Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

The National Book Development Council of Singapore and Scholastic Asia are launching the 2012 Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). The award recognizes Asian writers and writers of Asian origin who are taking the experiences of life, spirit, and thinking in different parts of Asia to the world at large. SABA is awarded to an unpublished manuscript targeted at children ages 6 to 12. The closing date for submissions for the 2012 SABA is Oct. 17, 2011, 5 p.m. Singapore time. For more information, please visit www.scholasticbookaward.asia .

I am the guest speaker for the next Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Philippines ' Children's Lit Booktalk & Work-in-Progress Critique! WHEN: 6 - 8 p.m., Monday, June 13 (Yes, later today.) WHERE: Figaro, 3rd level, Greenbelt 3 Makati Open to members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Philippines and to non-members (18 and above) who are: * Published/unpublished children's book writers/illustrators * Keenly interested in children's and young adult literature BRING: Any children's or young adult book that you want to share, discuss, ask questions about, or use as a spring-board for discussion. Or, bring a work in progress - your art or manuscript for a children's or young adult book - and get a group critique plus tips on how to get published. FEE: Php 20 (for SCBWI members, no fee), plus a receipt to show that you ordered something - a cup of coffee, a cold drink, anything! - as a courtesy to the establi...

Every Sunday for the In My Mailbox meme, YA book bloggers share the books they bought, borrowed, or received over the past week. New Crayons is a similar meme that incorporates children's books and books for adults, and focuses on multicultural literature. These are the other ASIAN books I bought and received while I was in Singapore a couple of weeks ago: The Book That Was Handed Down written by Yixian Quek and illustrated by Grace Duan Ying (Straits Times Press, 2008) Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Scholastic Paperbacks, reprint edition 2008) Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Marion Lloyd Books, 2009) Anya's War by Andrea Alban (Feiwel & Friends, 2011) Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari (Macmillan Children's Books, 2011) Indian Children's Favourite Stories written by Rosemarie Somaiah and illustrated by Ranjan Somaiah (Tuttle Publishing, 2006) I also bought a bunch of Singaporean and Japanese teen magazines when I...

There is an article here about the panel discussion on blogging that I was part of at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. =D Please do read it!

I attended several interesting and helpful sessions at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) in Singapore - which was a combination of the Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference, the Asian Children’s Publishers Symposium, the Asian Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress, and the Asian Children’s Media Summit - but these were my favorites (aside from these sessions of course): * I attended two super organized and super informative presentations by Kelly Sonnack, children's and young adult literature agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. . In "The Role of an Agent and De-mystifying the Publishing Process, Cradle to Grave," Kelly explained everything from the roles and responsibilities of a literary agent to the typical path a manuscript takes to publication and the main deal points in a publishing contract. Very enlightening! In "The Children's Market: What Has Changed and What Sells Now," Kelly spoke in detail about m...

The highlight of the Asian Festival of Children's Content (May 26-28 in Singapore) was the Singapore Children's Literature Lecture and Awards Presentation Ceremony . The lecture, entitled "Society, Culture, and Children," was delivered by José Ramos-Horta , the President of East Timor, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1996). . . and a children's book author! President Ramos-Horta had a special guest with him: Luis Soriano, founder of Colombia's Biblioburro , a traveling library that distributes books from the backs of two donkeys. I got teary-eyed when I realized who the President's guest was. I remember reading about Luis Soriano in the New York Times back in 2008 - this was when I was feeling burnt out from all my work and studies in English language and literature - and feeling so inspired and hopeful and refreshed. I never imagined I would be in the same room as my hero AND a Nobel Peace Prize winner! After President Ramos-Horta's lecture a...

Every Sunday, for the In My Mailbox meme, YA book bloggers share the books they bought, borrowed, or received over the past week. New Crayons is a similar meme that incorporates children's books and books for adults, and focuses on multicultural literature. For In My Mailbox / New Crayons this Sunday, I would like to share the books I bought at the Media Mart, the "bookstore" of the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. I always look forward to the Media Mart! Where else can I buy children's and YA books from Asia and around the world - without paying exorbitant shipping fees? Here are a few pictures of the Media Mart: Here are the books I bought at the Media Mart this year: 10 Sleepless Sheep for Woolly Nights by Linda Yew (Straits Times Press, 2008) The Singapore Kid written by Jessica Alejandro and illustrated by Pigologist (Autumn Wonders, 2010) The Diary of Amos Lee: Girls, Guts and Glory! written by Adeline Foo and illustrated by Stephanie...