‘Dim Sum Palace’ by X. Fang

Liddy’s love of dim sum spills over into her dreams … she is so excited about going to the Dim Sum Palace with her family tomorrow that she can’t sleep – ‘is it a real palace?’ she wonders. So when a delicious smell wafts into her room, she hops out of bed, opens her door and steps into … an actual palace of dim sum! There are dumplings, baos, buns and more delicious treats than one girl can possibly eat. Liddy just has to take a bite, but she slips and falls … into a bowl of dumpling filling, where she is scooped up, folded into a bun, and served to the gigantic Empress. ‘STOP! Don’t eat me!’ Liddy cries, so the Empress instead invites Liddy to join her in a meal. In the morning, Liddy awakens in her own bed, ‘hungry for more dim sum’.

‘The Duck Never Blinks’ by Alex Latimer

Destined to be a classic, the illustrations are beautifully simple, the words are simply hilarious and as the suspense builds, it’s like playing the best interactive party game. Can you make a duck blink? Probably not. But you can try, in this irreverent and hilarious staring contest between you and a duck that never, ever blinks. Do you see that duck over there? That duck doesn’t blink. Even if you look away then look back real quick. Even if you tell a really funny joke! It is simple, effective and sure to elicit glee.

 

 

‘The Truth About Dragons’ by Julie Leung

A parent spins a bedtime story that takes a biracial child on a cross-cultural journey. It is a beautiful adventure about embracing both sides of your heritage. ‘The Truth About Dragons’ is a delightfully imagined story that delves into the mysteries of dragon lore from both Eastern and Western perspectives, offering a rich tapestry of cultural storytelling. It is an unforgettable lyrical picture book that celebrates biracial identity … lean in close, my darling Bao Bei, and I will whisper a most precious secret about a powerful magic that lives inside you.

‘Brown is Beautiful’ by Supriya Kelkar

An empowering picture book about recognising the beauty around you and within you. On a hike with her grandparents, a young girl makes note of all the things in nature that are brown, too. From a nurturing mother bear, to the steadiness of deep twisting roots, to the beauty of a wild mustang, brown is everywhere! On her way, she collects the beautiful brown things she encounters as mementos for a scrapbook to share with a very special new addition to her family – a new baby brother! Brown is you. Brown is me … be proud of who you are.

‘If Tigers Disappeared’ by Lily Williams

What would happen if tigers disappeared completely? Join Lily Williams as she tracks the devastating reality of what our world might look like without tigers.

Deep in the Biligirirangana Hills in India, a fierce creature roams.

This landscape is home to animals that are:

• Slithery 
• Smart 
• Hidden 

And, of course, … LOUD like the roar of a tiger.

There are nine subspecies of tigers, but three are now extinct. They play a very important role in keeping nature in balance. But, due to expanding human populations, poaching, and more, they’re in danger. Come and find out more about this beautiful creature and the part it has to play in the ecosystem.

‘Boys Don’t Fry’ by Kimberly Lee

Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked – only Nyonyas, the girls.

It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!

As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!

This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, ‘Boys Don’t Fry’ is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions – both old and new.