Childhood memories are bound to be stirred for many by Our Folktales – The All-Time Favourite Folktales of Asia , a book launched last month by the Singapore Book Council and independent publisher World Scientific Publishing. Editor Ruth Wan-Lau says the collection, which comprises stories from eight countries – China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore – aims to share Asian folk tales with the rest of the world. “This book illustrates the diversity and wonder of Asia through stories that have been passed down through generations,” says Wan-Lau from Singapore. “So many popular children’s books tend to be from the West, so it’s nice to be pulling from what’s around us.” Featured in the publication is “The Zodiac Story” from China. Most of us know our Chinese zodiac sign , and what animal is celebrated come Lunar New Year, but many may not be familiar with the legend behind it. “The Zodiac Story” will fill in the details for readers, and more. While a magical thread runs through the words and illustrations, themes such as cultural identity and family are strong. There are other important messages, too, says Wan-Lau, such as female empowerment. “In ‘Princess Kemang’, a folk tale from Bengkulu, Indonesia, the main character is a strong woman who loves to hunt, outsmarts a crocodile and saves the man,” she says. Some tales have strong artistic ties. In “A Camel for Kelam”, the illustrations are rendered in the phad style, a type of folk painting practised in the Indian state of Rajasthan, a tradition that is sadly dying out, laments Wan-Lau. Created on long pieces of cloth or walls, the paintings – phad means “to unravel” – depict the story of the local hero-gods.