It has been a busy fair for the Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency this year at the Bologna Book Fair with a few deals signed and more being negotiated.
Yusof Gajah sold German rights to his book, "Where is my red ball?" and Arabic digital rights for the same book, with more books from his "Creative Learning Series", already sold to Korea, to be added.
Yusof Gajah sold German rights to his book, "Where is my red ball?" and Arabic digital rights for the same book, with more books from his "Creative Learning Series", already sold to Korea, to be added.
Sonja Matheson from Baobab Books German rights for Jainal Amambing's "Magic Buffalo" were also sold to Baobab Books, based in Switzerland. Baobab is a specialist publisher that promotes cultural diversity in children's and youth literature.
CEO Badr Ward of Dubai-based digital publisher, Lamsa Kids World, was thrilled with the creative and bright colours of Yusof Gajah's illustrations.
"We provide interactive digital books for children and you can really do so many fun and creative things with Yusof Gajah's books," he said.
He was pleased to add two books by Emila Yusof, "My Mother's Garden" and "My Mother's Kitchen" to the Lamsa platform which currently reaches more than 200,000 children in the Arab world.
"While the little girl character, Dina, is not Arabic, we also want to expose our children to other cultures. And with our technology, we can make the books interactive to give a fun learning experience for children," he added referring to the learning environment that the Dina series provides.
The two Dina books, in a bigger format with richer content and in the Malay language were displayed at the Bologna Book Fair by Karangkraf, a leading publisher in Malaysia.
CEO Badr Ward of Dubai-based digital publisher, Lamsa Kids World, was thrilled with the creative and bright colours of Yusof Gajah's illustrations.
"We provide interactive digital books for children and you can really do so many fun and creative things with Yusof Gajah's books," he said.
He was pleased to add two books by Emila Yusof, "My Mother's Garden" and "My Mother's Kitchen" to the Lamsa platform which currently reaches more than 200,000 children in the Arab world.
"While the little girl character, Dina, is not Arabic, we also want to expose our children to other cultures. And with our technology, we can make the books interactive to give a fun learning experience for children," he added referring to the learning environment that the Dina series provides.
The two Dina books, in a bigger format with richer content and in the Malay language were displayed at the Bologna Book Fair by Karangkraf, a leading publisher in Malaysia.
On Wednesday, Yusof Gajah was busy at the China Children's Press and Publication Group (CCPPG) stand in Hall 26 where he was one of the illustrators feted at their launch, 'Let's Tell Stories Together' - a Fruitful Collaboration on Children's Literature between China and the Rest of the World.
 Chinese launch of a co-operative programme with international writers and illustrators. |  Yusof Gajah with writers and illustrators at the China Children's Press & Publication Stand |  IBBY President Ahmad Redza with Brazilian Roger Mello, this year's winner of the Hans Christian Andersen award. |
Yusof illustrated the book, "How to Teach an Elephant to Jump" written by award-winning Chinese author, Xiao Mao.
"I hope our publishers will establish long term cooperative ties with partners overseas so that more Chinese children's literature as well as picture books can reach international readers on a regular basis," says Li Xueqian, President of the group in a news release.
China's Xinhua.net quoted Ahmad Redza Khairuddin, president of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), that China is at the forefront of the children's book market for its "proactive way of approaching literature."
A Malaysian, IBBY President Ahmad Redza is noted for his commitment to diversity in children's literature both at home and abroad.
"I hope our publishers will establish long term cooperative ties with partners overseas so that more Chinese children's literature as well as picture books can reach international readers on a regular basis," says Li Xueqian, President of the group in a news release.
China's Xinhua.net quoted Ahmad Redza Khairuddin, president of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), that China is at the forefront of the children's book market for its "proactive way of approaching literature."
A Malaysian, IBBY President Ahmad Redza is noted for his commitment to diversity in children's literature both at home and abroad.
L to R: Chris Cheng, Jean Liu, Angela Cerrito, Sayed Munawar, Fred Minn and Hafiz of KotaBuku
The Perbadanan Kota Buku (PKB) or the Malaysian Book City Corporation held a forum on Wednesday with the topic: 'Celebrating Diversity in Children's Literature' with speakers Sayed Munawar, CEO of PKB; Fred Minn, Director of Nami Concours, Korea; Jean Liu, CEO ofMoker, Taiwan and China; Angela Cerrito, International Asst Advisor, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI); and Chris Cheng, Board Member of the Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC),Singapore.
Fred Minn gave a comprehensive overview of Nami Island, the story book island which was impressive both in scope and vision. Nami Island is known for their international co-operations with regular country-focused festivals on the island itself.
Angela Cerrito said that SCBWI now covers more than 70 regions worldwide with more than 22,000 members, making it the largest children's book writers and illustrators organisation in the world today. A physical therapist herself, Angela commented on the importance of having diversity and inclusiveness in children's literature to encourage understanding and acceptance.
Chris Cheng gave a concise outline of what happens at the annual Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore and highlighted the new Rights Exchange programme at this year's festival which will be held from 29 May to 4 June. Chris is also on the International Advisory Board of SCBWI, a strong supporter of AFCC.
Fred Minn gave a comprehensive overview of Nami Island, the story book island which was impressive both in scope and vision. Nami Island is known for their international co-operations with regular country-focused festivals on the island itself.
Angela Cerrito said that SCBWI now covers more than 70 regions worldwide with more than 22,000 members, making it the largest children's book writers and illustrators organisation in the world today. A physical therapist herself, Angela commented on the importance of having diversity and inclusiveness in children's literature to encourage understanding and acceptance.
Chris Cheng gave a concise outline of what happens at the annual Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore and highlighted the new Rights Exchange programme at this year's festival which will be held from 29 May to 4 June. Chris is also on the International Advisory Board of SCBWI, a strong supporter of AFCC.
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In her presentation, Jean Liu demonstrated the animated books Moker had done for several books represented by the YGL Agency including "My Mother's Garden" by Emila Yusof, "Puteri Toman" by Rossiti Aishah Rashidi with illustrations by Farrah Ashiela Samsuri; and "The Proud Butterfly" by Jainal Amambing.
"It was amazing to see the books come to life," said Linda Tan Lingard, director of the Agency who has signed several books deal with Moker since 2012 and added a few more at Bologna.
Among the new additions was a ten-book series of Sang Kancil, the eponymous mouse deer in Malaysian folktales illustrated by Jaafar Taib, a prominent Malaysian artist of wild birds and who had made his name as founder and creator of several long running comic magazines. The Sang Kancil books will be published by Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia or the Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books.
"It was amazing to see the books come to life," said Linda Tan Lingard, director of the Agency who has signed several books deal with Moker since 2012 and added a few more at Bologna.
Among the new additions was a ten-book series of Sang Kancil, the eponymous mouse deer in Malaysian folktales illustrated by Jaafar Taib, a prominent Malaysian artist of wild birds and who had made his name as founder and creator of several long running comic magazines. The Sang Kancil books will be published by Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia or the Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books.
Mock ups of Sang Kancil books by Jaafar Taib
"It's just wonderful to meet people from different parts of the world who are passionate about children's literature; we can learn so much from each other," said Linda.
At the Bologna book fair, Linda followed up on some discussions that were started at the New Delhi World Book Fair in February this year and new announcements will be made soon.
At the Bologna book fair, Linda followed up on some discussions that were started at the New Delhi World Book Fair in February this year and new announcements will be made soon.
Malaysian and German publishers meet at the German collective stand
The Frankfurt Book Fair organised a Malaysian-German publisher get together at the German collective stand on Monday. Within one hour, each party was introduced to more than six publishers from the other side.
"It was good to meet and talk with some German publishers and I thought the DIY mechanical kits for children by a publisher was particularly interesting. I like to meet many different people and get to know what is outstanding about their books or products and keep a sort of storehouse of information that can be accessed later," said Linda.
"It was good to meet and talk with some German publishers and I thought the DIY mechanical kits for children by a publisher was particularly interesting. I like to meet many different people and get to know what is outstanding about their books or products and keep a sort of storehouse of information that can be accessed later," said Linda.
At the Malaysian country stand led by the Book City Corporation, Norhayati Razali, Manager in charge of Book Industry Development and Ishak Hamzah, vice-president of the Malaysian Book Publishers Association were seen inviting people to the coming Kuala Lumpur Trade & Copyright fair which will be held from 22-24 April while a Publishing & Rights Conference will be held on 21 April. The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair will be held from 24 April - 4th May and is an exciting fair that attracts more than 1.5million visitors every year.
The YGL agency will be taking a stand at the KL Fair. "We have a number of new books and the KL Trade & Copyright fair is ideal for us to introduce those books. Typically, the fair is good to meet publishers from around the region," said Linda.
"In addition, we're keen to introduce some foreign titles that we have identified at the Bologna book fair," she said. This included the Borre series of readers from Netherlands which now total more than 200 titles and foreign rights have been sold to Korea and China.
The YGL agency will be taking a stand at the KL Fair. "We have a number of new books and the KL Trade & Copyright fair is ideal for us to introduce those books. Typically, the fair is good to meet publishers from around the region," said Linda.
"In addition, we're keen to introduce some foreign titles that we have identified at the Bologna book fair," she said. This included the Borre series of readers from Netherlands which now total more than 200 titles and foreign rights have been sold to Korea and China.
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