The Dance of the Sambar Deer and More Singaporean Fables
Chen Junhua
Epigram Books (2024)
ISBN: 978-9814757669
Reviewed by Elizabeth Upshur for Reader Views (12/2024)
Written by Chen Junhua and illustrated by Chan Shu Yin, “The Dance of the Sambar Deer and More Singaporean Fables” has immediately jumped into the very small circle of one of my favorite children’s collections. The collection offers its audience ten beautifully written stories, replete with lessons on friendship, wisdom, disavowing greed, gratitude, and more!
The artwork is beautifully rendered, with its purples and browns being especially strong in depicting the scary nighttime forest and the titular deer. The author and illustrator artwork at the end of the book is really cute and kids are sure to respond positively to it.
There are also brief factoids about the animals in the stories at the end of each chapter. This is a fantastic addition for children who are curious about animals from all over the world and can encourage them to continue their budding interest in science and the animal kingdom.
My favorite story in this book is The Helpful Firefly, which is about a firefly that, although small in size, offers to help a lost squirrel named Squirrely who is weeping alone in the forest. Can this kind firefly help make a difference and guide Squirrely back to the neighborhood that she knows? Read this sweet story and find out for yourself how help can come in all different shapes and sizes. In this chapter, the fun animal facts introduce readers to scientific phenomena such as bioluminescence, the Plantain Squirrel, and the Singapore Firefly.
While this story’s primary lesson is about how people (or animals) can be helpful no matter what size they are, this story is important because it can be used as a primer for introducing kids to one of the most crucial talks—what to do if you get lost! Who should you look for, who is trustworthy, and what landmarks do children recognize around their house.
These stories are Singaporean, but because of the universal concepts that they are working with, audiences are sure to find resemblances to other fables that they may already be familiar with from reading “Aesop’s Fables” or their own cultural tales. For example, the lesson in The Helpful Firefly might remind children of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, or the timid mouse in “The Mouse and the Lion.”
The stories here are accessible and engaging for kids of all ages, with the lessons and animal facts offering additional layers and opportunities for great conversations on how to treat others. “The Dance of the Sambar Deer and More Singaporean Fables” by Chen Junhua is a great read and a wonderful addition to a child’s bookshelf—particularly for those interested in expanding their child’s world culturally!