THIS is supposed to be a book review but first, let’s talk about me.
I’m not quite sure when I became obsessed with picture books as an adult, but at some point, I came to appreciate the subtle art of combining stories and pictures together. I love the idea of distilling the narrative in as few words as possible using illustrations to tell the story. Picture books are a real art form that not only lends itself to stories for children but is quite a delight for adults as well.
In December last year, local publisher, Matahari Books (an imprint of Buku Fixi) announced the publication of their second picture book, 'Wanted: Botak Chin', written by Danny Lim and illustrated by Michelle Lee. So, first of all, a disclaimer – I wrote Matahari’s first picture book, 'The Malay Tale of the Pig King' and this review may or may not be slightly biased since I do genuinely like this particular publisher. However, I promise that I will remain objective.
My copy arrived by Poslaju, carefully wrapped and bearing my name as one of the contributors of the crowdfunding campaign for this book. Following on from their first picture book, Matahari carried out a crowdfunding campaign to help with the high production cost of funding a hardcover illustrated book.
As we are all painfully aware by now, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental financial effect on many businesses including publishing. International book fairs such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and those closer to home such as the Indonesia International Book Fair have had to be scaled down and held online, which has reduced an important sales revenue for publishers.
As a result, publishers have had to be innovative in their marketing and funding plans which is what Matahari Books excel at. In return for making a contribution to the cost of 'Wanted: Botak Chin', contributors have their names printed inside the book and also get a nice warm feeling inside. I love it when publishers and authors carry out these kinds of campaigns because it feels like one big party and makes it easier for people to support local books.
Anyway, back to the book. Being an author of children’s books and picture books, I have to admit that I did have some preconceived ideas on what makes a picture book. 'Wanted: Botak Chin' most definitely bucks the trend due to its subject matter – a notorious gangster who had captured the public’s imagination with amazing feats of dodging bullets and his so-called heart of gold – stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Growing up in the 80s, this was the myth which we all believed in.
I had expected an action-packed gangster story but instead, I was pleasantly surprised to read a genuine, factual account of this rather interesting character. According to Lim, the information for this book came from newspaper archives, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Yuet Yuen Leng’s autobiography, ‘Nation Before Self’ and interviews with the relevant people.
Lim painstakingly sifted through all the newspaper reports and what we are left with is a rather down-to-earth account of the life of this man called Wong Swee Chin. I appreciated that this book didn’t try too hard to live up to the hype of Botak Chin and didn’t glamourise or glorify the ‘gangster life’. Instead, it gave us some of the facts, presented in an entertaining way, and allowed the readers a little peek into this individual’s life.
A picture book is not a picture book without the illustrations, and this book does not disappoint. The illustrator, Michelle Lee, has managed to invoke the colours and textures of the 1970s and 80s era. I love her colour palette, her clean lines and the retro vibe she manages to depict in this picture book. Her portrayal of the man himself, as a cold and stony-faced character, did much to tell the actual story, which is exactly what pictures books should do.
The million ringgit question must be – is this book suitable for children? I would say yes, but of course, it really depends on the parent. There is obviously some violence in the form of shootings, assassinations and suicide attempts, so if you’re not ready to expose your little sprogs to these unsavoury elements, then it’s best to steer clear.
Personally, I found this book quite ‘educational’ since it portrayed an individual who was obviously not a saint, but who eventually accepted responsibility for his criminal actions. In the end, Botak Chin admitted to his crimes, he was genuinely remorseful and took responsibility, which is something we all can learn from. – The Vibes, April 24, 2021
'Wanted: Botak Chin' can be purchased for RM35 at Kedai Fixi, Sunway Putra Mall, L4.41, Level 4, Jalan Putra, 50350 Kuala Lumpur. You can also order this book online at the Buku Fixi website https://fixi.com.my/produk/wantedbotakchin and on Shopee https://shopee.com.my/Matahari-Books-Wanted-Botak-Chin-i.269699097.9122224965
