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It’s high time by Daphne Lee

Linda Tan Lingard, the President of SCBWI Malaysia texted me whether did I read an article by Daphne Lee on Sunday. I didn’t and she said I can read the online version and so I googled and found it here.

I am going to copy and paste it here for my record ^__^

It’s high time!

TOTS TO TEENS
By DAPHNE LEE

I’M taking a break from recommending Christmas gifts to write a little about the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Malaysia.Founded in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children’s writers, the SCBWI now has regional chapters in other parts of the United States, as well as international chapters in countries like Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain and Taiwan.This year, the Malaysian chapter was registered and, on Nov 20, held its first conference, at the LimKokWing University of Creative Technology.

sedna1

An Emila Yusof watercolour from Sedna the Eskimo Girl

The president of the Malaysian chapter is Linda Tan Lingard who is an avid reader and collector of children’s books. Like many Malaysians with a passion for children’s literature, Lingard is aware of the dearth of quality Malaysian children’s lit. She ventured into publishing to address this lack and, to date, her company, Oyez!Books, has published over a dozen titles by Malaysian and ex-pat writers and illustrators.

Lingard decided to start the Malaysian chapter of the SCBWI because she felt that Malaysian authors and illustrators need support and would benefit from being part of an international and well-established organisation. It is hoped that the SCBWI Malaysia will provide Malaysian children’s book writers and illustrators with professional advice and information as well as a platform for networking. The society hopes to hold regular conferences and organise talks and workshops for its members. The conference last week featured an exhibition of illustrations from Malaysian picture books, a talk by artist, illustrator and writer Yusof Gajah (on becoming a children’s book writer and illustrator), and two panel discussions.

I moderated one of the discussions (about the importance of creating children’s literature for Malaysian children), while the other (on the use of illustrations in Malaysian children’s literature) was moderated by picture book illustrator Sarah Joan Mohktar. Panelists included graphic novelist Chin Yew; Lingard; and Sireh Anuar, cartoonist and lecturer University at Multimedia University.

The exhibition showed that Malaysia boasts illustrators of great promise. Artwork displayed included Emila Yusof’s beautiful watercolours from Sedna the Eskimo Girl, a story in the Oyez!Books’ collection, Wonderful Folktales from Around the World.

I am excited about the SCBWI as I think it’s high time we had a society that encourages, supports and nurtures those who wish to write and illustrate children’s books, as well as all those involved in one way or other (directly and indirectly) in the production, promotion and distribution of Malaysian children’s literature.

To join the society, e-mail Lingard at lindalingard@yusofgajahlingard.com.

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