Category Archives: Book Review

The Singapore Kid by Jessica Alejandro

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The story started off with an “uninvited guest” trying to steal from The Tay’s Home – a HDB flat in Sengkang.  Thereafter, the story suddenly changed …. with no connection to the first chapter, moved to introduce the characters of the story. Inn Kiat, the main character of the story, is a 11-year-old boy growing up in affluent Singapore.

Like most primary school children, he faces the pressure from school, Tution, expectation from parents to do well. The story gives an insight story of how a kid “grows” from a child to a pre-teenager.  The story also touches on the “jealousy” of child from an average income family when he is with his rich friend, sibling rivalry, friendship and honesty.  

It talks about the disappointment of his parents when they learnt about what Inn Kiat has done, the wise wisdom of the old grandma, the bravery of admitting ones mistake and taking responsibility and the act of “forgive and forget” of a good friend.

I was nearly in tears when I read how disappointed his parents were when they learnt what Inn Kiat has done (I can relate this well because I have a 11-year-old boy myself). I was moved when I read how the old grandma tried to use that incident to teach her grandson the value of honesty. I was amused when I read how Inn Kiat drew out his damage control list and lastly with all smiles when his best friend forgave what he had done.

Personally, I think this book is a good read though there is a bit of Singlish.  My genz kid gives it a 4 out of 5.  For children, this book instils the importance of honesty.  For parents, it allows you to understand your preteens better.    

The Diary of Amos Lee – I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet!

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Have you read the newly launched “The Diary of Amos Lee – I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet!” If you have not, grabbed a copy quick.

Knowing that my son is the die-hard fan of The Diary of Amos Lee, I bought the book for him as his Christmas gift. And you guess it right, he thanked me profusely !

Well, he finished reading the book in a day, so have I ;-) I can see why my son likes the book so much. It’s easy to read and the diary relates very well to what’s happening around him. In the book, Amos Lee is in his last year of primary school (though my son will only be in P5 next year). The internet reality surfaced in this book (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, blogging, etc). It also touches on what friendship, relationship between siblings, and the big word – BULLY! I must give Adeline Foo a thumb-up.

As a mother of a primary school kid, it helps me to understand the “in” things and issues what primary school students are facing.  I’m encouraging you, all mothers, read The Diary of Amos Lee if you have not. It’s awesome !

Now, I’m wondering if Amos will be writing his diary now he will be in secondary school ????

http://www.amoslee.com.sg/home.asp

PS: I read from my blog that some of you do not really like The Diary of Amos Lee. Well, personally, I think the book is a good read for young children and as an adult, I do enjoy reading it.  Individual preference, I guess ;-)

Andrew Matthews – Wisdom of Words

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I enjoyed the talk by Andrew Matthews during the recent Singapore Education Summit 2010.  In case you wondered who he is.  He is the international cartoonist, speaker & best-selling author of motivational and personal development books such as “Happiness Now”, “Follow Your Heart”.

This is what I’ve shared with my Genz Kid:

You can choose to be happy or misery.  Misery is a choice.  

 I took the opportunity to teach my Genz Kid that life is never fair.  You can choice to happy with what you have or misery with what you don’t have.  MISERY is a choice!

You are happier when you accomplished something. 

I asked my Genz Kid whether he felt good after obtaining good results for his mid year results, knowing that he had tried his best and put in his best effort.  He said yes!

Life is a circle of continuous challenges.  

My Genz Kid was bothered that his friend was not finding time to do the project they were supposed to complete during the June school holiday.  I told him that a person grows up when they faces challenges in life.  It’s when you know how to overcome these challenges that you find yourself wiser.  When you thought you have overcome one challenge, before you could rest your feet, you find yourself facing another challenge and this will go on and on ….  AND again, you can choice to face these challenges positively with an open heart or miserably.

Ability + Attitude + Strategy = SUCCESS

I told my Genz Kid that a person could be very smart, but without the right attitude and strategy, he can never be successful.  He may not be the smartest person in his class but if he learn from the mistakes and take failure positively, and with the right strategy, he will be successful.

Fun is when you are involved and participated, not watch

I asked my Genz Kid which is more fun, to watch your friend playing a scoccer game or you participate in the game.  He told me “PARTICIPATE”.  Yes, participate even if you are not the best in the game or even you have lost the game.  The more important thing is you have fun and enjoyed the game!

That’s all I have to share today.  If you have not read his book, I would urge you to read one.  I believe you will feel as enlighten as I do! 

And guess what, I’m going to get his “Being a Happy Tenn” for my Genz Kid.  Although he is not a teenage yet, I believe he will benefit a lot from the book.

Official website : http://www.andrewmatthews.com/

Also on facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Matthews-Author/108867285809877

And this is from Andrew’s “Happiness Now”…. ENJOY!

 

Book Review – The Diary of Amos Lee

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Have you read “The Diary of Amos Lee” written by Adeline Foo? I brought the 1st book “The Diary of Amos Lee: I Sit, I Write, I Flush! for my son during his December school holiday last year. He enjoyed the book so much that he finished reading the book within a day. He said he couldn’t stop reading it once he started reading the same. I suppose the book must be entertainingly as I could hear his laughter while he was reading it. He said it was one of the best books he had read.

Last Sunday, my son was expected to write a journal as homework and he used the book as a reference. I read his master piece and gees, it was pretty interesting and humorous that I can’t stop giggling while reading it. Even Genz Dad thinks that the journal was written very creatively. As a result, in a spur of moment yesterday evening, I got him the 2nd book – The Diary of Amos Lee: Girls, Guts & Glory! As expected, he finished ¾ of the book last night and I bet he would finish the whole book today.

Here’s the extracts of the book review from the official website of The Diary of Amos Lee (http://www.amoslee.com.sg/home.html):

The Diary of Amos Lee: I Sit, I Write, I Flush!

This diary began as Mum’s New Year resolution to get me to write. She told me to write when I am doing my big business. “Five to eight minutes max!” she said. “I don’t want you to develop piles!” And so my writing in the bathroom began. My entries started with the boring old stuff… then Mum got this new job as a writer and, following her around, I got to do fun stuff, like ogle at deformed frogs, see into the future with a fortune-telling parrot and wow at a life-sized F1 car made of chocolate! That’s how I got more interesting things to write about. Plus, I had to deal with an EVIL bully who was tormenting me at school… thank goodness for my best friends, Alvin and Anthony, we rallied against the bully and got through this year with lots of adventures and good fun!

The Diary of Amos Lee: Girls, Guts & Glory!

The story of Amos continues. He is still writing his diary in the toilet, but he has found a way to hide it from Mum’s prying eyes. Amos joins the school’s swim team and learns about hunger, not the sort to make you want to eat food, but the drive to excel and win medals in competitions! The themes in Book 2 touch on family, friendship and loyalty. Lessons are also drawn from Olympic legends like Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis and Sebastian Coe, in inspiring legions of young athletes to be the best in both studies and sports. Amos seeks his Olympic dream, in this second installation.

Parents, if you are trying to cultivate good reading habits of your children, try these books.