The AFCC is here again! The Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2024 takes place at the Singapore National Library Building from 23-26 May 2024.
I love this year’s key visual – isn’t it gorgeous and such an apt reflection of the curiosity and imagination of an Asian Child?
Filipina illustrator Beth Parrocha shared via video on how this image was inspired by the sea surrounding more than 700 islands which make up the Philippines. The girl with her monkey and turtle are off on an adventure – wearing earrings, a belt and a skirt which all have Filipino traditional design woven in.
Her telescope is such an apt symbol of curiosity, and the details of a rattan basket with a plant sprouting out of it, as well as the bright blue bird seemingly trilling out a song, paint a vibrant picture of childhood energy and innocence.
Here’s the star-studded cast of authors and illustrators from around the world. I was given the amazing chance to launch my three books at AFCC last year, and it was a blast! We even had a hedgehog origami craft session after the short reading and introduction.
Every year, the AFCC has another sister Asian country of focus, even though the event is held in Singapore. It was Vietnam last year, and this year it is the Philippines! The National Book Development Board is leading a contigent of 40 to grace the AFCC and we hope to be truly warm hosts to them.
There are free public programmes for kids – including an Open Mic where children aged 12 and below can read out their self-spun stories to the world. There’s a parent-child birth story workshop where parents can bond with their kids through sharing how they were birthed! And if you have a teddy bear, you can participate in the “4 a.m. Raspberry Party with Teddy” (where I presume 4 a.m. is figurative).
Singapore Book Council’s Executive Director William Phuan did an excellent job in presenting all the highlights of AFCC 2024 – his energy and warmth was indeed infectious.
There will also be a public book fair as usual at the Open Plaza of the NLB. Not passes or tickets are necessary, so do make it a point to at least drop by to pick up some good quality books!
At the preview, the Singapore Book Council (official organisers of the AFCC) got all the guests (authors, illustrators, bookstagrammers, publishers and more) to fill up a short quiz. Depending on your final score, you’d get a customised treat box! That was such a fun surprise.
So if you’re interested in this whole wonderful world of publishing books for children, get your pass to the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2024 now!
I am certainly looking forward to dropping by in May! Hope to see you there too.
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