Pineapple Tarts for a Rainy Day is a moving story about twelve-year-old Ah Boy and his aging grandfather, Gong Gong, as they prepare traditional Lunar New Year treats in their family home. As Gong Gong struggles with the early stages of dementia, the sensory experience of baking—specifically the sharp scents of cloves and cinnamon—acts as a "map" to help him navigate back to his memories and his...
Seven Wishes in the Air is a heartwarming tale of seven childhood friends, known as the "Seven Stars," who gather for their annual Lunar New Year Yee Sang ritual. As they navigate the daunting transition into their teenage years, each friend adds a specific ingredient to the communal platter, symbolizing their personal struggles—from academic pressure and health scares to grief and loneliness...
Red Envelopes and Empty Pockets follows twelve-year-old Ah Boy as he struggles to live up to his family’s high expectations during the Lunar New Year celebrations. Constantly compared to his "lucky" and high-achieving cousin Ah Bin, Ah Boy feels inadequate until a moment of crisis reveals that true luck isn't found in wealth or grades, but in the strength of one's character. Through a selfless...
"The Skyway Pact" tells the heartwarming story of Minah and Sabre, two best friends on their final cable car ride together before Minah moves to a different state. As they ascend through the misty highlands of Genting, they create a 'survival guide' for their friendship, filled with rules and promises to ensure their bond remains strong despite the distance. Their endearing pact, sealed with...
A Starry Night Over the National Planetarium follows Eddy, a boy living in a cramped city apartment who uses the local planetarium as a sanctuary from his parents' constant arguing. Alongside a new friend named Miki, Eddy learns to view his family’s struggles through the lens of astronomy, realizing that just as city lights hide the stars without destroying them, his current hardships are only...
Kites Over Kepong Metropolitan Park is a touching slice-of-life story about the Lim family, who have become distant and strained following a year of financial hardship. During a Sunday outing to a famous park in Kuala Lumpur, Papa, Meiling, and Wei Han struggle to fly a traditional batik kite. Through the physical challenges of managing the kite and a tense moment with a tangled string, the...
"Chasing the Kingfisher" tells the heartwarming story of Zack, an asthmatic city boy who moves to a kampung near Sungai Pinang and feels out of place until he spots a dazzling blue kingfisher that no one else believes exists. His determined quest to photograph the elusive bird, initially met with skepticism, transforms into a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and unexpected friendships with...
After her father loses his job at the Weld Quay docks, eleven-year-old Lina begins working odd jobs around Pulau Tikus to help her family. One rainy evening, she meets a mysterious stray dog who becomes her quiet companion and guide through the hidden corners of their coastal neighborhood. As monsoon floods threaten the community, Lina and the dog - whom she names Tikus - embark on a courageous...
Once upon a time, in a small town cradled by rolling hills, two little houses sat side by side, separated by a tall wooden fence that loomed like an unsaid word. On one side lived Emma, a curious girl with dark black eyes and hair that danced like sunbeams when the wind blew. On the other lived Hyu, a boy whose laughter sparkled like the stars, but whose heart held shadows from a recent family...
On the edge of Balik Pulau, where the sun dipped low over the horizon and turned the sky into a watercolor painting of pinks and purples, stood an old Victorian house. The paint was peeling, and the garden was overgrown with wildflowers, but it had stories buried within its walls. This was the home of eleven-year-old Lily Tan.
