Woods in the Books Blog — Elf Reads

In Finding Langston, protagonist Langston discovers the power of poetry in his neighbourhood library as he grapples with grief, homesickness, bullying, and loneliness against the backdrop of 1946 Chicago. In this deftly paced novel for ages 9 and up, Lesa Cline-Ransome weaves a story awash with historical detail and filled to the brim with African American cultural heritage. On moving from Alabama after the death of his mother, Langston finds himself struggling to adjust to a new home, school, and neighbours. It’s only when he discovers the library in Bronzeville that life changes, starting with a book written by a...

Even amongst the wealth of great biographies for younger readers today, the Little People, BIG DREAMS series stands out. The look of these hardcover volumes make them lovely gifts as well as a highly collectible introductory series to notable figures from around the world. This week, we look at the book that celebrates Muhammed Ali, legendary African American boxer and activist. One highlight of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series is that each book features a different illustrator. While the look of the series maintains continuity from book to book, each new illustrator brings new perspectives and the series as...

Looking for biographies with local flavour for younger readers? Check out the Prominent Singaporeans series, which highlights the lives of notable figures in Singapore’s history. Today, we peek into the pages of Prominent Singaporeans: Mister HDB, the story of Lim Kim San and the beginnings of the HDB flat. Covering Lim Kim San’s life from childhood, the narrative draws a parallel between Lim Kim San’s wartime experiences and his stance against the injustices suffered by the poor. When he gains the chance to head the Housing Development Board, it’s shown as a chance to provide for people who lived in...

A collection of poems for children written by award winning poet and author Felix Cheong and illustrated by Anngee Neo, Do You See What I See? melds words and illustration together in a wonderful celebration of local talent, spiced up with interactive elements. The poems run the gamut from rhyming word games to riddles that challenge kids to put on their thinking caps. The collection also introduces kids to simple social observations on queues, malls, and handphone use, filled with humour and local flavour. Bright and bursting with colour, every illustrated spread is filled with whimsy to match the poems....