“Books have always been my answer to difficult questions,” says children’s author Abhi Krish, “If my child has a question that I don't know how to answer, we start with a story and use it to discuss what's happening in our lives.”

 

Abhi, alongside fellow authors Farihan Bahron and Jessin Goh, is a new contributor to House of Mini Picture Books, a free online library created by writer-illustrator Josef Lee. 

Josef received a grant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to make local children’s literature accessible from home. In 2023, he received another from the Harmony Fund to create new picture books about Singapore’s multiculturalism.

“For this edition, it was my goal to work with storytellers of varied backgrounds,” says Josef, “so I reached out to old friends like Farihan, new industry contacts like Abhi, even students of mine from NAFA like Jessin.” 

Adding new depths to our understanding of race

Farihan says that in previous decades, race was not understood with as much nuance. When Farihan was in secondary school, education was subsidised for Malay people in Singapore. But one time he was told he was ineligible since his NRIC listed him as ‘Javanese’.

“I informed my teacher I was Malay,” Farihan recalls, “he hadn’t understood that there were more ethnicities under that category.” Farihan’s book Escort for King of the Day follows Amri as he learns about various Malay wedding customs at his uncle Jamil’s wedding, some of which are ethnic, others religious. “I hope it inspires more people to learn about the differences between race, religion, and culture,” he says.

Discussing race with sensitivity and curiosity

Conversations about race remain important for children who are discovering diversity in their communities and have (as kids typically do) countless questions. “I think it's OK to ask out of curiosity,” says Abhi, noting that stereotypes are the bigger issue. “Because when you bring up ‘because this is what I heard from my parents’, it becomes about having to confirm or disprove a something.”

In fact, much of what children think about different races is learned or taught. “It has always been more of an adult issue,” agrees Josef. Abhi’s book Knots of Love takes place in a market where cultures converge and friendships form across different races and ages.

In the story, Li Mei — the daughter of a coconut seller — admires flower seller Madam Poovai’s garlands. Madam Poovai teaches Li Mei how to make them while also providing her a life lesson in patience and persistence.

“I wrote about flowers because they are universal across Asian cultures,” Abhi says, “and to me they signify how we have much more in common than not.”

Making collaboration a learning experience

Abhi and Josef, who illustrated Knots of Love, did not know each other beforehand but worked seamlessly together. “When I showed Abhi my sketches, we talked about how older Indian women really dress, down to the size of their bindis,” says Josef, “I knew I needed her input because I can cross-check references but still get things wrong.”

“Josef would ask, ‘How do you feel about this?’,” says Abhi, “it was so nice to be asked my opinion to make things more authentic.” She has heard from several readers that Madam Poovai is the most beautiful Tamil grandmother that they've seen in a storybook. “And that's what you want,” she says, “for people to feel like they’re being truly represented.”

The warm reception for Knots of Love was significant for Abhi, given her daughter’s experience of being bullied for having dark skin in preschool. 

“She struggles with anxiety now,” says Abhi, “and that’s why stories like these are important. Children's books can be educational not only for kids, but for parents and adults, too.”

Holding space for children’s emotions

 

Jessin’s book Yeye tells the story of a young boy who loses his grandfather and learns to grieve through Chinese funerary customs.

 

“I had doubts on whether grief was a suitable topic for children,” Jessin says, “there’s a misconception that they don't experience it because they're too young to understand, but that's not the case.”

 

Yeye was inspired by a period in Jessin’s life where she lost two young cousins, a grandparent, and a pet in a short span of time. “To cope I turned to drawing, and loss became a major theme of my diploma project. I even interviewed funeral directors across Singapore. It helped me work through my emotions.”

Through her research Jessin also spoke to bereaved people of different races, all of which have their own grieving rites. “No matter what mourning looks like in a culture, people just need a way to process,” she says.

While traditions bring colour and specificity to people’s lives, facts of life like loss are universal regardless of race or age.

The stories continue

House of Mini Picture Books’ success has inspired the group to build new ventures on top of their existing stories.“If I get more funding,” Josef says, “I would love to do other editions for House of Mini Picture Books on important topics like sustainability.”

Meanwhile, Jessin and her university coursemate are developing a three-book series about grief for children. Abhi is in talks with a publisher to explore other characters and relationships in her fictional market. “A lot of cultures break up life into three phases: birth, marriage, and death. I think it would be interesting for me to explore the other two next,” says Farihan.

Josef hopes that Singaporeans of all ages enjoy reading about Amri, Li Mei, and little boys who love their yeyes so that more local authors try to capture Singapore’s vibrant cultural mix. In the small but richly diverse nation, the storytelling opportunities are endless.