Hong Kong's urban jungle may seem an unlikely setting for fairy tales, but for one picture-book author it's an ideal backdrop against which to encourage children to read. Foon Foon the Owl's Umbrella, by Alex Ho Tat-hing, a lecturer in multimedia design at Polytechnic University, tells the story of an owl stuck at a bus stop by a heavy downpour who generously shares her brolly with other animals taking shelter from the rain. 'It's a fairy tale with a Hong Kong setting,' Ho says.
Ho, who has a two-year-old son, aims to appeal to toddlers by incorporating lively illustrations with his simple tale about creatures based on typical neighbourhood characters. For instance, there's a harried executive dog, a grumpy old cat who complains loudly on his mobile phone and a fashionable young elephant engrossed in his new hairstyle.
Foon Foon is among nine bilingual picture books published last month by Enlighten & Fish. Written for local children, each book in its Story Kingdom series holds a moral lesson. Such picture books are scarce in Hong Kong; Chinese-language titles sold in the city are mainly imports from Taiwan and translations of franchised works such as those from Disney. That's why Enlighten & Fish editor Xaddy Lam Hing-yee sees a need for original works by local writers and illustrators.
'They understand the local environment better and can create stories that children relate to,' Lam says. 'They also have a better idea of the challenges local kids face and how they react, for instance, when faced with difficulties.'
Kam Pui Enterprises, a Popular Book Co subsidiary that publishes mostly translated works, has also started publishing books by local writers. 'It's important to nurture local writers and illustrators,' says its business and publishing director, Irene Ng Seen-ha. 'The market might be relatively small now, but if we don't groom potential authors and illustrators, the market will never grow.'
Like many Hongkongers, Ho grew up with text-heavy storybooks. But the lecturer became intrigued by children's picture books after meeting his Japanese wife. 'Her mother used to tell her stories using picture books and many schools in Japan have impressive picture-book libraries,' he says. 'I wanted to find out why Japanese kids are so absorbed by these books.'
