KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Nov 2008: The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage ministry will channel an allocation to the National Library for the creation of an award for authors of children’s books.
Deputy Minister Teng Boon Soon said the award would serve to recognise and produce authors capable of great works such as the internationally popular Harry Potter series.
“It is time to recognise authors of children’s books to complement the efforts of various parties who often organise children’s book contests,” he said after launching the Personal Safety Book Series and Tan Giek Lian’s Travel Notes in Europe here today.
Teng attributed the current lack of writers for this genre of books to insufficient authors, illustrators and high publishing costs.
“Every two years, there is a (UK-based) Booktrust Children’s Laureate special award, whereby authors are recognised as ambassadors to the children with the responsibility of developing a reading culture amongst them,” he said.
On efforts taken by Tan, who has worked with a cartoonist to publish the Personal Safety Book Series in comic form, Teng said using such concept was easier to deliver the message to children. — Bernama
