Let's Look at Malaysia
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
This coloring book gives brief details about three children who live in Malaysia that represent different ethnic groups, one of whom is a Christian.
Description
This is a twenty-one page coloring book. It gives brief details about three children who live in Malaysia. The title page has a map of South East Asia which highlights Malaysia. Each page contains a line drawing and a short section of the story.
Readers are introduced to Soo Mei, Abdul, and Rani. Abdul is a Malay boy and a Muslim. Rani is from India and speaks Tamil, English, and Malay. She lives in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Soo Mei is Chinese and her mother still burns incense sticks to Chinese deities. Soo Mei is a Christian.
Interesting descriptions accompany the drawings and present a glimpse of life in Malaysia. The book also includes a search for geckos (little lizards) which are hidden away in various places throughout the book. The book ends with a request to pray for the different people groups (including Chinese, Iban, Indian, Malay, and Penan) who live in Malaysia.
Considerations
- Each child represents a different ethnic group living in the country.
- The descriptions of local worship are without negative comments. The one exception is the description of the Chinese idol as being ugly.
- Interesting descriptions are given of such things as lifestyles, schooling, tropical fruits, a rubber plantation, a Chinese church in a small jungle town, a tribal longhouse on Sarawak, and means of transport.
- Most of the illustrations are full views but some show just the upper portions of bodies. Others are cut away views allowing the written story to appear on the page. People groups not visually literate may need explanation of these body portions and cut-away views.
- Two pages include all sorts of pictures mixed together to illustrate Muslim worship and rubber tapping. They would need explanation.
Limitations
Guidelines for Use
- This coloring booklet could be used to accompany the story an audiocassette.
- It also has possibility for use as a flipchart to accompany the story on audiocassette.
- The story would be useful in South East Asia (especially in Malaysia).
- Useful as a basic method of learning to understand other peoples and their customs.
- Also useful to show that God loves all people and He sent Jesus to share that good news.
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Cost
Cost of booklet: $3.80 US (At time of reprinting in 1986)
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
Author: Miriam Dunn
Illustrations: Ellen Lister
Current copyright owner
Other Information
If you are interested in translating this story into a vernacular language you will need to contact OMF Singapore for permission. Use a Creative Commons License. This will help you come to an agreement giving permission and guidelines for any changes needed for the book to be culturally relevant in your vernacular languages.
