Just a Little Mynah: Volume 1

Evelyn Sue Wong

Jan 2020 · Just a Little Mynah Ibhuku elingu-1 · Epigram Books

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Little Mynah wishes she was not so ordinary. But when her friend, the magnificent Heron, gets into trouble she flies into action and discovers that even ordinary little birds can do extraordinary things. This is the first multilingual picture book in a series to be published by Epigram Books that introduces preschoolers and early primary kids to the diverse languages and cultures of Singapore. Underlying this first adventure with Little Mynah is the importance of environmental conservation.

The book includes a link (via QR code) to an audio recording of everyday words and phrases used in the story in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A useful glossary is provided at the back of the book for easy reference. The QR code also links readers to free games and activities so the fun and learning keeps going.

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Evelyn Sue Wong's stories about the diversity of languages and life in Singapore have been performed in multilingual storytelling workshops and schools. Her bilingual picture book, The Naughty Mynah (2014), was adapted by The Learning Connections for its Story Box Theatre and performed for over 1,200 preschool children. Max Messed Up (2016), a short story appreciating cleaners in schools for a Design a Book Cover Contest, commissioned by NTUC, inspired a short film released in March 2020. 

Evelyn has been actively involved in the Asian Festival of Children’s Content since 2010, and is currently a member of the Singapore Book Council Advisory Network.

Evelyn enjoys listening to her two young granddaughters chirping with birds and other neighbours in different languages.

Dhanendra Poedjono or “WalgDP” (pronounced as Wal Gee Dee Pee) is a visual artist originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, but currently resides in Singapore. He is a full- time graphic designer and illustrator. He also enjoys conducting workshops, teaching kids and adults alike to doodle and design basic characters. In 2018, Dhanendra had the opportunity to conduct an animation on iPad workshop for Apple at Apple Store Orchard, which he considers one of his biggest workshop achievements. He has been a part of the Band of Doodlers (BOD) since 2014, where he gets to spread his quirkiness around the island. This is his first children’s book.