Little Hero launches into several e-bookstores today! Yay!
My latest book (published by Penguin Books SEA) is a tale of separation, loss and growing-up in post-war 1940s Singapore seen through the eyes of a young child Ying Xiong. Through this, he comes to discover what it means to be an ying xiong (Chinese translation of ‘hero’).
This book is inspired by real events in my family’s past exploits and the main character inspired by my father and grandparents.
Early reviews from book reviewers have been most heartening.
A couple of review extracts here:
“This touching tale transports you to post-war 1940s Singapore, where seven-year-old Ying Xiong faces separation, loss and the journey [to independence]. Inspired by real-life events, this heartfelt story follows Xiong’s resilience and growth amidst family struggles and newfound friendships. Written by award-winning author Emily Lim-Leh, this fictional masterpiece draws inspiration from real-life events from her family.”
@jyoti_yaj (IG reviewer)
“To us, this story is about hope, resilience and growth…highly recommended read.”
@joshtruly
“…a rare post-war #kidlit #singlit we all need – 5 stars -“
Hwee’s Book Share Club
“…a heartwarming and educational read that’s perfect for middle primary schoolers and beyond…highly recommended…”
For Mamas, To Kids
Little Hero is now available for online orders from the following bookstores:
Had my first student reactions to a sneak peek which I provided to my soon-to-be-launched Little Hero, published by Penguin Books SEA!
I did an author visit to Knightsbridge International School in connection with their Book Week this week. And I was so heartened as I shared with the 150 children about my first book Prince Bear & Pauper Bear and provided a glimpse into my latest book Little Hero.
I enjoyed the questions that came fast and furiously curious.
Most engaged, deep-thinking question
Boy: Why did the father tie the rope around the children [when their ship sank]?
Isn’t there a better solution? Why didn’t they just use a lifeboat?
Me: There was no lifeboat.
Boy: Oh, it’s like Titanic!
Me: Yes, isn’t it?
Most-invested-in-storyline Question
2nd Boy: “Did they die in the end?” (referring to main character, his siblings and father)
Me: “Well, the main character is inspired by my father…and I’m here today. So that’s your answer.” ☺️
I recently had my biggest engagement in a school – where I met International French School’s entire kindergarten kids over 19 author sessions.
I did storytelling sessions for the younger ones and shared different aspects of creating story ideas and writing and publishing with the older kindergarteners.
The teachers across the years selected different books to read to their classes in the lead up to my visit.
Tibby the Tiger-Bunny series were the favourite reads for the younger kids and Marky Polo Travels’ series and Little Godwit Finds His Wings were the favoured reads for the older kindergarteners.
I introduced the children to my debut book Prince Bear & Pauper Bear and Bunny Finds the Right Stuff as I shared the process of writing and publishing.
I was delighted to see the children decked out in Tibby head gear and Marky Polo headgear for my visits and everyone with character headgear during the Books Ceremony, which capped the end of a very bookish week.
I could not keep track of every quotable quotes moment. But I did manage to scribble down a few precious ones:
Most memorable answer:
Me: What does an author do?
Child: The author goes into a room and quickly closes the door before anyone else can go in.
Me: Haha…How do you know authors do that? Yes, authors like to have a quiet space to be alone to do our writing.
Most spot-on understanding of Prince Bear & Pauper Bear’s story
Me: Why did Pauper Bear help Prince Bear? (After we watched the animated clip of Prince Bear & Pauper Bear)
Child: Pauper Bear remembered what it was like to be lonely and so he decided to help Prince Bear.
Funniest naming of character in my book:
During my reading of Tibby the Tiger Bunny, a child spots a snail in the picture:
Child: It’s escargot!
Most heartfelt response when I showed the children a printer’s book dummy (completely blank book):
Me: Hey! Why is the book blank?
Child: The story has to be written first.
Suffice to say, I felt very welcome through my visits, like a mini-rock star.
Now, I am back in the quiet of my study room and shutting the door behind me as I withdraw back into my author shell (of the non-escargot kind). 😊
Had the pleasure to speak at National Junior College’s Literature Evening yesterday to a group of over 50 students and teachers in an impressive student-led evening.
The theme was ‘Harbour’ and there was a line-up of poetry readings, visual arts performances and more.
My talk was titled An Author’s Voyage. I dressed to theme. 🛶⚓️
The voyage that led me to become an author was one that took me through choppy waters when I was plundered of my voice right after marriage.
As I went to several ports of call, in search for my stolen voice, I stumbled on a God-given voice in writing. It anchored my soul and I have continued writing for 17 years since.
Very encouraged by the Language Arts Head of Department who gave feedback that “my sharing was moving, inspiring and powerful, and that I demonstrated how to weave personal experiences and wisdom into the theme, especially utilising words related to the semantic field of ‘Harbour’ to structure my presentation”.
It was my first time back to the rebuilt campus since I graduated from NJC over 30 years ago. So, I had to take a few tourist photos around the campus. 🙂
Just signed off on the reprints of my four-book award-winning Toys series today.
This will be the 9th printing of what is a most precious children’s picture book series to me.
My Toys titles were inspired by my personal testimony of losing my voice to a rare disorder and finding a new God-given voice as an author. ❤️🩹
My journey as an author started with my debut picture book Prince Bear & Pauper Bear, which was a Singapore Book Council competition winner back in 2007. I had subconsciously written about a poor teddy bear without a mouth, who could not speak.
At that time (17 years back), I was planning to print 3,000 copies of Prince Bear & Pauper Bear in hard cover.
I received discouraging comments from a few experienced industry folks who told me that I had no idea what I was doing. I was told that local children’s books wouldn’t sell in hard cover as it would be priced too expensively. And that a newbie author like me would be lucky to sell 200-300 soft cover copies.
Ben told me to ignore all those negative voices. So, I went ahead to publish under my own Mustard Seed Books imprint. With tiny mustard seed faith, that if I had God’s favour, I could sell the books. And if I couldn’t, I could always donate the books for charitable purposes.
I look back with gratitude on my author journey, which started with these four Mustard Seed Books and I thank God that these little books have grown in reach – with 150,000 copies in the hands of children (and maybe some adults…😊).
…And purpose – with two of my little mustard seed books Just Teddy and Bunny Finds the Right Stuff baked into Our Daily Bread for kids (through their Discovery House publishing house) for fresh consumption.
As the year comes to a close, I usually end with a look-back on my writing year. And this has been a full year, with a mixture of commitments and where writing and book talks took a backseat. It wasn’t all-write but it turned out just right/write (pun intended…haha):
Kidsread! at Epworth Literacy Centre (Jan – Oct)
I signed up as a NLB Kidsread volunteer with Epworth Literacy at Bukit Batok at the start of this year. Went through a half-day training with National Library Board and onboarding with Epworth Literacy and was ready to start!
It’s been a meaningful ride as a reading volunteer with two groups of kids (a preschoolers group and a lower primary group). These kids have learning challenges and are going through Epworth’s Literacy Intervention programme.
On Saturday mornings, we volunteers take turns to read to the kids and get them to work on an accompanying craft activity which reinforces the story. It’s been fulfilling for me to sit with two kids, silent for months, who finally started to speak and laugh with me. And it’s a very different experience from my book talks in schools.
Kudos to the literacy teachers who do the heavy lifting through the years with these kids.
2. Writing of a Gala kind (Jan – April)
I put on a different writing hat when I joined Epworth Community Services’ Fundraising Subcommittee this year:
wrote Epworth’s story for the corporate video for the gala fundraising dinner (held in April) and helped with the overall messaging for collateral and script for the evening
I otherwise set my creative writing aside in the months running up to the event as it was all hands on deck in organising, selling tables and everything gala.
3. My Grandfather’s Rojak launch off! (May- July)
My ‘much-delayed-through-Covid’ picture book finally launched off in May during the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.
My collaborator Alycia Teo and I won 2nd runner-up with our manuscript and storyboard at the Scholastic Asian Picture Book Awards in 2019. From then to now, so many life and existential things happened – my mum passed on, Covid happened, Alycia changed jobs twice and got married in between.
So, it was a moment of pause for me as I looked back at this book’s journey and how Alycia’s and my friendship was forged through all this.
My Grandfather’s Rojak took a book tour over the next few months as I made author visits to 5 preschools. The book was selected for Star Learners Book Club, which also saw its 30+ centres go rojak in their theme and set up rojak stalls in their centres! It was bookishly delicious!
4. Signed 1st chapter book contract with new publisher (Sep)
I signed my very first chapter book contract with the Southeast Asian office of an international publisher - a milestone for me. More on that next year!
5. I Really, Really Don’t Feel Well! (October)
I Really, Really Don’t Feel Well! children’s picture e-book launched in October during Mental Wellness Month. This book is a collaboration with my creative charity buddy Josef Lee and Epworth Community Services to raise awareness on early childhood trauma and distress.
It was a really challenging book to write and I felt like giving up midway through. I thank God for the promptings that came when I was at my giving-up point. Slowly, names popped up for me to reach out to for expert views, and one came after another, till the story was nailed down. Very thankful how the book came together.
6. Personal Journey Stories (May/October)
I was invited by two schools to share on my personal writing journey.
The invitation to St Hilda’s Primary School came from an early childhood educator who received the e-copy of I Really, Really Cannot Catch These Words! from a fellow educator.
The second invitation came from the Principal of Methodist Girls’ School. She invited me to speak at the MGS Sec 4 International Baccalaureate Service, the last service of the year before the girls move on to ACS International next year.
As timing would have it, National Junior College’s Principal decided to read my Prince Bear & Pauper Bear to her graduating year of NJCsians. She also shared my personal story of how I lost my voice to a rare disorder and found my new voice in writing.
I’m on the organising committee for LittAsia 2024, a regional conference of Christian writers and publishers. The wheels of planning are moving amidst everything else and we have been Zooming it for our committee meetings. Chugging along…
8. Shiny Shower of Medallic favour (Oct/Nov/Dec)
This last quarter came with a shiny shower of medals, which I am most grateful for:
Marky Polo Travels series won Gold Medal for Best Picture Book Series at the US-based Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
This followed with the Covid-19 Public Service Medal (PBM) from the Prime Minister’s Office, which was given out by our Health Minister at a public ceremony.
I was privileged to be on the 2023 Most Inspiring Women List organised by Singapore 40 over 40, based on a nomination by a new friend.
The year ended with receiving the Covid Resilience Medal for my creative work in support of public and private healthcare professionals.
I am thankful for a fruitful, meaning-full and Word-filled year of writing and books-related stuff, amidst other commitments.
And I look to God, the Author of my life, for whatever write stuff the new year holds.
“Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are…” – 2 Corinthians 2:24
Brought my son along to Singapore Book Council’s 55th anniversary for a bookish evening this week.
Book Council Chair Claire Chiang most generously hosted this event at her beautiful home. So, I brought her my latest book – My Grandfather’s Rojak – as a token of words-worth appreciation.
It was a lovely social and I caught up with many familiar faces:
Kenny Chan (ex-senior director of Kinokuniya bookstores, but to me is still the Qianbei of Kino yah 😊)
Paul Tan (still the face of NAC to me, though he is technically on long leave and working on his thesis).
Chua Hong Koon (Publishing Director, World Scientific) – publisher of my Marky Polo Travels series
Edmund Wee (Publisher, Epigram Books) – publisher of my Tibby Tiger-Bunny series
Josef Lee (my charity-creative collaborator of four children’s e-books to date),
Chris Shaw (Head of Puttnam School of Film and Animation, Lasalle College of the Arts)
Felix Cheong (bestselling author of the Goh Keng Swee graphic novel, and more),
Josephine Chia (Singapore Literature Prize winner),
Evelyn Wong (author of Little Mynah series and Book Council committee member),
Dave Liew (illustrator & SCBWI SG Rep),
and Maureen Goh (of Filos social services agency, who is helping out with Book Council now),
amongst others. 👩🏻💻✍️🎨👨🏻🎨👨🏻💻
Caleb was the only child present, so he wandered the grounds when I was chatting with everyone, and sat with us through a few poetry recitals and other words-worth performances…his first! 🎭
Yesterday, I was privileged to attend a lovely carnival-like celebration at the F1 Pit to collect my Covid-19 Resilience Medal (CRM). 🏅
This second Covid medal follows after the National Awards Covid-19 Medal (PBM) which my co-creative buddy Josef Lee and I received in connection with our collaboration with Ministry of Health Singapore and private sector pediatricians during the height of Covid. ✍️🎨
We had to get the word out on Covid health protocols to our community in a simple, clear and expedient way – it was a creative challenge to work through.🧐🤔
We went with storytelling through the picture book format to connect with families and children and the e-book format for the fastest and most cost-effective way of distribution. With information boxes peppered in for parents, and charts and Frequently Asked Questions added at the end.
With this format, we were able to produce the next updated version quickly as protocols changed with the fluidity of the Covid virus situation. 👩🏻💻👨🏻🎨
The e-books went viral and we were told that the Covid call centres used our e-picture books to explain health protocols to the elderly as well.
I am very glad that we had the opportunity to play a small supporting role to our healthcare heroes in Singapore’s efforts to fight and live with Covid over the past few years. 👩⚕️👨🏻🔬👩🏻🔬
Ben and Caleb came along for the Covid Resilience awards appreciation event, where gaming arcades and pop-up food stalls were set up for recipients and their families to enjoy.
Caleb and I signed up for a complimentary (and our first!) art jam session. We had half an hour before our registered time slot, so we both sat thinking (and googling for ideas) on what we wanted to paint on our canvass. Given the theme of this carnival event being one of Singapore coming together in unity through a never-before crisis, my thoughts were focused on a few things.
Country. Family. Togetherness. Nature in its beauty.
I always tell people that I cannot draw to save my life. But I was rather pleased with what I painted in our 30 minutes timeslot. 🙂
National Junior College (NJC) principal Lucy Tay read Prince Bear & Pauper Bear to the NJC graduating cohort!
It was woven in with her speech, which was about how grace is the only constant, not change.💝
In the lead up to reading my book, she mentioned that my personal story is one that is chock full of grace. She shared about how I experienced two difficult illnesses which I would never have wished for (a rare voice disorder and breast cancer). But in a strange sort of way, how those trials have been a means of grace to me. 🙌🏻
Most privileged that Prince Bear & Pauper Bear were given voices at such a milestone ceremony. 🤩
I hope that the students will hold onto the message of grace as they journey through life’s ups and downs. 🙏🏼
Very privileged to receive the Public Service (Covid-19) Medal at the National Awards ceremony today. I was amongst the award recipients under our Ministry of Health Singapore’s banner.
I never imagined that I would parse complex health protocols into a children’s picture book format.
I never imagined that children’s picture books could provide words of reassurance to families during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I never imagined that an author of children’s picture books could receive a national award such as this.
I’m glad for this meaningful collaboration with my creative-charity buddy Josef Lee on the children’s e-books through the pandemic and beyond.
I appreciate our Ministry of Health and pediatrician Dr Darryl Lim reaching out to us to collaborate and seeing the value of our creative work.
(Receiving the Public Service (Covid-19 medal) from Minister for Health Singapore Ong Ye Kung)
As I stood in the shadows of healthcare and community heroes today, I felt blessed and warmed by the spot of sunshine that shone my way.
The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you.
Mum-Mum's the Word 
