
Boys and girls will love this exciting new book and it should spark interest in exploring science.
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Author : Heidi Shamsuddin
Illustrator : Lim Lay Koon
Publisher's Review : by Peter Duke
In most good book shops you will find many historical novels based on past events written for adults but very few for children. Oyez!Books has just published Heidi Shamsuddin’s first historical novel for children around 9-12 years. This well written book has all the necessary ingredients for a good mystery yarn and is accompanied by Lay Koon’s black and white illustrations of the three heroes, two boys and a girl, and the historical figures.
There is a secret room hidden away behind the stairs next to the school science lab that takes the children back in time. But how can they make sure they are going to right place at the right time?
There is a secret room hidden away behind the stairs next to the school science lab that takes the children back in time. But how can they make sure they are going to right place at the right time?
The heroes meet Tunku Abdul Raman, Malaysia’s first prime minister who is searching for the right music for a new national anthem to be introduced on the day that the country gains its independence from Britain in just a few days time.
The heroes discover the original source of the National Anthem and go back to tell Tunku where to find it. But it’s the wrong tune. Has someone else travelled back in time and altered history?
The heroes discover the original source of the National Anthem and go back to tell Tunku where to find it. But it’s the wrong tune. Has someone else travelled back in time and altered history?
When the heroes try to unravel the mystery they are confronted by the school bully and his gang. How can they escape his unwanted attention?
Despite the mystery of the missing tune and the best efforts of the school bully, the heroes finally put history to right on the windswept deck of a ship in Southampton harbour in 1901.
Why Southampton harbour in the UK so far back in history? And what happens after that must remain a secret until you read the book.
Heidi’s second novel in the series about P Ramlee a Malaysian star of screen and stage is due to be launched in late July. This will be followed by six more novels. The collection will serve a dual purpose; encourage children to read and provide them with an insight into Malaysian history.
Heidi’s second novel in the series about P Ramlee a Malaysian star of screen and stage is due to be launched in late July. This will be followed by six more novels. The collection will serve a dual purpose; encourage children to read and provide them with an insight into Malaysian history.
Author : Emila Yusof
Illustrator : Emila Yusof
Publisher's Review - By Peter Duke
Dina is back! This time she is helping her father in his farm. We have seen a very sweet Dina dreaming of butterflies in her mother’s garden. We saw her watching her mother very carefully as she cooked in her kitchen.
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But this time we see a more purposeful Dina determined to help her father with his chores around the farm whilst enjoying herself at the same time.
One of the more endearing features of Emila’s illustrations of Dina is the way in which she captures typical expressions and behaviours of a young girl. It is almost as if Dina is real. The feature of this book which differentiates it from the two previous Dina adventures, is the presence of animals which children love; rabbits, chicken, cows, sheep, a cat and ducks among others.
The story starts with a happy Dina flying a paper aeroplane while sitting on the fence of her father’s farm surrounded by animals.
One of the more endearing features of Emila’s illustrations of Dina is the way in which she captures typical expressions and behaviours of a young girl. It is almost as if Dina is real. The feature of this book which differentiates it from the two previous Dina adventures, is the presence of animals which children love; rabbits, chicken, cows, sheep, a cat and ducks among others.
The story starts with a happy Dina flying a paper aeroplane while sitting on the fence of her father’s farm surrounded by animals.
Later we see her helping her father milk a cow with a happy smile on her face.
What a look of admiration as she gazes at her father with a hammer in her hand as she helps him build a new chicken coop.
Oh no, look at her face as she is chased by geese, she looks really upset and frightened.
All is right later when she jumps into the pond to cool down with a broad happy smile on her face.
Then finally, after all that effort, we see Dina waving happily to her mum as she brings out the picnic for lunch.
As in her previous two Dina adventures, Emila provides the reader with a few pages of what you might expect to find on a farm, the animals, the tools, the wheel barrow and buckets.
We hope there will be another Dina book towards the end of the year. Watch out for the announcement.
We hope there will be another Dina book towards the end of the year. Watch out for the announcement.
Author : Dr. Cecilia Leong
Illustrator : Chooi Ling Keiong
Publisher's Review : by Peter Duke
What a wonderful collection of short stories that take you back to childhood pleasures in this modern age of shopping malls and tablets. Cecelia has captured the spirit of childhood beautifully with stories of gardens and forest, grandma’s and aunts and their special recipes. Her heroes, Xiao Rae, Timmy and Nazri happily enjoy their adventures in a way that only children can. Cecilia’s stories are ably illustrated by Chooi Ling’s art.
The first story describes the children’s adventures in the forest where they discover monkeys, frogs, hornbills and even an awful smelling rafflesia plant .
The first story describes the children’s adventures in the forest where they discover monkeys, frogs, hornbills and even an awful smelling rafflesia plant .
The second story relates Xiao Rae’s trip to a night market with her parents. Here she sees a lady making pancakes, finds stalls selling colourful fruits and another selling fish.
Cool Clowns is a story of Xiao Rae and Nazri’s visit to Xiao Rae’s grandma with wonderful pictures of the grandma as she prepares Peranakan special treats. This is followed by a story children all over the world will be able to relate to. Anywhere where there is a small stream, you will often find children with nets and buckets out for a morning’s fishing trip to catch guppies or other small fish.
| Xiao Rae, Timmy and Nazri take a ride on an elephant when they visit a centre for lost and injured elephants. This story contains many important facts about elephants. Then we have a story that most parents will relate to when they were growing up. A visit to grandma’s when she was making her special and delicious vegetable pickle. There are two family stories, one about Xiao Rae and her naughty rabbit and another about special dishes prepared by Xiao Rae’s grandmother for a Chinese festival. |  |
In the last story Xiao Rae and Nazri go by speed boat to visit Nazri’s aunt who cooks her famous prawn noodle soup. Pulau Aman is a very small island where there are no roads and the environment is still unspoilt.
I am sure children and adults alike will enjoy this special book by Cecilia and illustrated by Chooi Ling. This a book to keep in the child's library and they may want to keep coming back to it. Hopefully, it will help them to see that there are many wonderful things they can do and have fun together with family and friends.
Author : Hans Christian Andersen (adaptation)
Illustrator : Chooi Ling Keiong
Publisher's Review : by Peter Duke
Written around 150 years ago by Hans Christian Andersen, The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree has not lost any of its poignant beauty for readers today. This version produced by Oyez!Books has been modernised and simplified for children of today but this has not in any way changed the central theme of the story. Indeed the illustrations by Chooi Ling have brought out the beauty of the story. She has captured each scene in the most alluring way with her art.
The story commences with a broad view of ships lying at anchor in a small harbour as nearby the 365 year old oak tree spreads its leafy branches.
The story commences with a broad view of ships lying at anchor in a small harbour as nearby the 365 year old oak tree spreads its leafy branches.
The story progresses through long the summer days with the dance of the may flies who live for just one day. Here, Chooi Ling has produced a scene of beauty and joy of a summer’s day.
Autumn arrives and the scene changes as the leaves begin to fall and the tree and the animals prepare for the long winter months. Then as winter arrives we see the tree standing in all its stark glory in a snowy landscape.
During the long winter months, the tree dreams of the many scenes that have been played out beneath its glorious boughs; happy scenes of knights and their ladies and lovers sitting in the shade of the the tree.
But the dream slowly changes as the old tree dreams it is rising high into to the sky reaching the clouds surrounded by all its old and new friends. Then disaster strikes. A major storm strikes, rages and up-roots the old oak tree, sending it crashing down.
After the storm there is peace and the sun shines across the waters of the harbour. But the old oak tree is no more.
Although the story will be enjoyed by children it has a deeper meaning for adults as it tells us about the cycle of life and gives hope that after the storm, there will be peace.
Although the story will be enjoyed by children it has a deeper meaning for adults as it tells us about the cycle of life and gives hope that after the storm, there will be peace.
