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Asian Festival of Children’s Content
23–26 May 2024

Speakers

Go to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U V W X Y Z

Full lineup of speakers will be updated here in the coming weeks.

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Adib Kosnan

Adib Kosnan (Singapore)

Adib Kosnan is an actor, writer, director and educator who is passionate about creating platforms for communication and care through theatre. He was named Best Supporting Actor at the Life Theatre Awards in 2020. He co-directed Tanah*Air by Drama Box (2019) and wrote and directed the children’s play, The Story of Batu Bulat (2023) for the Esplanade. In 2021, he wrote and acted in Keluarga Besar En.Karim which was staged digitally by Checkpoint Theatre and the Esplanade. Adib was a co-lead artist for Both Sides Now: Mengukir Harapan (2020 - 2022), a community engagement project focusing on end-of-life issues in the Malay Muslim community. Adib is an NAC scholar and Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre.  

Adriena Fong

Adriena Fong (Singapore)

Adriena is an illustrator and author born and raised in Singapore. In 2020, she graduated with a BA in Illustration at Falmouth University in the UK. She loves working with gouache and colour pencils as well as textured brushes on Photoshop and Procreate. With a keen interest in all things fantastical and folkloric, her work hopes to instil a sense of warmth and wonder. Her debut book, 'Ning and the Night Spirits' was published by Flying Eye Books in 2023 and was recently longlisted for this year's Klaus Flugge Prize.

Aklat Alamid

Aklat Alamid (Philippines)

Aklat Alamid is an independent publishing house of children’s and young adult books written in the various languages of the Philippines. It partners with individuals, government agencies, organizations, and private institutions in conducting seminars, workshops, storytelling sessions, book-giving events, contests, book fairs, and other activities that promote children’s literature in the different regions of the Philippines. 

Represented by China Pearl, Patria De Vera and John Romeo Venturero

Aldy Aguirre

Aldy Aguirre (Philippines)

Aldy C. Aguirre, an artist and illustrator in Quezon City, Philippines, has contributed to children’s books for various publishers and independent writers. His work has been honoured by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) and the National Book Development Board, as well as internationally by ILUSTRARTE in Castelo Branco, among others. Aldy’s illustrations for Papuntang Community Pantry were finalists in the 2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators competition.

Alexander Chua

Alexander Chua (Singapore)

Alexander Chua is the co-owner of Book Bar, an independent bookshop with a focus on Singaporean and Asian literature. He has been in the bookselling and publishing industry for six years, first managing the Epigram Bookshop before opening Book Bar in July 2023. 

Amanah Mustafi

Amanah Mustafi (Singapore)

Amanah Mustafi, seorang penulis skrip TV sejak 1982, telah memenangi Anugerah Persuratan untuk skrip TV, cerpen dan buku kanak-kanak. Di Pesta Perdana, beliau memenangi Anugerah Skrip Drama Terbaik dan Drama Khas Terbaik. Lirik lagu tulisannya yang berjudul "Titik Merah" memenangi pertandingan Liirik Baiik anjuran BH/BM. Skrip beliau yang berjudul "Gerimis Di Hati" dan "Terbelenggu" dipilih untuk dimasukkan ke dalam antologi MOE. Beliau juga merupakan mentor untuk Program Penulisan Mastera Bogor (2010) dan mewakili Singapura untuk Program Penulisan Antarabangsa Iowa (2016). Amanah juga pernah diundang sebagai ahli panelis untuk program-program SWF pada tahun 2017, 2018, dan 2021.

Amanah, a TV scriptwriter since 1982, has won Anugerah Persuratan awards for TV scripts, a short story, and a children's book. At Pesta Perdana, she won Best Drama Script and Best Special Drama. Her song "Titik Merah" won the Liriik Baiik competition. Her scripts "Gerimis Di Hati" and "Terbelenggu" were chosen for MOE anthologies. She mentored in Bogor's Mastera Writing Program and represented in Iowa's International Writing Program. She also served on SWF panels in 2017, 2018, and 2021.

Amanda Ruiqing Flynn

Amanda Ruiqing Flynn (Singapore)

Amanda Ruiqing Flynn is a visual artist, writer, literary translator and educator who has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Singapore. She holds a BA in Chinese and Development Studies from SOAS, University of London and an MFA in Art and Design from National Donghwa University, Taiwan. Her art has been exhibited and collected internationally, and her writing has appeared in Alluvium, PEAKThis Is Southeast Asia and Sploosh. She was a winner of Singapore’s Writing the City Competition 2022 and a judge of the 8th Bai Meigui Translation Competition. On most days, she is chief storyteller to her son.

Amelia Jaishree

Amelia Jaishree (Singapore)

For 16 years, Amelia has mentored education professionals specialising in language and literacy. As a lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, she teaches children’s literature, language/literacy, and techniques for preschool education. Amelia conducts Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Education & Training (CET) programs, and workshops for parents.

Ames Chen

Ames Chen (Singapore)

Ames is a Humanities teacher by training, but has since converted to freelance training since she became a mother. This journey ignited her love for storytelling, and she is now learning to share the stories of others. She has specifically chosen to pen books for children as she firmly believes in the potential of the next generation to affect change.

Her first children's picture book series - The Invisible People is well-loved in many Singaporean homes. It highlights occupations we often neglect in our midst, from the cleaner of the food center to our neighbourhood bus driver. She started writing these with the intent to ignite kindness to those 'invisible' to us, starting with the smile of a grateful child.

Andrea Pasion-Flores

Andrea Pasion-Flores (Philippines)

Andrea Pasion-Flores is the publisher at Milflores Publishing, Inc. Before that, she was the general manager of a large trade publisher. She worked as a literary agent for a Singapore-based literary agency. She’s a copyright lawyer with a special interest in publishing.

Andrea Wang

Andrea Wang (USA)

Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children’s books. Her picture book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, among other accolades. Her other books, Summer at Squee, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Luli and the Language of Tea, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and starred reviews. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She lives in Colorado with her family. For more information about Andrea and her books, please visit www.andreaywang.com.

Anittha Thanabalan

Anittha Thanabalan (Singapore)

Anittha’s debut novel, The Lights That Find Us, was published in 2018. Her latest novel, It Had to Be Her is the first of a YA trilogy and was published in April 2024. Her short stories have appeared in Mahogany Journal, the fifth volume of Best New Singaporean Short Stories, and How We Live Now. When she isn’t working or writing, she can be found either walking her poodle, Dino, or attempting unnecessarily difficult jigsaw puzzles. Anittha is currently working on the sequel to It Had to Be Her.

Atiqah Halim

Atiqah Halim (Singapore)

Atiqah Halim has over 14 years of experience in People, Leadership and Organisational Development. Currently working in a non-profit, she leads a team that looks at ways to inspire and future proof our Malay/Muslim youth and workforce.

As blogger and writer in her free time, she shares her and her family’s love for travelling on Instagram @Familytrippers. Rubiah from Semarang is her first children’s book series.

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Baek Heena

Baek Heena (South Korea)

Heena Baek identifies herself as a storyteller rather than strictly an illustrator or author. Her passion lies in captivating audiences through the collaboration of pictures and text, utilizing various mediums. This passion is rooted in her studies in Educational Technology and Animated Films, which fuel her interest in the world of children.

Heena incorporates filmmaking techniques into her picture books, creating a refuge from the harshness of the real world. The primary motivation behind her creations is personal happiness, both as a picture book maker and reader. Her ultimate goal is to bring joy, particularly to children and those facing challenges, considering it the most honorable aspect of her creative journey.

Bea Mandapat

Bea Mandapat (Philippines)

Bea Mandapat is a writer, teacher, and literacy advocate born in Baguio City, Philippines. Her work, Etag, and Other Preserved Things won first in the 2020 Mama Sita’s Heritage Food Story competition. Her book entitled Goodfire was given honourable mention by the PBBY-Salanga Prize. She is the founder of Liv Language, a literature-based programme that helps kids grow in their reading, writing, listening, and speaking. She was part of the 2023 cohort of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation Springboard Elevate Programme for young social entrepreneurs with a focus on SDG 4: Quality Education.

Bernice Low

Bernice Low (Malaysia)

After watching Schindler’s List at a cinema in the UK, Bernice decided that she preferred seeing her name in lights to seeing it at the bottom of law reports. After returning to Malaysia with a law degree from Nottingham University, she moonlighted writing for television whilst taking her Malaysian Bar exams. Her career began with Malaysia’s best known English language sitcom, KOPITIAM, in 1999. This was followed by the inevitable period of creative wildness where Bernice did everything from tech reporting to corporate ghostwriting, whilst honing her writing skills through several screenplays as well as a Professional Program in Screenwriting course with the UCLA. After a segue into the dark side as a Development Executive with Ideate Media where her claim to fame was rewriting a pitch deck for Scott Free Films and offending the executives at A+E Networks with comedy pitch about expats, Bernice returned to her screenwriting roots as Head Writer for Season 2 of the Mediacorp blockbuster series, LION MOMS. After Lion Moms, Bernice worked as head writer on the first Malaysian Korean series remake, BLACK for Viu TV.  Her most recent projects include THAT COVER GIRL for Amazon Prime, IMAM, PI for Astro Shaw, and Malaysia’s second highest grossing feature film, POLIS EVO 3.

Beth Parrocha

Beth Parrocha (Philippines)

Beth Parrocha is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, majoring in Visual Communication. A graphic designer and children’s book illustrator, her works have been awarded and recognised locally by the Manila Critic’s Circle National Book Awards, Gintong Aklat Awards and by the National Children’s Book Awards (2018); internationally by the Noma Concour, Yahoo Asia, grand prize and second place for the (2016) AFCC Samsung KidsTime Awards, and the grand prize at the first AFCC Asian Children’s Book Award, Singapore (2017).

She has illustrated more than 50 children’s books. Beth is the featured illustrator of this year's Key Visual. Know more about the key visual here.

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Camille Faylona

Camille Faylona (Philippines/Hong Kong)

Camille loves stories and she tells them for a living. A 10-year veteran of broadcast production, she has helmed over 20 hours of award-winning original factual content. Today, she uses her passion for storytelling to fuel Campfire Crates, a multicultural content company that creates quality Filipino activity books.

Her range of books include My Big Book of Filipino Food, My A-Z Filipino Activity Book, My Filipino Story, My Filipino Christmas, and My Visit to the Philippines. Through her work, she hopes to connect Filipino kids growing up overseas with the language, customs, and values of the Philippines. All her books are available on Amazon.com.

Carlo Ebeo

Carlo Ebeo (Philippines)

Carlo Ebeo is a cultural worker with a growing resumé of domestic and international engagements in research, production, education, and festival organising.  An advocate in public cultural policy in local and national government, he has devoted his life to advance issues and ideologies in the arts, culture, tourism and governance, working intensively on cultural education through peace-building initiatives, poverty reduction, social artistry and other related social infrastructures with various international organisations.

Charisse Aquino-Tugade

Charisse Aquino-Tugade (Philippines)

Charisse Aquino-Tugade is the Executive Director of the National Book Development Board (NBDB). She is a cultural worker, primary mover for CulturAid, founder of The Manila Collectible Co., and founding Director of Museo ng Muntinlupa. As the NBDB Executive Director, she is working on the National Book Database to standardize publishing industry metadata and bibliographic information of Filipino-authored publications. She also envisioned and spearheaded The Book Nook, which are storytelling and reading communities that provide Pinoy books for kids and kids-at-heart from Ifugao to Tawi-Tawi. Charisse has a B.A. in Anthropology and Marketing from San Francisco State University and is pursuing her graduate studies in Museum Studies at Harvard.

Cheeno Marlo Sayuno

Cheeno Marlo Sayuno (Philippines)

Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno is an Associate Professor of Communication, Research, and Children’s Literature from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños. He has received recognition from the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People’s Salanga Prize, and the Normal Awards for Gender-Inclusive Literature by Philippine Normal University for his stories for children. He has published storybooks with Adarna House, Lampara Books, Anvil Publishing, Chikiting Books, and Save the Children Philippines, as well as various textbooks, research articles, and book chapters in children’s literature, media, and culture. 

Cheng Wan-Ni

郑婉妮 (Cheng Wan-Ni ) (Singapore/Taiwan)

郑婉妮博士多年来深度参与幼儿园实践、幼儿教育政策发展与幼儿教育师资培育,并专精于学前 领域重要议题如:幼儿园课程与教学、儿童发展理论、幼儿园经营与管理、儿童福利等,是集理 论与实务一身之专家。目前郑博士担任新加坡华文教研中心的学前部门主任。 身为曾获得文学奖项之业余作家,郑博士近年来更将写作触角延伸至儿童文学领域,以新加坡文化认同的深广角度及元素创作了多本绘本。

Dr Cheng Wan-Ni, a distinguished early childhood educationist and dean at the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL), brings decades of expertise to practice, policy, and teacher training. She is an award-winning writer specialising in early childhood curriculum, child development, preschool management, and child welfare. Recently venturing into children’s picture books, Dr Cheng skillfully integrates elements of Singaporean culture, enriching young minds with engaging narratives.

Chen Shuai

陈帅 (Chen Shuai) (Singapore)

陈帅,一个喜欢写故事的人。之前的14年,出版过十几本书,得过十几个奖。现在想清空再出发,期待再次遇见那个刚开始写故事的自己。

Chen Shuai, loves writing stories. Over the past 14 years, published over a dozen books and won over a dozen awards. Now, I want to start fresh and am looking forward to meeting that self who just started writing stories again.

Chen Ziyue

Chen Ziyue (Singapore)

Ziyue, also known as Angeline Chen, is a Singapore based Illustrator and graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design in the U.S. She has illustrated several picture books for US publishers and her latest book is Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle, published by Roaring Brook Press, NYC. Dabbling in art was her form of escape from the struggles and confusion of growing up deaf. This led her to discover the beauty of how the art communicates with the viewer. Her life goal has been to have an emotional connection with those who view her work. www.ziyuechen.com

Chong Lingying

Chong Lingying (Singapore)

Chong Lingying is a Jack of all trades with experience in writing, translating, editing, publishing, and selling content in print and digital formats. She is a co-founder of COMIX.SG, the online home for Singaporean comics.

Chua Chia Hui (Singapore)

Chua Chia Hui has versatile professional experience across different roles in the educational sector, including managing school operations, providing customer service and being a music educator -- teaching guitar as well as music and movement classes.
An avid musician, she is passionate about music education and music-making. She is interested in exploring ways of teaching music and making music accessible.

  • TBC
Chun-Liang Yeh

叶俊良 (Chun-Liang Yeh) (Taiwan/France)

Chun-Liang Yeh grew up in Taiwan and founded the publishing house HongFei Cultures with Loïc Jacob in France in 2007. HongFei publishes about 10 new titles per year, most of which are picture books for children on three major themes : travelling, curiosity and relationships. “La Ballade de Mulan” with its outstanding illustration won the Chen Bochui Award in Shanghai in 2015. Chun-Liang Yeh, having been working with European partners for many years, is at ease in guiding creators so as to deliver picture books, including those with Asian cultural contents, that can be understood and appreciated by French readers.

叶俊良来自台湾,2007 年与黎雅格 Loïc Jacob 在法国创办鸿飞文化出版社。鸿飞每年出版约 10 种新书,大部分是以旅行、对未知的好奇和人我关系为主轴的儿童图画故事书,其中《花木兰》以其出色的插图获得2015 年上海陈伯吹国际儿童文学奖。叶俊良长期与欧洲伙伴合作,善于和创作者展开对话,提供法国读者能够理解和欣赏的图画书,包括具有亚洲文化内容的作品。

Chu Wan Xin

朱婉歆 (Chu Wan Xin) (Singapore)

婉歆,国家图书馆的图书馆员,为8至12岁儿童采购华文书籍。经常与图书馆义工合作,设计有趣的儿童读书会配套,以培养孩子对华文阅读的热爱。

Wan Xin, a librarian with NLB, selects Chinese books for children aged 8-12. She also works with library volunteers to curate fun reading club packages aimed at nurturing children’s love for reading in Chinese.

Claire Betita De Guzman

Claire Betita De Guzman (Philippines/Singapore)

Claire Betita de Guzman is a Filipina writer based in Singapore and is author of five novels. A former journalist, she started as a lifestyle reporter for the broadsheet Today before becoming an editor for international and local magazines including Preview, Cosmopolitan Philippines, and Harper’s Bazaar Singapore. She works closely with the Migrant Writers of Singapore and has led talks, workshops, and panels at literary events, including the Singapore Writers Festival and Poetry Festival Singapore.

Claire Low

Claire Low (Singapore)

Claire is the Design Lead at local comics publisher Difference Engine SG and a freelance illustrator. Known for her fantasy-inspired works under the Instagram handle @comatomato, Claire Low is a creative with an interest in telling stories. Her works range from illustrations and comics to graphic design and scriptwriting.

Colin Goh

Colin Goh (Singapore)

COLIN GOH, co-creator of Dim Sum Warriors, a children’s comic series, saw it evolve into a musical in China, licensed by Scholastic, now integral to a patented bilingual language learning system. He began drawing comic strips at 17 and is also a lawyer in three jurisdictions, creator of TalkingCock.com, writer/director of "Singapore Dreaming," and cartoonist of two New York Times bestsellers.

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Danielle Florendo

Danielle Florendo (Philippines)

Danielle “Dani” Florendo is a Baguio-based exhibiting visual artist and illustrator who specialises in children’s book illustrations. Dani currently holds 12 published titles from notable authors from prominent publishers such as Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing, OMFLIT Hiyas, Lampara  and the University of the Philippines Baguio under Corditext Project. She has received multiple recognitions as an illustrator including the 2023 International White Ravens Catalogue and the Catholic Mass Media Awards Finalist for The Perfect Tree written by Glory Moralidad, Children's Choice for Doc Luis Gatmaitan's Palanca awardee story Maselan Ang  Tanong ng Batang si Usman (2020) and more.

 

 

Daniel Lorenzo Mariano

Daniel Lorenzo Mariano (Philippines)

Daniel works as a Project Development Officer III and OIC Division Chief at the Readership Development Division of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), spearheading flagship reading engagement projects such as the Book Nook Project and the Read for Empowerment and Advancement (READ) Campaign. He revels in writing Filipino creative nonfiction and conducting research in literary criticisms and language studies, particularly in orthography development.

Dante Francis M. Ang II

Dante Francis M. Ang II (Philippines)

Dante Francis M. Ang II heads The Manila Times, one of the most highly respected national daily newspapers in the Philippines. The Times is a multi-awarded newspaper and is the oldest in the country, having been founded in October 1898. Under Dante’s leadership, The Times has won numerous awards and citations,  including the “Newspaper of the Year” award for 2016, given by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) at a ceremony in Malacañang Palace featuring former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Besides journalism, Dante’s interests include education and managerial economics. He has a worldly outlook, having lived in three countries and traveled to more than a dozen others in North America, Europe and Asia. Lastly, he lives a well-rounded lifestyle, balancing hard work with hard play, corporate work and civic duties.

David Liew

David Liew (Singapore)

David Liew, an illustrator of children’s books, also crafts miniature worlds. Formerly a junior college teacher, he transitioned to professional illustration. His works include series like "Ellie Belly," "The Plano Adventures," and "Change Makers." Liew instructs Picture Book illustration at the National Institute of Early Childhood Education and teaches art at Republic Polytechnic. He serves as Regional Advisor for the Singapore Chapter of the Society of Children’s Books and Illustrators.

Denon Lim Denan

林得楠 (Denon Lim Denan) (Singapore)

出生于新加坡,年少便与华文创作、出版和文学紧密相连。1994年离开工作了10年的《联合早报》后,他与太太携手开创出版事业。现为玲子传媒出版社社长兼兼总编辑。作为出版人,林得楠30年来见证了新加坡华文出版的发展与变迁,并参与了数以千计的出版项目,近年积极推动新加坡童书的发展,协助一些本地绘本作家出版与推广作品,包括虎威、小邝、余广达、林文佩等,林得楠近年也积极将新加坡童书带入线上阅读与电子书领域,包括建设狮城阅读网。林得楠也是一名得奖诗人,已出版多部诗集。他本身也参与儿童文学创作,是多部儿童绘本的撰稿人。

Denon Lim Denan  has been deeply involved with Chinese literature, publishing, and writing since his youth. In 1994, he and his wife started their own publishing business. He is currently the President and Chief Editor at Lingzi Media. Over the past 30 years, Lim has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of Chinese publishing in Singapore, involving thousands of projects with authors such as Hu Wei, Ace Khong, Patrick Yee, and Lin Wenpei. Recently, he has been active in bringing Singaporean children's books into the digital and online reading arena, including developing the platform chinesebooks.sg. Lim is also an award-winning poet with several publications and participates in children's literature as a writer of multiple children's picture books.

Diana Elizabeth

Diana Elizabeth (Singapore)

Diana, a dedicated early childhood specialist, passionately nurtures young minds. Recognising storytelling’s pivotal role in education, she curates rich narratives to ignite imaginations and instil vital values. As a Senior Curriculum Specialist, she advocates for prioritising early childhood development in educational policies and practices.

Dimity Powell

Dimity Powell (Australia)

Dimity Powell, an award-winning children's author, immerses every spare moment in words. As the Managing Editor for Kids' Book Review, she exclusively writes and reviews for children. With over 30 published stories, including Pippa and The Troublesome Twins (2023), award-winning At the End of Holyrood Lane (2018), and critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man (2017), Dimity embraces the transformative power of reading and storytelling. Explore her work at www.dimitypowell.com

Dominador Buhain

Dominador Buhain (Philippines)

Atty. Dominador Buhain graduated Bachelor of Laws at Far Estern University in the late 1970s. He is the Chairman and President of Rex Bookstore, Inc. He is also part of numerous associations, such as the ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA) currently as Vice President; and the Philippine Educational Publishers Association as President Emeritus.

Dominic Agsaway

Dominic Agsaway (Philippines)

Dominic "Domz" Agsaway is a whimsically innovative children’s book illustrator from the Philippines who is behind the webtoon, Nibblings. Domz has won the  PBBY-Alcala Grand Prize (2013) and is a recipient of the National Children’s Book Award-Best Reads Citation for his illustrations in the book, Ngumiti Si Andoy. His debut picture book, Boy Kendeng (Dancing Boy), is his love letter to individuals who are very passionate about their interests and are trying to get to know themselves better. Find out more about Domz on IG: @domzagsaway.

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Elaine Lee

Elaine Lee (Singapore)

As an educator, Elaine champions imagination, play, and storytelling. With over a decade of mentoring experience across age groups, she focuses on early literacy initiatives. At the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, she lectures on children’s literature, social-emotional learning, and language/literacy. Elaine is currently serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Social and Family Development for Family Values Education projects targeted at preschools.

Emila Yusof

Emila Yusof (Malaysia)

Emila Yusof, born in 1969, is a visual artist, illustrator, and author. Her creative journey started as a broadcast and DTP graphic artist from 1996 to 2007. Since 2007, she has passionately embraced roles as a picture book illustrator and fine artist, showcasing creativity through traditional and digital artwork. She has crafted over 60 picture books to date, earning numerous awards locally and internationally.

Emily Lim-Leh

Emily Lim-Leh (Singapore)

Emily Lim-Leh is an award-winning author of over 40 children’s books. She was named Mediacorp’s Singapore Woman Award Honoree for inspiring readers and is a recipient of the Public Service Medal (Covid-19) for her informational e-picture books for the community. Little Hero, her new junior historical fiction book, came out of her curiosity and interest to learn about her grandmother’s and father’s stories.

Evangeline Encabo

Evangeline Encabo (Philippines)

Evangeline Alvarez-Encabo is a professorial lecturer at De La Salle University Manila and a textbook instructional product designer and editor. Her expertise is in formulating product concepts and strategies that will result in the development of effective instructional materials. She also has extensive experience teaching Filipino language and culture to Filipino and non-Filipino learners.

Evelyn Sue Wong

Evelyn Sue Wong (Singapore)

Evelyn Sue Wong is children’s author of the multilingual Just a Little Mynah picture book series. She writes to spark children’s imagination, with hope for real change. She has been involved in AFCC since its first festival in 2010, curating publications, programmes and partnerships. Evelyn has led research and education programmes promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Canada, Singapore and Asia-Pacific.

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Fran Alvarez

Fran Alvarez (Philippines)

Fran Alvarez is an award-winning illustrator from the Philippines. She draws for children’s books, brand projects, and personal experiments using traditional and digital media. Her recognitions include the Ezra Jack Keats Award Illustrator Honor and the ALA Schneider Family Book Award Honour for Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language, the Green Island Award at the Nami Concours for Fishing with Jin, and the Philippine National Children’s Book Award-Best Reads for Hating Kapatid.

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Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte

Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte (Singapore)

Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte is Head of School at SJI International Preschool.  She holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the development of children, especially those in their early years. A seasoned speaker with 30 years of experience, she has presented papers in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally. With her deep theoretical and practical knowledge on ECCE, Geraldine has inspired and nurtured many to become current leaders in the ECCE sector.

Germaine Tan

Germaine Tan (Singapore)

Germaine Tan, a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, is a registered psychologist (Singapore) and SRP-approved supervisor. She’s a certified mindfulness teacher for both age groups with over 20 years of dedicated service to children, youths, and families. Germaine holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NIE) and has been honoured with the Ministry of Education Teaching Award and Healthcare Manpower Development Award (Singapore).

Glenda C. Oris

Glenda C. Oris (Philippines)

Glenda Oris, Assistant Professor at Ateneo de Manila University's School of Humanities, is a prolific writer of children's books. Addressing diverse themes like art appreciation, disability, and biodiversity, she advocates for creativity, preservation of local languages, and sexual abuse prevention. Her research delves into sensitive topics in children's literature, diaspora, and children's agency in society.

Goh Ai Yat

Goh Ai Yat (Singapore)

Ai Yat is the principal course leader for The Back Of The Napkin, a bestselling business visual communication and problem-solving book by Dan Roam and a certified trainer for LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. She runs workshops on entrepreneurship and career planning at the Civil Service College, SIM Global Education, schools and corporations. An ex-banker, Ai Yat is also a storyteller, an artist and an entrepreneur.

Grace Ng

Grace Ng (Singapore)

Born deaf and reliant on hearing aids and lip-reading, Grace Ng loves to read manga, take photos and watch movies. Inspired by Deaf actress Marlee Matlin, Grace began to explore opportunities in acting through online courses and further enrolled into ART:DIS’s theatre training programme where she can use Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) for artistic expression. This opened up an opportunity for her to write and perform Between Us for Singapore Writers Festival 2020. She plans to pursue further studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (UK) in BA Performance in British Sign Language and English.

Grace Victoria

Grace Victoria (Singapore)

With 19 years of ECE experience, Grace designs enriching learning experiences. Passionate about nurturing young minds, she prioritises building strong educational foundations. Her expertise in early childhood education ensures safe, stimulating environments. Grace advocates for curiosity and compassion, staying current with research. As a Senior Curriculum Specialist at PCF, she mentors teachers, ensuring every child receives equitable opportunities.

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Hafiz Rashid

Hafiz Rashid (Singapore)

Hafiz Rashid is an experienced museum docent who has been volunteering with the National Heritage Board (NHB) since 2013. He is also a storyteller who has performed at various events and venues such as Storyfest at the Arts House and Singapore Heritagefest. In 2021, he received the Teman Warisan award in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the Malay arts and heritage sector. His research interests include learning about the history, culture, folklore and languages of the Malay Archipelago, with a special focus on textiles. Hence, he is often seen wearing these textiles in his tours and storytelling sessions, sharing the stories behind their motifs and designs - stories with deep links to the past.

Hannah Sim

Hannah Sim (Singapore)

Hannah, an early childhood educator with 16 years of experience in local and international kindergartens, as a teacher and curriculum coordinator. Specialising in early literacy, she is pursuing studies in applied linguistics to align with her passion for lifelong learning. She cherishes interactions with children, sharing stories, questions, or their writing. Hannah’s only red flag is her penchant for hoarding children’s drawings and sketches.

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Imelda Naomi

Imelda Naomi (Indonesia)

Naomi holds a Bachelor’s in Food Technology and a Master’s in Food Industry Management. She has published 10 picture books, including The Dream Weaver and Luftan and The Monster, which depict the inspiring stories of young teenagers. In 2022, she was chosen as one of Melbourne’s Virtual Writers in Residence.

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Jaime Bauza

Jaime Bauza (Philippines)

Jamie is an illustrator, crafter, and picture book maker from Manila. She has worked on more than a dozen books, including Ang Dangkal ni Matmat (Tahanan Books, 2022) and Magtanim ay Di Biro (Adarna House, 2021) for which she received a National Children’s Book Award. Working with a range of materials, her work is inspired by childhood, nature, and everyday life with her two cats. For more of her work, visit www.jamiebauza.com.

Janice Khoo

Janice Khoo (Singapore)

Janice Khoo is the co-author of Sing a Song of Hawker Food, a collection of fractured nursery rhymes re-written to feature Singapore hawker culture. The title received the second prize in the English (Children) category at the Popular Readers’ Choice Awards 2022. At AFCC 2024, she will introduce two new picture books – Shelby and Mona, and The Emperor’s Gazillion New Toys, co-written with Lianne Ong.

Jeffrey Tan

Jeffrey Tan (Singapore)

Jeffrey Tan is an experienced theatre director, drama educator and creative producer. He started Theatre Today in 2016, to conceptualize and produce theatre, art workshops and productions, for children, youths, seniors and the disabled community. Jeffrey is currently Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore.

Jegannath Ramanujam

Jegannath Ramanujam (Singapore)

ஜெகன்னாத் ராமானுஜம் ஒரு வரைகலை நிபுணர். சிறுவர் வரைகலை படைப்புகளில் அதிக ஆர்வம் கொண்டவர். அவர் உள்ளூர் நிறுவனமான கிரியேட்டிவ் ஹாண்ட் ஸை நிறுவியவர். ஜெகன், கதை நேரம் என்ற இணையத்தளத்தைத் தமிழ் மாணவர்களுக்காக உருவாக்கியுள்ளார். அதில் மாணவர்களுக்காக பல உயிரோவிய காணொளிகள், ஒலிப் புத்தககங்கள் மற்றும் வரைகதைகள் உள்ளன. உயிரோவியம், தமிழ் ஆகியவைமீது அதீத ஆர்வம் உள்ள ஜெகன், சிண்டா, தமிழ் முரசு, சிங்கப்பூர் எழுத்தாளர் விழா ஆகிய அமைப்புகளுடன் இணைந்து பணியாற்றியுள்ளார். தன்னுடைய படைப்புகள் நமது சமூகத்தில் உள்ள மாணவர்களுக்குத் தமிழ்மீது தனி ஆர்வத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடன் அவர் செயல்படுகிறார்.

Jegannath Ramanujam, is an animator and an illustrator who predominantly works on children’s animation content. He is also the Founder and Creative Director of Creative Hands. He created Kathai Neram, a website that features originally created animation stories, audio books and comics in Tamil for students. With a keen interest in animation and Tamil language, Jegan has collaborated with SINDA, Tamil Murasu, SWF on various occasions to offer his expertise and knowledge in terms of workshops, as an animator, as a speaker. Jegan hopes to reach out to the youth and the larger community by bridging animation with Tamil.

Jennith Chen

Jennith Chen (Singapore)

Jennith Chen, widely known as readwithjenn on TikTok, is a BookTok content creator who seamlessly blends her passion for literature with the digital realm. 

From heartwarming romance to captivating asian literature, Jennith’s curated recommendations cater to a diverse audience, fostering a vibrant community of book lovers eager to discover their next literary adventure. 

Jennith’s influence extends beyond the platform, as she actively engages with her community through collaborations with authors and partnerships with literacy organization such as National Library Board, National Reading Movement, and Definitely Books. 

Join her on a journey through the pages of endless stories, where every like is a bookmark in the shared experience of the written word.

Jessica Leman

Jessica Leman (Indonesia)

Jessica Leman is a writer and storyboard artist based in Jakarta, Indonesia and the co-creator of Magical Sweet Gula. She is currently pursuing digital marketing in creative industries. She met Johanes Park while studying animation at Kyungsung University in South Korea. The duo remain passionate about pop culture and comics as a medium to communicate meaningful stories with universal appeal, and participate actively in efforts to bring Indonesian creators’ works to global audiences.

J.H. Low

J.H. Low (Singapore)

J.H. Low has a degree in fine art, a MA in Children’s Illustration, and a PhD (in The Expressive Potential of the Picturebook Form). J.H. is the winner of the 2022 Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award and his picturebook "Lemonade Sky" is featured in the White Ravens catalogue 2021. His latest published books include "The Visitor", a graphic novel that explores existential issues about human relationships, and a children's picturebook "Orang & Hutan" which brings to light the importance of nature conservation through the eyes of an Orangutan.

Jill Lim

Jill Lim (Singapore)

Jill Lim has been in the fields of writing and editing for almost 30 years. Her roles have included being a newspaper reporter, a 3 magazine editor and a newspaper subeditor. She has been a book editor with Straits Times Press since January 2017. She is married with three children, the oldest of whom has autism. Jill is the author of four children's books, including My Colouring Book Is Ruined!, published in 2019, about a child with autism.

Joanna Maneckji

Joanna Maneckji (Singapore)

Joanna Maneckji, a Singapore-based author, educator, and artist, crafts captivating collages that defy expectations, evoke joy, and foster empathy. Starting with a meditative outlet when her son began walking, she later used collage to navigate grief after her father’s passing, resulting in her debut storybook, Letters to My Grandfather. Raised in a multicultural environment in Mumbai, Joanna pursued anthropology at Smith College and holds a master’s degree in teaching.

Joel Donato Ching Jacob

Joel Donato Ching Jacob (Philippines)

Joel is a novelist, poet, and translator based in Bay, Laguna in the Philippines. His novel, Wing of the Locust, is the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Award winner and a 2021 Singapore Book Award finalist. His short story, Artifacts from the Parent, is an Editor's Choice awardee for Best Asian Short Stories in 2019. He was awarded by the Philippine National Commission on Culture and the Arts with the Ani ng Dangal for Literature in 2021.

Johanes Park

Johanes Park (Indonesia)

Johanes Park is a comic artist and university lecturer based in Jakarta, Indonesia. He met Jessica Leman while they studied animation at Kyungsung University in South Korea. Inspired by Johanes’ childhood experiences growing up with both Korean and Indonesian identities, the duo first created Magical Sweet Gula together in 2015, to share a story of acceptance and friendship with young people who feel “different”.

Josef Lee

Josef Lee (Singapore)

Josef Lee tells stories through pictures. As a picture-book author & artist, his illustrated short stories have been shared online since 2008. In 2017, Josef successfully published his first picture-book via crowdfunding. Since then, he has published over 10 picture-books and 1 novel adaptation, in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Korea and Thailand. Josef also launched the 'House of Mini Picture Books' (www.minipicbooks.com/) in 2021 - an online FREE resource of original picture stories by local authors, to be downloaded / printed / DIY-ed into mini picture books. Follow him on IG @joseflee.stories

Josephine Chia

Josephine Chia (Singapore)

Josephine Chia is a  local author who likes to feature Singaporean history, life and fables in her books. Proud of her Peranakan heritage , she includes facets of her rich culture and heritage. Josephine writes both fiction and non-fiction, with 14 published books here and in UK. When she was living in UK, she was a finalist for UK’s Ian St James Award and won other literary prizes. Her Masters in Creative Writing is from UK Bath Spa University. After her return home, she won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2014 for her non-fiction memoirs, Kampong Spirit/Gotong Royong, which is based on the attap village she grew up in the 1950s. Her children’s novel, Queen of the Sky, was shortlisted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2018. In 2019, she won the Singapore Publishers Book Award for her first YA Novel, Big Tree in a Small Pot.

Josephine is a Creative Writing mentor with a passion to nurture the future writers of Singapore. Several of her students are now published writers. 

Joseph Namara Hollis

Joseph Namara Hollis (UK)

Joseph Namara Hollis is a multi-award winning author-illustrator from the United Kingdom. Named "most exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration" in 2022, with his debut title Pierre’s New Hair winning the Klaus Flugge Prize. In 2018, on graduation from the internationally renowned MA at Cambridge School of Art, Joseph won the V&A Student Illustrator of the Year Award. The judges praised him for "bringing charm and sophistication in equal measure". Since then he has worked with Tate Publishing, Laurence King, and Andersen Press. He also lectures at Nottingham Trent University, where he shares his passion for illustration and picture books.

Joshene Bersales

Joshene Bersales (Philippines)

Joshene Bersales is a writer, book editor, and translator. Her first book, Bianca’s Big Secret, was published in 2018. Her story, Hindi Ako Mayumi!, won Honourable Mention at the 2023 PBBY-Salanga Grand Prize. Her stories are featured in several short story anthologies, including Baklas: Antolohiya ng mga Radikal na Kuwentong Pambata. She is also a Filipino translator for the Solid Joys Devotional by theologian John Piper. Joshene likes traveling, theater, and tea. Find her on IG: @joshenebersales.

Joyce Chua

Joyce Chua (Singapore)

As Chief Education Officer at PictureThink Academy, Joyce crafts visual thinking programs to enhance children’s and youth’s cognitive abilities and creativity. With 15 years of teaching experience spanning toddlers to college students, she specialises in English Language, Character Education, and Project Work Skills. Drawing from her expertise in Curriculum Planning at Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters and leadership roles in secondary schools, Joyce is adept at designing impactful educational programs for students and teachers alike.

Joyce Chua

Joyce Chua (Singapore)

Joyce is the author of several novels, including the Children of the Desert trilogy (Penguin Random House SEA, 2021), Until Morning, No Room in Neverland (Penguin Random House SEA, 2023) and Lambs for Dinner (Straits Times Press, 2013). She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in English and is now a personal finance editor by day and author by night. Her articles have appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Her World, The Straits Times, and more. She can be found on Instagram, TikTok and Threads at @joycechuawrites.

Joyceline See Tully

Joyceline See Tully (Singapore)

Joyceline See Tully is a Singaporean children’s book author with a penchant for local wildlife. Singapore lore and glorious food. She has written several children’s books including Tiger Tales, Road Safety with Kay and Bear Bear, Attack at the Mall and The Runaway Car, and co-authored The Little Singapore Book. After working in publishing for more than 25 years as a journalist and magazine editor, she now teaches part-time at a local university and is working on her next children’s book.

June CL Tan

June CL Tan (Singapore/USA)

June CL Tan is the author of the internationally bestselling Jade Fire Gold and the Darker By Four duology. Her books have garnered multiple starred reviews from Kirkus and BCCB, and are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. In 2021, she was also chosen as one of Publishers Weekly’s Flying Starts. A Singaporean raised on a diet of teh tarik, classic books, and wuxia movies, she now resides in New York City.

Justin Deimen

Justin Deimen (Singapore)

With an appetite for uncertainty and a capacity for self-direction as well as being able to uniquely grasp the entire media equation as both a hands-on builder and corporate leader - Justin Deimen is one of the few global-minded creative producers and a holistic entrepreneurs who has established high-growth media businesses while executing major international & cross-cultural (co)productions across all genres/formats in every major territory. He's often the focal point of complex/matrix teams with an established track record of identifying & closing deals across multiple forms of capital via credit/debt financing, private equity & venture funding while also managing various projects and product life-cycles through its inception into monetisation.

Through his commercial insights and deep industry experience, and being the nexus between the corporate and indie creative worlds, he builds scalable & impactful partnerships across the entire ecosystem in Film/TV, Branded Activation, Media-Tech, Adsales & Advertising, Gaming, Events, Marketing, Licensing, Distribution, IP Development, Fundraising and M&A. 

In a varied career of being a creative executive, journalist, media strategist, screenwriter, producer, and financier, he's previously held roles in 108 Media, ONE Championship, Hyde Park Intl, VH1, Fox Searchlight, The Village Voice, the Intl Film Fest Rotterdam, & structured alternative asset funds with private banks and was accredited with the Intl Federation of Film Critics.

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Katherine Wallace

Katherine Wallace (Canada)

Katherine Wallace is an author, musician, and educator whose love of words and music is united in her stories and songs. Her picture books, Mirelle’s Mirror and Trash-er Island, inspire curiosity about sustainability and our world. A former university professor, Katherine has published and performed in professional music ensembles worldwide.

Kimberly Lee

Kimberly Lee (Malaysia)

Kimberly Lee serves as the Managing Editor of the parenting platform makchic.com, in addition to being a lawyer and author of BOYS DON’T FRY, the upcoming 100 DAYS and co-author of WHAT IF?. Kimberly advocates for the transformative power of storytelling and believes in every child's right to be heard. She resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with her husband and two sons. Connect with her online at www.kimberlyleebooks.com or on Instagram and X as @kimlsywrites.

Kim Minhae

Kim Minhae (Korea/Singapore)

Min is a Manager at Yeon Agency. She earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Parsons and worked as a UX designer at Samsung HQ in Seoul, Korea for 10 years. After relocating to Singapore four years ago, she became an artist agent. Her experience gives her a unique understanding of both corporate and freelance environments. Min has been surrounded by art and design for over half of her life. She loves exploring the beauty of being in the creative world.

KB Meniado

KB Meniado (Philippines)

KB Meniado is a writer and editor with over 14 years of professional experience in media and publishing, with exposure to public policy, youth development, and entrepreneurship. As an avid reading advocate, she runs Bookbed, a Filipino book community, and is part of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People and other Filipino creative communities like Bibi Mangki #thereadingmonkey, Book Writers Club, and a soft landing., among others.

Kristine Mandigma

Kristine Mandigma (Philippines)

Kristine "Tin" Mandigma is the President and CEO of Vibal Group and President of IBBY Philippines.

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Lauren Ho

Lauren Ho (Malaysia/Singapore)

Lauren Ho is a reformed legal counsel who now prefers to write for pleasure. Hailing from Malaysia, she is currently based in Singapore with her family. She is the author of two critically-acclaimed adult contemporary fiction novels, Last Tang Standing and Lucie Yi is Not a RomanticBite Me, Royce Taslim is her first young adult novel.

Lawrence Schimel

Lawrence Schimel (US)

Lawrence Schimel (New York, 1971) is a full-time author, writing in both Spanish and English, based in Madrid, Spain, who has published over 130 books in a wide range of genres. His picture books have won a Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a White Raven from the International Youth Library in Munich, and have been chosen by IBBY for Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities (three times), among other honors. His writings have been translated into over sixty languages, including Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Urdu, Farsi, Kurdish, and Basque. In addition to his own writing, he is a prolific literary translator, primarily into English and into Spanish, who has published over 160 books. His translations into English have won a Batchelder Honor from the American Library Association, a PEN Translates Award from English PEN (three times), and a National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellowship (with Layla Benitez-James), among other honors. He is Editorial Director for Ediciones NorteSur, the Spanish-language imprint of children’s book publisher NorthSouth Books.

Lianne Ong

Lianne Ong (Singapore)

Lianne Ong, an editor and award-winning children’s author, has published 18 picture books. Renowned for "Stacey & the Museums" and "A Place for Us," she won second prize in the POPULAR Reader’s Choice Awards (Children’s Category) in 2022 for "Sing A Song of Hawker Food." This year, she’s excited to launch two new books on rough sleeping in Singapore and an environmental fractured fairy tale, "The Emperor’s Gazillion New Toys."

Liew Shiang Hui

Liew Shiang Hui (Singapore)

Liew Shiang Hui is a medical social worker at the Institute of Mental Health. She is currently working in the field of Forensic Psychiatry. Shiang Hui has worked passionately with children, youths and their families in the last 20 years and is trained to teach mindfulness.

Liwliwa Malabed

Liwliwa Malabed (Philippines)

Liwliwa Malabed has been writing for children for over two decades. She is the author of A Bunch of Flowers, a wordless book illustrated by Saumya Oberoi and published by Singapore Book Council Limited. The book was created as a part of the Asian Festival for Children's Content Build Your Book Hackathon in 2022. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. She is also currently taking her PhD in Creative Writing in UP Diliman.

Liyana Taff

Liyana Taff (Malaysia)

Liyana, a former public relations practitioner and government consultant, currently serves as the Special Projects Director of makchic, an online parenting platform based in Malaysia. With a mission to inform, support, and uplift families, she co-authored WHAT IF? in 2021, published by makchic. Passionate about connecting through literature, Liyana finds books to be invaluable for initiating conversations that might not occur otherwise. Find her on Instagram as @liyana.taff.

Liza Flores

Liza Flores (Philippines)

Liza is one of the leading children’s book illustrators in the Philippines. Her books, The Secret is in the Soil (2012), and Ang Maliit na Kalabaw (The Tiny Carabao) (2021) have been included in the National Children’s Book Award Best Reads for 2012-2013 and 2020-2021. She mentors illustrators from different countries through Room to Read, an international nonprofit organisation.

Liza also runs Studio Dialogo, a graphic design studio in Manila. She designed the book, KarapatDapat (2018), which was included in The White Ravens list in 2020.

Louisa Joanne Lee

Louisa Joanne Lee (Singapore)

Louisa’s Go, Go Green Gavin books, celebrated by environmental advocates, showcase her passion for living in harmony with nature. As a  Professional Member of the Storytelling Association of Singapore and member of the National Storytelling Network, USA, she holds UK Licentiates in Speech & Drama and Public Speaking. Louisa earned Magna cum Laude for her BA (Theatre Arts) and an MA (Communications) from New York, USA.

Low Lai Chow

Low Lai Chow (Singapore)

A journalist by profession, Low Lai Chow is a children's book author with nine books to her name including Becoming Margaret Leng Tan: The World's First Toy Piano Virtuoso (2023) and Catch Mee If You Can: Find the Noodles, Eat the Noodles! (2022), which was nominated for Best Picture Book at Singapore Book Awards 2023. She is the creator of National Gallery Singapore's Art for Tinies (2020) board book series and has worn multiple hats as publisher, illustrator and author of Penguins Eat Pancakes (2022). Her attempts at doodling are best described as questionable. 

Luis P. Gatmaitan

Luis P. Gatmaitan (Philippines)

Luis Gatmaitan is a medical doctor and an author of more than 40 children's books, some of which have been translated into Nihongo, Thai, and Bahasa Indonesia. He is a member of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) and now sits as Chair of the National Council for Children's Television (NCCT) as a child development specialist.

Known as Tito Dok to his readers and listeners, he hosts a weekly radio storytelling program, Wan Dey Isang Araw at 702 DZAS of the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company. In 2003, he was one of the recipients of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM).

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Mae Coyiuto

Mae Coyiuto (Philippines)

Mae Coyiuto is a Chinese-Filipino writer, born and raised in the Philippines. Mae earned her BA in Psychology from Pomona College and her Master’s Degree in Writing for Young Adults/Children from The New School. If she’s not writing, she’s usually fangirling over Beyoncé, tennis, Gilmore Girls, or all of the above. She currently lives in Manila.

Mary Ann Ordinario

Mary Ann Ordinario (Philippines)

Mary Ann has written 45 books for children. Her stories have won various awards in the Philippines and overseas: her first book, The Crying Trees, won grand prize at the Samsung KidsTime Authors Award in Singapore; Malong, the Magic Cloth, was awarded Best ASEAN Fiction Children’s Book Illustration in the first International Children’s Content Rights Fair (ICCRF) in Thailand; The Pencil Who Would Not Write recently won first prize in the Los Angeles International Indie Children’s Book Cover Award (2021); and Bulul, was awarded Best Reads at the National Children’s Book Awards (2020/2021).

Many of her books have been translated into Nihongo, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin, Thai, Russian, Korean, Nepali, Azerbaijani, and Bahasa Indonesia. She is the founder of ABC Educational Development Centre and currently a member of the governing board of the National Book Development Board (NBDB)-Philippines.

Michelle Chan

Michelle Chan (Hong Kong China)

Dr Michelle Chan, who earned her PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London, is affiliated with the Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Her research includes Victorian Literature, Fantasy, and Children’s Literature, with a recent focus on healing and picture books, fairy tales, translating visual narratives, and transmedia presentation of children’s literature.

Migs Bravo Dutt

Migs Bravo Dutt (Philippines/Singapore)

Mignon ‘Migs’ Bravo Dutt is a writer and researcher who has published work in several countries, regions, and cultures. She is the author of the contemporary novel, The Rosales House, and the interlinked novella collection, Room 216, both from Penguin Random House SEA (PRHSEA).

Her short fiction was selected for 22 New Asian Short Stories, Kitaab’s The Best Asian Short Stories, and Growing Up Filipino 3. Migs has co-edited Get Lucky: An Anthology of Philippine and Singapore Writings (2015) and its sequel, Get Luckier: An Anthology of Philippine and Singapore Writings II (2022). She has co-authored Dreaming of the Divine Downstairs, a poetry collection.

Mindy Pang

Mindy Pang (Singapore)

Mindy has more than a decade of experience as editor and marketing manager at Marshall Cavendish International. She is the driving force behind key publications as a senior editor and develops marketing strategies to help the publishing house remain a leading publisher in Asia and beyond.

Muhammad bin Kamit

Muhammad bin Kamit (Singapore)

Muhammad Bin Kamit, also known as Chief Sidekick Mudd, has been educating children since 2010 and preschool educators since 2016. He advocates for outdoor learning, fostering confidence and curiosity in young minds. Mudd excels in simplifying learning through purposeful play, injecting adventure through stories, and creating games from everyday items. Passionate about play’s value, outdoor learning, and presence for children, he has inspired over 10,000 students and trained 3,000 educators.

Muhammed Shahril Shaik Abdullah

Muhammed Shahril Shaik Abdullah (Singapore)

Muhammed Shahril Shaik Abdullah is a librarian at the National Library Board, Singapore, managing reading programs for children aged 1 to 9. He holds a Master of Education from Monash University, specializing in Leadership, Policy, and Change. His research focuses on children’s literature and critical education, with published works in KOMENTAR and AMP’s Karyawan magazine.

Murti Bunanta

Murti Bunanta (Indonesia)

Murti Bunanta is a children’s literature specialist, writer, and founder of two nonprofit organizations, The Society for The Advancement of Children’s Literature and the Indonesian Board on Books for Young People. She has authored 50 books, given lectures in 22 countries, and written 250 essays. Her works have been translated into several languages, earning her seven international recognitions for her books and six for promoting children’s literature.

Myra Loke

Myra Loke (Singapore)

Myra Loke is a theatre director, puppeteer / performer, designer, maker and educator.

Her artistic journey in Singapore’s theatre started 18 years ago when she was the pioneer batch of ARTivate, the youth wing of Drama Box Ltd. Now, Myra is part of the core team of The Finger Players, one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, best known for their visually-arresting productions and its strong advocacy of puppetry. She led the company as co-Artistic Director from 2020 – 2023. 

Myra also co-founded The Wanderlings, where she co-created You Can Reach The Sky (2017 – 2019), Singapore’s first immersive theatrical experience for babies. Myra believes in the transformative power of Puppetry for dialogue, reflection and social change. 

Photo credit: Juliana Tan

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Namita Moolani Mehra

Namita Moolani Mehra (India/Singapore)

Namita Moolani Mehra is an agented children’s book author, freelance writer, and entrepreneur. Her latest picture books are The Light Within You and Anni Dreams of Biryani. She has been a speaker at AFCC and held workshops at Singapore Writers Festival. She founded Indian Spicebox, a social-impact platform that has funded half a million meals for underprivileged children in India.

Noesis Marquez

Noesis Marquez (Philippines)

Marc Noesis Marquez is a theatre and film artist who graduated from Arellano University-Manila. Currently taking up his master's in Theatre Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Noesis is currently the Executive Assistant II for the Office of the Executive Director of the National Book Development Board (NBDB)-Philippines. 

Noretta Jacob

Noretta Jacob (Singapore)

Noretta Jacob, Pengasas Safar Training and Consultancy, menyediakan latihan komprehensif untuk pendidik dan ibu bapa. Dengan pengalaman yang luas dalam peranan kepimpinan, Noretta merupakan seorang yang berdedikasi meningkatkan pemahaman dan pengetahuan tentang pendidikan awal kanak-kanak dalam masyarakat Islam di Singapura.

Noretta Jacob, founder of Safar Training and Consultancy, provides comprehensive training for early childhood practitioners and parents, recognizing them as primary educators. With extensive experience in leadership roles, she is a dedicated change-maker focused on enhancing understanding and knowledge of early childhood education within the Muslim community in Singapore.

Nori Ismail Bocquillion

Nori Ismail Bocquillion (Singapore)

Nori merupakan seorang pendidik dan penyokong budaya yang berpengalaman luas. Mahir dalam bidang seni, muzik dan drama, Nori juga mempunyai pengalaman bekolaborasi untuk projek-projek antarabangsa. Beliau menggabungkan pengalaman yang pelbagai ke dalam projek-projek yang bermakna serta menggunakan kemahiran beliau untuk memberi sumbangan terhadap pertumbuhan komuniti.

Nori is a dedicated educator and cultural advocate, boasting 25 years of enriching experience in fostering creativity and learning. She passionately champions multicultural experiences and storytelling as pathways to understanding. Skilled in arts, music, and drama, Nori has collaborated worldwide, nurturing young minds and promoting inclusion. She merges diverse experiences into meaningful projects, utilising her expertise to contribute to community growth.

Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar

Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar (Singapore)

Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar has translated children’s picture books, fiction and poetry since 2017. She won the Inaugural MASTERA Translation Prize for Poetry in 2019 and Honourable Mention for Translation at the Golden Poing Award 2023. She has conducted translation workshops for students. She is also an editorial consultant and an author of eleven children’s picture books.

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Pauline Loh

Pauline Loh (Singapore)

An acclaimed author and writing teacher, Pauline Loh boasts a diverse portfolio: 15 adult non-fiction, 5 Young Adult, 9 children’s storybooks, and 3 junior chapter books. Among the awards that she has won include the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2012, 1st runner-up, Samsung KidsTime Author’s Award 2015 & Singapore Book Awards 2016 and Popular Kids’ Choice Award 2021.

Pham Thi Hoai Anh

Pham Thi Hoai Anh (Vietnam)

Pham Thi Hoai Anh, a children’s picture book author and educator, founded Vietnam’s ICBC (Initiative of Children’s Book Creative Content). Leading diverse educational programs, including visual art exhibitions and interactive storytime, she aims to enrich children’s artistic experiences and spread the joy of reading. Hoai Anh sees this as a vital responsibility as a children’s book author.

Ping-Shi Kao

Ping-Shi Kao (Taiwan)

An experienced educator, Ping-Shi Kao studied and taught in various countries, earning her M.Phil. in Children’s Literature from Trinity College Dublin in 2017. As a full-time lecturer at Tatung University since 2019, she teaches picturebook translation, multimedia learning, and negotiation courses. Her research explores visual texts, material culture, and war animals, emphasizing cross-cultural collaboration in storytelling as a catalyst for curiosity and creativity. Ping has connected her picturebook class with Fighting Words Ireland to foster bilingual storytelling at storymeetsstory.net.

Pixie Tan (Singapore)

Pixie Tan is an Art Director and Educator from Singapore. Currently a Designer in Residence at LASALLE College of the Arts, her practice takes a collaborative approach to questioning the conditions of labour. Drawing from her experience in fashion and advertising, she designs sustainable and socially minded solutions for artists and cultural groups. She has worked with Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, The Arts House Singapore, Both Sides Now and National Youth Council amongst others. She is the co-founder of Stranger(‘s) Touch, and a founding volunteer of Don’t Mind If, an award-winning ground-up initiative designed with the hopes of uplifting, celebrating and advancing the local communications design industry, community and profession.

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Priscilla Hoon-Tan

Priscilla Hoon-Tan (Singapore)

Priscilla Hoon-Tan is the co-creator of the Awesome Women Series. She calls herself an “accidental author” – prior to writing and running a business, she spent 7 years as a professional in the finance industry. With two young daughters, she co-created the Awesome Women Series with her husband to empower young girls everywhere with inspiring stories of female role models. Her interests include girl empowerment, early literacy and financial literacy for children. She is currently working on a new series of gender-neutral books for young readers.

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Rachelyn Gordon

Rachelyn Gordon (Singapore)

Rachelyn Gordon grew up inventing stories to get out of trouble. Though her stories did not often work, the practice came in handy for her job as a primary school teacher. Teaching with colourful stories did not quell the ideas in her head. Instead, it pushed her to write and publish Rosie And The Mamak Shop in 2020 and Curly in 2023. Rachelyn is currently working on her next picture book and transitioning out of mainstream teaching to teaching private creative writing workshops. Find out more about her at rachelyngordon.com / https://www.instagram.com/teacherwhowrites/

Rafidah Jalil

Rafidah Jalil (Singapore)

Rafidah Jalil adalah pengasas STEAMSEL Edutainment, yang mahu menanamkan minat terhadap Sains, Teknologi, Kejuruteraan, Seni, dan Matematik (STEAM) dalam kalangan kanak-kanak berusia 5 hingga 8 tahun.Dengan latar belakang dalam perbankan antarabangsa selama lebih dari satu dekad, perjalanan Rafidah ke dalam bidang pendidikan bermula apabila beliau menjadi ibu kepada tiga orang anak. Oleh kerana kekurangan kandungan STEAM dalam Bahasa Melayu untuk anak-anaknya, beliau menubuhkan STEAMSEL Edutainment untuk mengisi kesenian ini.

Rafidah Jalil is the founder of STEAMSEL Edutainment, dedicated to instilling a love for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) in children aged 5 to 8. With a background in international banking spanning over a decade, Rafidah's journey into edutainment began when she became a mother of three. Recognizing the scarcity of STEAM content in Bahasa Melayu for her children, she founded STEAMSEL Edutainment to fill this gap.

Raissa Avery Marfa

Raissa Avery Marfa (Philippines)

Raissa Avery Marfa, a literacy and peace worker from Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines, collaborates with Friends Peace Teams to establish peace libraries. Committed to fostering peace and community empowerment, she conducts storytelling sessions, develops children’s books in local languages, and pursues a master’s degree in Reading Education at the University of the Philippines.

Rommel Joson

Rommel Joson (Philippines)

Rommel Joson is an illustator, painter, and educator based in Quezon City, Philippines. He received Honourable Mentions from the Philippine Board of Books for Young People-Alcala Prize in 2008, 2010, and 2021. He illustrated the book, Isang Harding Papel, which was awarded the 2015 Filipino Readers Choice Award, Best Children's Book. He currently teaches at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

Ruth Wan

Ruth Wan (Singapore)

Having worked in public communications and publishing, as a writer and editor, for 25 years, Ruth is currently the Publisher at World Scientific Education, where she acquires children’s books on Asian and STEM themes and manages a team of editors, designers and illustrators.

Ruth is also the author of the bestselling Timmy and Tammy preschool series, which has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. The series has had the honour of being given to all Singaporean babies born in 2015, the year Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence. Ruth’s Timmy and Tammy books were also presented to Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana by the President of Singapore to commemorate the royal birth.

Ruth is passionate about encouraging children to love reading and to love Singapore.

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Sally Murphy

Sally Murphy (Australia)

Australian author Sally Murphy, OAM, known for acclaimed children’s books like Queen Narelle and Pearl Verses the World, also contributes to education with works like Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose. Awarded an OAM in 2022, she’s recognized for her contributions to children’s literature and education. Sally works at Curtin University in the School of Education, focusing on literacy education and children’s literature.

Sandhya Prabhat

Sandhya Prabhat (India/USA)

Sandhya Prabhat is an Independent Animator and Illustrator based in the Bay Area, California and is from Chennai, India. She holds an MFA Degree in Animation and Digital Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia, and a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Stella Maris College.  

She is represented by Alice Sutherland-Hawes of ASH Literary for UK/USA Children's Books.

For more information, please visit: https://sandhyaprabhat.com/

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Sarah Ang

Sarah Ang (Singapore)

Sarah Ang, a children’s book illustrator and author, initiated her career illustrating Christian children’s books before venturing into writing. Her aim is to craft literature that instils eco-consciousness. She penned "The River that Brings Us Life," chronicling Singapore River’s cleanup. At AFCC, she unveils "Charlie the Sweeper" and "The Three Little Builders," blending heartwarming narratives with fractured fairytales.

Sara Patricia Kelly

Sara Patricia Kelly (Australia)

Sara Patricia Kelly is a creative storyteller and keynote speaker. Born in Australia, she loves creating words, singing nursery rhymes, and having family morning walks. Sara authored "4 a.m. Raspberry Party: Childhood Poems" and manages flossiebossy.com, a poetry site for kids. She is a regular speaker at spoken-word events and holds an MA in Creative Writing from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore.

Satomi Ichikawa

Satomi Ichikawa (Japan/France)

Having left her home in Japan, Satomi Ichikawa arrived one day in Paris, without knowing a single word of French. She decided to stay no matter what the price. She didn’t know that her professional calling was in the field of drawing – she had this revelation while looking through an illustrated book by Maurice Boutet de Monvel.

Serene Choo

Serene Choo (Singapore)

Serene Choo, revelling in newfound joy post-corporate life, embraces creative pursuits with freedom. Immersed in writing, dancing, singing, and imaginative ventures, she values openness and learning through experiences, both good and bad. Over the past five years, she's ventured into unexpected realms—composing children's songs, gracing the Esplanade stage, and penning children's books, among others.

Shalom Lim

Shalom Lim (Singapore)

Shalom Lim is a former painter who writes for Muscular Dystrophy News, sharing his lived experiences with the condition. He has a criminology degree from the University of Liverpool and a counselling graduate diploma from The School of Positive Psychology. Shalom dreams of becoming a counsellor and playwright working with the disabled.

Shawn Tan

Shawn Tan (Singapore)

Shawn Tan is a lawyer by profession and a children’s book author by passion. With two young daughters, he co-created the Awesome Women Series with his wife to empower young girls everywhere with inspiring stories of female role models. His interests include early childhood education and the Japanese concept of Ikigai — finding one's purpose and joy in life. Through the Awesome Women Series, he hopes to inspire children to be anything they want to be and to navigate life’s adventures with courage and purpose.

Sherry Toh

Sherry Toh (Singapore)

Sherry “Elisa” Toh is a writer and SMA advocate, whose professional start began
with her column on SMA News Today. Loud Little Mermaids is based upon her
friendship with fellow columnist Brianna Albers. In 2023, she had an essay included in Singapore’s first printed disability studies anthology, “Not Without Us: Perspective on Disabilities and Inclusion in Singapore.”

Shreya Davies

Shreya Davies (Singapore)

Shreya is the Editor at Difference Engine and has edited comics, literary fiction, and non-fiction publications. Her short stories have appeared in The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories (Vol 4) and Mahogany Journal. She never leaves home without a book in tow.

Sim Ee Waun

Sim Ee Waun (Singapore)

Sim Ee Waun, renowned author of "The Little Singapore Book" and "We Shall Remember: The Story of Singapore at War," is dedicated to bringing Singapore’s history alive for children. With nearly 30 years as a food writer and editor, she now focuses on historical creative non-fiction, co-founding Pepper Dog Press. Ee Waun also teaches part-time at the National University of Singapore and is a Former Ford Factory Museum docent, fervently sharing her passion for Singapore’s past.

Soumya Ayer

Soumya Ayer (India)

Soumya Ayer, intrigued by the narratives held in objects, explores stories of times, places, and people influencing our world. The author of three children’s books on Indian mythology, her fiction debut, The Ghost of Malabar, intertwines history and storytelling. It has been shortlisted for the Neev Book Awards 2023, Atta Galatta Children’s Book Fiction Prize 2022, and PVLF Author Excellence Award 2024. Soumya volunteers as a docent in Singapore’s museums and is part of SCBWI’s Singapore chapter.

Srividhya Mohan

Srividhya Mohan (Singapore)

Srividhya Mohan is an English Language teacher at Jing Shan Primary School. She enjoys working with children to provide rich language experiences that will develop their love for the language while equipping them with social emotional skills. As a book lover, she particularly enjoys children's literature and believes that stories is an effective teaching tool that captivates children's attention, brings learning to life and creates platforms for teachable moments.

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Tan Beng Tian

Tan Beng Tian (Singapore)

Tan Beng Tian is a disciple of the late renowned traditional hand puppet master
Li Bofen and is a recipient of the JCCI Singapore Foundation Culture Award in
2005. Major companies she has worked with in her twenty-seven-year-old career are Checkpoint Theatre, Drama Box, Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, The
Finger Players, The Necessary Stage, The Theatre Practice, Toy Factory Productions, Wild Rice and Zuni Icosahedron (Hong Kong). As a multifaceted independent theatre practitioner, Beng Tian has been actively promoting theatre making and passing on her puppetry knowledge through Masterclass Workshops and talks.

Terence Lau (Singapore)

Terence Lau is a technical theatre professional and educator with over two decades of active engagement in Singapore’s theatre and dance scene. With a strong passion for both the arts and education, Terence has worked with several renowned arts companies, including T.H.E. Dance Company, The Necessary Stage, Wild Rice, Pangdemonium, Dream Academy, TENG Ensemble, Sing’Theatre and SLO. He is currently a lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts.

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The Inteligente Publishing, Inc.

The Inteligente Publishing, Inc. (Philippines)

The Inteligente Publishing, Inc. is a company dedicated to producing high-quality educational materials for children. They have received the Golden Globe Awards 2023 for Best Trusted Textbook Publishing Company as well as the Gawad Filipino Awards 2024.

Represented by Trixia Vail Dalumpines, Miguel Anton Flores, Mherryl Giffen Alforte and Abigael Joice Francisco

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Umayalambigai d/o Ramakrishnan

உமையாளம்பிகை இராமகிருஷ்ணன் (Umayalambigai d/o Ramakrishnan) (Singapore)

கடந்த 20 ஆண்டுகளாக தமிழ் மொழி ஆசிரியராகத் திகழும் முனைவர் உமையாளாம்பிகை கலை உலகிற்குப் புதியவர் அல்ல. அவர் 1997-இல் தொண்டூழியராகவும், நடிகையாக அறிமுகமானார். அவர் தமிழ் மீதான தனது பற்றைத் தொடர, பல நாடக குழுக்களுடன் பணியாற்றுவதோடு தனது சொந்த நாடகங்களையும் எழுதி இயக்கியுள்ளார். சிங்கப்பூரில் தமிழில் முதல் சிறுவர் நாடகம் உருவாக வழியமைத்தார். முனைவர் உமையாள், பல நாடகங்களை எழுதி, மொழிபெயர்ப்பதில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளார். அவரது குறிப்பிடத்தக்க படைப்புகளில் தமிழில் ஷேக்ஸ்பியரின் “வெனிஸ் வணிகன்” ரெஜினால்ட் ரோஸின் “பன்னிரண்டு ஆத்திர மனிதர்கள்” மற்றும் பல.

முனைவர் உமையாள், அவாண்ட் நாடகக் குழுவுடன் இணைந்து ‘நம் காட்டினிலே’ மற்றும் தேசிய கலைகள் மன்றம் ‘பியாண்ட் வோர்ட்ஸ்’ ஆதரவுடன் 'காணாமல் போன கிழங்குப் பாட்டி' என்ற இரண்டு சிறுவர் நூல்களை எழுதியுள்ளார்.

As a Tamil Language teacher for the past 20 years, Dr Umayalambigai is no stranger to the arts world. She started off as a youth volunteer in 1997 and a debudant as an actress. She pursued her love for Tamil and worked with several theatre groups and flourished to directing her own plays. Notably, she paved the first children’s theatre in Tamil in Singapore - Ali Baba. The flare for scriptwriting grew on Dr Umayal and she has since written, translated and worked on transcreations of several plays. Her notable works include Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice in Tamil as ‘Venice Vanigan’, Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men and many more.


Dr Umayal has written two children books; one entitled ‘Num Kaatinilae’ together with Avant Theatre and Language and ‘Kaanamal Pona Kizhangu Paatti’ with the support of NAC & Beyond Words Singapore Book Council.

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Virgie Nicodemus

Virgie Nicodemus (Philippines)

Currently working as a Project Development Officer at the National Book Development Board (NBDB), a national agency that provides technical and developmental assistance to the whole book publishing industry, Virgie handles and coordinates for both local and international exhibitions of NBDB. She is a founding member of The Manila Collectible Co. and Culturaid, a non-profit organisation that documents, safeguards, revitalises and promotes the practice and relevance of Philippine cultural heritage.

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Wenny Yosselina

Wenny Yosselina (Indonesia)

As an illustrator, designer, and researcher at KIBA ITB Bandung, Wenny Yosselina focuses on creating inclusive media for children with special needs. She has actively engaged in community projects since 2017, including providing disability tools and children's books. Recent initiatives involve 3D printing for Low-Vision Children, fostering cross-ability collaborations, and producing research articles guiding picture book design evaluations in Southeast Asia.As an illustrator, designer, and researcher at KIBA ITB Bandung, Wenny Yosselina focuses on creating inclusive media for children with special needs. She has actively engaged in community projects since 2017, including providing disability tools and children's books. Recent initiatives involve 3D printing for Low-Vision Children, fostering cross-ability collaborations, and producing research articles guiding picture book design evaluations in Southeast Asia.

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Xi Zuq

Xi Zuq (Philippines)

Xi Zuq is a writer and reading advocate from Southern Mindanao. He is also a publishing personnel of Aklat Alamid, an independent publishing house for children’s books.

Hsu Tseng Chiao

许增巧 (Hsu Tseng Chiao) (Taiwan)

许增巧,台湾台北人,大学时参加自然保育社,开启了对动物与生态的兴趣,曾做过研究助理、兽医师、小学老师,全职妈妈及专栏作者,喜欢美食、小动物与大自然。 现为绘本作家及斜杠菜农,著有《生态池的故事》、《和爸爸去爬山》、《来自森林的礼物》、《神秘甲虫》、《和我一起去野餐》、《小班做饭团》 、《妈妈》、《台湾生态寻宝趣》、《野地漫游》、《小黄吊车》、《棒球场的老鼠》等绘本。

Hsu Tseng Chiao is from Taipei, Taiwan. Her interest in animals and ecology started when she joined a nature conservation society during her university days. She has been a research assistant, veterinarian, primary school teacher, stay-at-home mother, and columnist. She loves food, small animals, and nature. Currently, she writes picture books and grows vegetables. Her picture books include 《生态池的故事》(The ecological pond),《和爸爸去爬山》(Hiking with papa),《来自森林的礼物》(A gift from the forest),《神秘甲虫》(The mysterious beetle),《和我一起去野餐》(A picnic with me),《小班做饭团》(Ben makes rice balls) ,《妈妈》(Mama),《台湾生态寻宝趣》(Ecological treasures in Taiwan),《野地漫游》(Roaming in nature),《小黄吊车》(The little yellow crane), and《棒球场的老鼠》(The mouse in the baseball field).

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Yan Du

Yan Du (China)

Yan Du received her PhD as a Cambridge Trust scholar at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education. Her research focuses on representations of writing and girlhood in youth fiction, poetry, and media culture. She explores contemporary Chinese youth literature with a keen interest in visual and transmedia content. Yan also translates children’s books and authored My Pocket Bathroom, published by Yehoo Press.

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Zeno Sworder

Zeno Sworder (Australia)

Zeno Sworder is a writer and artist who lives in Melbourne with his young family. After studying Chinese literature and migration law at university, he ended up as a dishwasher. Later, he went on to work as a journalist, an English language teacher, a consular officer, an advocate for refugees and immigrants, and a jewelry designer. But he has always felt most himself sitting at a table drawing pictures and making up stories. He is a lover of all stationery but has a particular soft spot for pencils. Sworder is the winner of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) 2023 Picture Book of the Year for My Strange Shrinking Parents. In 2021, Sworder was named the CBCA New Illustrator of the Year, and his first book This Small Blue Dot was a CBCA Notable Book, the winner of the 2021 Australian Book Designers Association’s Award for Best Designed Children’s Illustrated Book, and the Designers' Choice Children’s/Young Adult Book of the Year.

Zhou Jian Xin

周见信 (Zhou Jian Xin) (Taiwan)

图文创作者,国立台北艺术大学造形硕士,国立台东大学儿童文学博士。
2016年以《小白》获得信谊幼儿文学奖首奖,出版有《寻猫启事》、《小小的大冒险》、《小朱鹂》、《机车妈妈》、《黑武士林雕》等 绘本。 2021年以《来自清水的孩子》获得金鼎奖、金漫奖新人奖、台北书展大奖,及德国白乌鸦奖,并授出多国版权。

Zhou Jian Xin is an illustrator and writer. He has a PhD in children’s literature from the National Taitung University and a Master’s of design from the Taipei National University of the Arts. In 2016, he won the first prize at the Hsin-Yi Children’s Literature Award with Puppy and I(《小白》). Other picture books by him include 《寻猫启事》(The runaway cat),《小小的大冒险》(Xiao Xiao’s great adventure),《小朱鹂》(The maroon oriole),《机车妈妈》(Mum rides a bike), and《黑武士林雕》(The black eagle knight). In 2021, Zhou won numerous awards, such as the Golden Tripod Award, the Golden Comics Awards Best New Talent, the Taipei Book Fair Award, and the White Ravens Award with his Son of Formosa (《来自清水的孩子》). The book has since been published in many countries.

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