Project Splash! Asia launch~ May 29/13, AFCC, Singapore

We’re back from Singapore after attending the 2013 Asian Festival of Children’s Content. Needless to say we had an absolutely amazing and inspiring time and we’ll be blogging about it over the upcoming weeks.  If you haven’t already visited our Facebook page, do take a moment and head on over as we uploaded quite a few photos from the festival there. Also, check out the AFCC Wire which is compiling a list of bloggers’ posts about the 2013 festival and be sure to to visit the wonderful Gathering Books blog to read Dr. Myra Garces-Bacsal’s posts. Take special note of Myra’s Project Splash! Asia post which is near and dear to our own hearts as PaperTigers was blessed to be involved on the organizing committee.

I’ve arrived in Singapore and look forward to attending the 2013 Asian Festival of Children’s Content! Here’s my first photo from the Festival:  some of the goodies I received in my registration bag when I checked in at the hotel.

In order to maximize my time at the Festival and minimize time spent in the hotel room on the computer, I’ll be mostly updating and uploading photos to our PaperTigers: Books + Water facebook page. If you are on Facebook, do give us a like and follow along. If you don’t have a Facebook account don’t despair as you can still read our posts by clicking here.

And do keep your fingers crossed for PaperTigers Editor Marjorie Coughlan whose flight from London to Singapore has been delayed for over 24 hours now. Expected arrival time is late this evening which doesn’t give her much time to settle in before her sessions tomorrow!

Our bags are packed and both Marj and I are currently en route to the Asian Festival of Children’s Content taking place May 25 – 30 in Singapore. We’ll have to sleep during the flights because once we hit the ground in Singapore there will be no time for jet lag! The program is jam packed with events to attend, people to meet up with and more! Marj and I will also be participating in the following sessions:

 Asian Themes in Children’s Books ~ Daphne Lee (Author, Reviewer), Marjorie Coughlan (Reviewer), Anushka Ravishankar (Author), Moderator: Lisa Yun (Educator)

 Will including Asian themes alienate your audience? Why bother, if that’s the case? Join this panel of Asian creators as they discuss the use and application of Asian themes and motifs in children’s books.

The Current State and Future Possibilities of Asian-Themed Publishing in the US ~ Renee Ting (Publisher), Moderator: Marjorie Coughlan (Reviewer)

 Join Shen’s Books publisher Renee Ting as she talks about the current state of publishing in the USA, what kind of a market currently exists for Asian books, and what she foresees for the future. Find out if your books can be sold in the USA!

The Fine Art of Reviewing Children’s Books ~ Marjorie Coughlan (Reviewer)

Presentation and workshop. What makes a good book? What makes a good review? The components of a book review, choosing books to review, writing a review for publication and more!

Fostering Relationships within the Blogging Community ~ Vivian Kirkfield (Blogger, Educator, Author), Marjorie Coughlan (Reviewer), Michelle Chew (Blogger, Reviewer), Moderator: Aun Koh

A lot of myths maintain you can’t make real friends on the Internet, but you know better by now. Join Michelle Chew, Vivian Kirkfield, and Marjorie Coughlan as they talk about building and growing communities and relationships online.

Transforming Facts into Riveting Reading ~ Chris Cheng (Author), Shirin Yim Bridges (Author, Publisher), Mio Debnam (Author, Editor),  Moderator: Corinne Robson (Reviewer, Blogger)

While fiction looks like it has a flashier bag of tricks for enticing readers, there’s a knack to writing non-fiction that can lure kids into enjoying what could otherwise be a dry and dull read. Authors Chris Cheng, Mio Debnam and Shirin Yim Bridges come together to talk about how they turn dry fact into happy reading in this panel discussion.

Splash! Asia session: Water Themed Books in the Asian Setting ~ Evelyn Wong, Myra Garces Bacsal (Educator, Reviewer, Blogger) , Moderator: Corinne Robson (Reviewer, Blogger)

In celebration of the UN International Year of Water, AFCC 2013 presents this session on the use of water in Asian books. Join Evelyn Wong and Myra Garces Bacsal as they showcase the diversity and talent in Asian children’s literature on the theme of water.

2013 Singtel Asian Picture Book Award ~The SingTel Asian Picture Book Award will be presented annually for an outstanding unpublished picture book with a distinctly Asian theme. The first SingTel Asian Picture Book Award will be presented  during the Asian Festival of Children’s Content on 28 May 2013.

Full programme and festival details are available online here.

If you are going to be in Singapore, be sure to let us know as we would love to meet up with you. If you can’t be there, keep an eye here on our PaperTigers’ blog as we will be posting regularly to share some of our highlights with you!

While attending the 2011 Asian Festival of Children’s Content I met and spent time with three wonderful children/young adult authors: Chris Cheng from Australia, Dave Seow from Singapore and Jane Houng from Hong Kong. Interestingly enough, I ran into all 3 of them again at the 2012 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and am looking forward to seeing them all again next week at the 2013 Asian Festival of Children’s Content. Besides being involved with AFCC panel sessions and workshops, each of them will also be doing a book launch during the Festival. Each launch takes place at the AFCC venue, the National Library of Singapore, and you are more than welcome to come join in the celebrations. I know that I will be there!

Dave Seow, Sunday, May 26th 4:45pm

Emma’s Elephant ~ Emma has an elephant named Ella. She’s no ordinary elephant but an invisible elephant, but if Ella likes you, she’ll let you see her.

Jane Houng, Wednesday, May 29th 11:15am

Bloodswell -  is a young adult novel suitable for readers over the age of sixteen. Billed as “a fast-paced vampire saga infused with the sights, people and atmosphere of Hong Kong”, it’s a story of intense teenage friendships, dangerous secrets and forbidden love. Read Asian Review of Books’ review here.

Chris Cheng, Wednesday, May 29th 1:45pm (Project Splash! Asia launch) and 7:30pm (SCBWI dinner)

Water ~ 2013 is designated as the International Year of Water Cooperation. This book is a celebration of water and its importance to our existence. Illustrator Susanna Goho-Quek’s beautiful illustrations are created with acrylic, water colour and pen on paper, canvas and plastic sheet. All proceeds from the sale of this title—an original contribution to the Project Splash! Asia collection to be launched at AFCC2013—go towards furthering the mission of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.  Project Splash! Asia, is a first collection and bibliography of children’s books from Asia on a common theme—water. More information about Water and Project Splash! Asia is here.

Following up on our post about the Singtel Asian Picture Book Award (Author) shortlist, here are the details for the shortlisted illustrator candidates. The objective of the Singtel Asian Picture Book Award is to encourage and inspire the creation and publication of more Asian-themed picture books. The award is also intended to stimulate public interest and awareness of picture books. The first SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013, with a prize of S$10,000 (to be split evenly amongst an author and an illustrator), will be presented during the Asian Festival of Children’s Content on 28 May 2013.

Reza Dalvand
(Iran)
Title: Who Knows Mr. Pink

Reza Dalvan is an author and a member of the Iranian Society of Illustrators. He won several prizes inc
including the Encouragement Prize for Nami Island International Illustration Concours, South Korea 2013, First prize for the Niayesh Illustration biennial – Iran 2012 and the First prize of Grand exhibition Isfahan University of Art – Iran 2012.

Bolormaa Baasansuren
(Mongolia)
Title:  Old City

Bolormaa Baasansuren was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts
in Mongolia and was a research student of Bunkyo University in Japan. She won the grand prize for
Noma 14th picture book competition in Japan and has four published picture books including Legend of Wives and My Little Round House. {See PaperTigers’ features on Bolormaa here, here and here}

Lak – Khee Tay Audouard
(Singapore)
Title: Wayang Night

Born in Singapore, children’s book illustrator Lak – Khee grew up in a multi – racial neighbourhood. She saw her first picture book at ten and since then she has been “hooked” on books. Lak – Khee is most keen to share her love for fast – disappearing cultural treasures with a whole generation of IT savvy children of today.

Gina Eugenia
(Indonesia)
Title: Cap Go Meh

Gina received her BA in Visual Communication from ITB University, Indonesia. Illustrated around 25 children books and has worked with Disney Magazine Indonesia, a project for Children Folktales in Southeast Asian Countries and Korea by the SEAMEO in 2012

Head on over to Dr. Myra Garces-Bacsal’s wonderful Gathering Books blog  and read her Pre-AFCC Glitter posts in which she  conductings short interviews with AFCC invited guest speakers and other conference attendees. Recent posts include Holly Thompson, Naomi Kojima, and Emily Lim. Hard to believe that AFCC starts in only a week and half! The excitement is building! Check out the official AFCC website to see all that’s in store.

Following up on yesterday’s post, here are more details about the shortlisted candidates for this year’s  SingTel Asian Picture Book Award (Author). The objective of the award is to encourage and inspire the creation and publication of more Asian-themed picture books. The award is also intended to stimulate public interest and awareness of picture books. The first SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013, with a prize of S$10,000 (to be split evenly amongst an author and an illustrator), will be presented during the Asian Festival of Children’s Content on 28 May 2013.

The 2013 SingTel Asian Picture Book Award (Author) candidates are:

Swapna Haddow
(United Kingdom)

Don’t Eat That, Phoenix!
Phoenix, a young Chinese boy, is celebrating New Year with his family. Phoenix is excited to get the banquet started and sets his dinner table with lots of Chinese New Year items he discovers in his home. The entire family sits down to dinner and enjoys Phoenix’s unique banquet.

Sophie Dewayani
(Indonesia)

Cap Go Meh
Nisa, a Muslim girl, and Lili, a Chinese – Indonesian, debate over where cap go meh rice cake is the genuine icon of Eid Al – Fitr tradition or Chinese New Year celebration. After sharing the rice cakes and the excitement of experiencing each celebration, Nisa and Lili end up discovering what is more essential; that a dish is able to bridge diversity.

Debra Chong
(Singapore)

If I Were…
“If I were a lion, I could scare enemies away with a single roar.”
If I were a giraffe, I could reach out and pick delicious fruits from the tallest tree.”
But Shan Shan is neither.
She’s a panda that’s good at….hmmmm, just what is it that pandas are good at anyway?

Ganbaatar Ichinnorov
(Mongolia)

Old City
Little boy Anar loves his toy horse. Suddenly his horse escapes into grandpa’s old photo album. Anar goes after the horse and finds himself in the photo album where everything is like in real world. Anar wanders in the city streets looking for his horse but the horse runs away from him and he can not catch it. However grandpa helps him to find his favorite toy horse and makes him happy.

Lak – Khee Tay Audouard
(Singapore)

Wayang Night
A narrative about a much awaited evening of roadside theatre outing for two siblings with their parents. As the young reader turns the pages, glimpses of culture, food and Peranakanarchitecture are offered. In the style reminiscent of 50s era comics, the central attraction will be the pop – up stage.

Maria Agnes Du’a Bewa
(Indonesia)

Utan For Marcia
Marcia is about to turn six years old and, as is tradition, should received an utan (type of sarong) woven by her mother as birthday gift. Unfortunately, her mother is very busy but Marcia has a plan to ensure she receives this special gift.

ASIAN FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S CONTENT ANNOUNCES TWO MAJOR AWARDS

Press release:

Announcement of Shortlists of Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award 2013 and SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013

Singapore, 25 April 2013 – At the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) 2013 Press Conference, held today at Hotel Grand Pacific, Ms Claire Chiang, announced the shortlisted names for the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award 2013 and the SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013. Ms Claire Chiang also unveiled the five-day festival, which will be held from 25 to 30 May.

Winners for both prizes will be announced during the Children’s Literature Lecture and Award Ceremony on 28 May 2013. The prize for the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award is worth S$10,000, to be shared by the writer and illustrator. The SingTel Asian Picture Book Award offers a total of S$10,000, the First Prize consisting of S$5,000 for an author and S$5,000 for an illustrator. These will be individually known as the SingTel Asian Picture Book Award – Author, and the SingTel Asian Picture Book Award – Illustrator.

For the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award, a total of 33 titles were submitted, out of which 16 entries were Novels and 17 entries were Short Stories or Picture Books. For the SingTel Asian Picture Book Award, a total of 158 manuscripts were submitted, out of which 79 were with illustrations. The award attracted submissions from 19 different countries in total.

The following shortlisted titles are not listed in order of merit:

The Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award 2013 Shortlist Candidates:

The Mudskipper by Ovidia Yu

Extraordinary Losers: Operation Pants on Fire by Jessica Alejandro

Farrer Park by Ann Peters

Where’s Grandma? by Edmund Lim

The SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013 Shortlist Candidates:

Author:

Don’t Eat That, Phoenix by Swapna Haddow (United Kingdom)

Cap Go Meh by Sophie Dewayani (Indonesia)

If I Were by Debra Chong (Singapore)

Old City by Ichinnorov Ganbaatar (Mongolia)

Wayang Night by Lak-Khee Tay Audouard (Singapore) [See PaperTiger's gallery of her work here]

Utan for Marcia by Maria Agnes Du’a Bewa (Indonesia)

Illustrator:

Who Knows Mr. Pink by Reza Dalvand (Iran)

Old City by BaaSanSuren Bolormaa (Mongolia) [Read PaperTigers' interview with her here and see two galleries of her work here and here]

Wayang Night by Lak-Khee Tay Audouard (Singapore) [See PaperTiger's gallery of her work here]

Cap Go Meh by Gina (Indonesia)

The Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) brings together content creators and producers with parents, teachers, librarians, and anyone interested in quality Asian content for children. With a mix of professional conferences, masterclasses and workshops, a rights fair and media mart, as well as public events, AFCC is a unique and popular event right here in Asia that provides an opportunity for writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, distributors, parents, children, teachers, and librarians to meet, learn, develop their craft, and discover business opportunities.

PaperTigers is a proud sponsor of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content and both Marjorie and I will be attending this year. To learn more about the AFCC check the official website and read our July 2011 PaperTigers issue  Singapore and the Asian Festival of Children’s Content. Stay tuned to the blog tomorrow to learn more about the SingTel Asian Picture Book Award 2013 Shortlist Candidates.

The excitement is building for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content being held May 25 – 30 in Singapore. PaperTigers is proud sponsor of the AFCC, an annual event that brings together content creators and producers with parents, teachers, librarians and anyone interested in quality Asian content for children around the world. This year’s conference will have an added emphasis on young adult literature and children’s works in translation and will be featuring Malaysia as the country of focus. Two years ago I was blessed to be able to attend the AFCC and we subsequently devoted a PaperTigers issue to Singaporean Children’s Literature and the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.  This year Marjorie and I will both be attending and to say we are cloud 9 would be an understatement!

Last week the AFCC organizers held a press conference at the host hotel, Hotel Grand Pacific, right across the street from the official festival venue, theCentral Public Library.  Head on over to Dr. Myra Garces-Bacsal’s wonderful Gathering Books blog to read about and see photos from the press conference (click here). Also, be sure to check out Myra’s Pre-AFCC Glitter posts in which she will be conducting short interviews with AFCC invited guest speakers and other conference attendees. First up is Holly Thompson who will be launching her newest YA novel The Language Inside at AFCC, Holly was raised in the USA and is a longtime resident of Japan. Her verse novel Orchards (Delacorte/Random House) won the 2012 APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature  and is a YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults title. She recently edited Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction—An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories (Stone Bridge Press) and was a guest blogger on our blog last year. Click here to read her PaperTigers’ blog posts.

Marjorie and I will be participating in several of the AFCC sessions. First up for us is Marjorie’s seminar/workshop The Fine Art of Reviewing Children’s Books. Should you be attending  the AFCC we would love it if you were able to partake in this event! Details are as follows:

The Fine Art of Reviewing Children’s Books

Monday, May 27th
2:15pm – 5:45pm

Presentation:

• What makes a good book? What makes a good review?
• The components of a book review.
• Choosing books to review,

Break

Workshop:

• Group-discussion, reviewing a book
• Writing a review for publication

Marjorie Coughlan is the Editor of PaperTigers.org, a website and blog which seeks to highlight the richness of multicultural books from and/or about anywhere in the world, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. PaperTigers.org is part of PaperTigers: Books+Water and includes the WaterBridge Outreach program.

Calling all illustrators! The Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) has just announced an online illustration contest called afccSKETCH. Illustrators around the world are invited to draw a piece of artwork based on the given theme and then email it to afcc(at)bookcouncil(dot)sg. Submitted entries will be posted on the AFCC Facebook page and the panel of judges will then decide on three winners whose works will be mounted and displayed at the Festival’s Book Illustrators Gallery. The three winners will also share in attractive prize package!

This year’s theme is One Big Story. Illustrate your interpretation of what One Big Story means in the context of children’s literary content! Works will be judged for skill, aesthetic quality, and how well the artist adheres to the theme.

Guidelines to keep in mind:

• Illustrations must be drawn specifically for afccSKETCH. No pre-existing illustrations, please!
• As winning entries will be printed for display, please send high-res PDF/TIF copies of your illustrations. When printed, they should be no more than A4 size. Hand-drawn or digital art is fine, so long as you can email it.
• You may submit up to two entries for consideration
• Keep it tasteful! And remember that this is a kid-friendly festival. Whether or not your work will be uploaded is up to Book Council staff and they will (sadly) have to delete anything with inappropriate content.
• Works will be accepted from around the world.
• Deadline: 13 May 2013, 3pm (GMT+8).
• Questions? Click here or email the organizers at afcc(at)bookcouncil(dot)sg

PaperTigers is a proud sponsor of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content which will take place May 25 – 30, 2013  in Singapore. For  Festival details, click here.