Splash! Asia
Water features in folklore, myths and legends that are part of our heritage in Asia. Water is an important part in our history, culture, and economic development. In children’s literature, water is a universal theme that has inspired the imagination and creativity of children and adults alike for centuries everywhere in the world.
Take a Dip or Dive into Splash! Asia Under Six Themes
Six broad themes emerged from the Committee’s review of the stories in this wonderful collection. Readers will discover, within each theme, the uniqueness, similarities, diversity and universality in our lives in the beautifully written and illustrated stories from over 15 countries. The genres ranges from fiction, poetry, non-fiction, myths, folktales, legends, and fantasy. While most of the books are written in English, there are a notable number of stories written in two (and even three) languages that have been recently published. We have also selected a few stories that have not been translated into English but can be enjoyed by all through the universal and powerful language of art.
Sub-themes:
Water Myths, Legends, Folktales
Children will be enchanted by the dragons in myths and legends from China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Their curiosity will be piqued by the legends of how the islands around Singapore were formed, how the villagers in the Philippines first learned to fish for food from the sea, and more.
View Collection
Water Journeys and Travels: Finding Home
Struggle, longing and discovery are captured in stories in this theme, often through the eyes of young children, as they experience the long journey across the seas in search of a new home. In other stories, the journey is not towards the great unknown but simply finding comfort and peace at the seaside rather than in the bustle of city life.
View Collection
Water’s Fickle Furies and the Power of the Elements
From a gentle drop of rain on a baby’s face to surviving monsoon floods and saving village from the monstrous wave of a tsunami, what these books have in common are the striking illustrations that demonstrate the power of the elements. This is a collection of titles that sweeps across Asia from the Middle East to India to Southeast Asia.
View Collection
Ocean’s End: Edge of the Sea, Lakes, Rivers, and Islands
Children will learn to appreciate the multi-dimensional delicacy of the wave, the sparkling sand in beaches, the texture of corals, and the inexpressible beauty of islands as they explore the edge of the sea, lakes and rivers through stunning photographs as well as beautiful hand-drawn illustrations in these inspiring stories.
View Collection
Sea Creatures and Water as Life Source
A young otter learning to fish, singing clams hoping to return home in the sea, a blue whale in a little girl’s bedroom, and ancient turtles will capture children’s hearts and open their minds to the stories about water as life source, learning about rice farming in Bali, gathering wakame seaweed in Japan, and the impact of pollution on sea creatures everywhere.
View Collection
Transnational Water Themes and Anthologies
A River of Stories, Water Stories From Around the World, A Drop Around the World, Our World of Water, One Well–The Story of Water, All the Water in the World – these are just a few of the many titles that will take you to places and countries not just in Asia, but around the world. The stunning illustrations, photographs and stories in this transnational collection will, perhaps, most directly engage children in thinking about the challenges faced by children and families around us and what we can do to make a difference.
View Collection