Shamini Flint, illustrated by Alpana Ahuja,
Sasha Visits Singapore
Sunbear Publishing Pte Ltd, 2010.

Ages 2-6

Oh, that we could all be lucky like Sasha! She travels from country to country with her Mama, exploring new cultures and meeting new people from all over the world. In Sasha Visits Singapore, Sasha and Mama travel to Singapore, an island nation on the edge of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore is a mixture of old and new, East and West, all coming together in shiny new skyscrapers next to beautiful old buildings, lush outdoor zoos near old colonial houses.

With each page turn, Sasha and Mama embark on new Singaporean adventures, viewing the black and white tigers at the Singapore Zoo and the colorful macaws at the Jurong Bird Park, walking under fragrant frangipani trees, and dancing to the crashing cymbals of a lion dance. Alpana Ahuja’s vibrant watercolors fill pages from edge to edge with sensory delight that mirrors the constant movement of this tropical island. The bright hues of Singaporean life will captivate the future-readers among us, who will also love the exotic animals that appear on almost every page.

Sasha visits Singapore is one of over a dozen brief paperback stories comprising a series about Sasha’s adventures. While some see her traveling to more oft-written about locales like London and Beijing, others take her further afield, visiting places often neglected in children’s literature, including Sasha Visits Kuala Lumpur, Sasha Visits The Maldives and Sasha Visits Sentosa Island. The series features bright illustrations, simple language and affordable paperback prices, providing a valuable resource for parents and caretakers to introduce young children to the diversity of Asian worlds.

A set of six titles focused specifically on Singapore dedicates entire books to the sights covered in brief two-page spreads within Sasha Visits Singapore. Details and context one might wish for in Sasha Visits Singapore appear in individual titles focusing on the Singapore Botanical Gardens, Zoological Gardens, the Jurong Bird Park, and Singaporean shopping and museums. Sasha in Singapore would be greatly strengthened by a map and/or back matter; one wishes for example, for a short explanation of the significance of the Merlion – rather than just mention that Sasha sees it – but this oversight may also encourage children and adults alike to seek more information about Singapore, including further tales of Sasha’s adventures there.

Sara Hudson
June 2011