A Real Honest-to-Goodness Book from Another Country

Over at Fuse#8, yesterday's review of the day was for a graphic novel called Kampung Boy by Lat, published by First Second Books.

Fuse#8 points out that despite our country's efforts to promote multicultural issues, images, and books to children, most of the materials we have are published here in the US or Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. Where, she asks, are the books actually written by people from all the other countries that we are so proud to represent?

"I’ve put a fair amount of energy into trying to read every little tiny children’s book from another continent, no matter how small. Lately, however, I’ve been falling down on the job. I don’t know if it’s ennui or the fact that I’ve been reading a lot of books solely from the U.S. lately, but when “Kampung Boy” flew out of left field and ker-whalloped me upside the head, I never saw it coming. Sweet child of mine, this isn’t just a graphic novel (with far more emphasis on the “novel” part than usual). It’s a graphic novel originally set and published in Malaysia. And the year it was originally published in Malaysia? 1979. Now the book, all thanks to First Second Books, has come here to the U.S. o’ A. and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s practice a little of what we preach, okay? You believe in multiculturalism? Then give this book to a kid right now."

Tags: graphic+novels malaysia