Exploring Self-Worth and Identity in Children’s Picture Books
PanelEvelyn Ghozalli , Rachelyn Gordon , Sophia Huang | Moderator: Ames Chen
How do picture books shape a child’s understanding of self? This panel brings together authors and illustrators to explore how themes of self-worth, identity, and belonging are portrayed through both words and visuals. Through a close look at character development and visual storytelling the panel examines how stories empower young readers to embrace who they are.
writingpicture bookscreativityreadersstorytelling
Evelyn Ghozalli (Indonesia)
Evelyn Ghozalli has illustrated more than 80 children’s stories and written several under the pseudonym EorG, and has won several awards, including the Samsung KidsTime Award 2016, Best Illustrator Award at the Islamic Book Fair 2018 and the Indonesia Art Award 2018. She is also the founder of the Indonesian Children’s Book Illustrators Circle (KELIR).
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 teacher. Teaching with colourful stories did not quell the ideas in her head. 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.
Sophia Huang (Singapore)
Sophia Huang is passionate about upcycling materials into toys and art with her three children, a hobby she shares on her Facebook page, Craftcycle for Kids. Her work is regularly featured in the media, and she has also participated in a video campaign by the National Environment Agency aimed at lowering consumption and waste in Singapore. A highly sought after speaker, she enjoys introducing the concept of upcycling to preschool and primary school children through author visits and hands-on craft and storytelling workshops.
Moderator Ames Chen (Singapore)
Ames began her career as a humanities teacher, before moving on to volunteer as an English teacher in parts of Southeast Asia. Ever passionate about education, she now trains students in leadership and communication skills as a freelancer. Motherhood ignited her joy of storytelling, and she is now learning to share the stories of others. She chose to pen books for children as she fi rmly believes in the potential of the next generation to effect change.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.