Posts Tagged ‘Children’s Advocate’
2024 November 13; November 16
Dear Readers,
I wish you wellness and joy!
Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur… led me to GMBB creative community mall… led me to Museum of Picture Book Art, Malaysia
https://www.museumpicturebookart.com says:
“Welcome to the Magical World of Stories & Art
“The Museum of Picture Book Art is the first of its kind in Malaysia. It is envisioned to be the home of Picture Books from all over Malaysia, both past and present as well as an educational centre for picture books. Picture books are of cultural, historical, and artistic importance. The Museum collects and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from Malaysia. The Museum is a place where art and literature interact, inspiring a love of art and reading through picture books.”
The Museum of Picture Book Art’s managing director is Linda Tan Lingard, and, chairman is Peter Duke.
Teresa Jade LeYung and children’s advocate Maria Kawah Leung got to meet Peter Duke when Phillip Wong made introductions – photo by Jasmine
says: The 100 Malaysia Children’s Picture Books To Read and Love
The 100 Malaysia Children’s Picture Books are divided into several categories. Please note the subject matter may overlap so each book is categorised by its key subject matter.
Concept books
Environment / Nature
Animals
Mental Health and Social Interactions
Patriotism / Unity
Biography
Family
Childhood and growing up
Festivals and Celebrations
Indigenous World
Stories from East Malaysia
Chinese Language Books
Fantasy
Folktales
Silent Books
War
Artist, teacher, Telur Pecah founding curator Phillip Wong shows children’s advocate and book author Maria Kawah Leung one of his favorite picture books.
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The Kuala Lumpur Literature & Art Fair, organised by the Museum of Picture Book Art at GMBB, celebrates literature and art from Malaysia as well as from other countries.
The 2024 Fair took place 22 August to 16 September.
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Below are excerpts from Nuan Ning’s delightful article for Eksentrika – an arts community and online Asian arts magazine with an artist registry …
“6 Interesting Features Of The Museum Of Picture Book Art In Malaysia”
https://www.eksentrika.com/museum-of-picture-book-art-malaysia/
“The Museum of Picture Book Art in Malaysia is a gorgeous homage to Southeast Asian creativity and talent.
“Within its walls in Kuala Lumpur, there is an astonishing display of art, not only within picture books of pristine quality, but also the framed posters and postcards being featured in the museum.
[....]
“Picture Books For All Ages
“It would be a misconception to relegate picture books as something that only caters to the youngest of bibliophiles.
“Without a doubt, the crown jewel of The Museum of Picture Book Art is its extensive rare books collection.
“These include a selection of old Malaysian picture books that were painstakingly curated and comprise generous contributions from the private collections of Linda Tan Lingard, the managing director of the museum, and the museum’s employees and friends.
“The Museum of Picture Book Art chairman, Peter Duke, plans to make copies of rare books and republish a small selection of old books to allow a new generation of readers to enjoy them.
[....]
“Treasury Of Rare Books And Art
“The books preserved in the rare books collection, while valuable as cultural artifacts, hold stories so integral to our childhoods that the intrigue of their contents have long been exhausted.
“Newer picture books, in contrast, are tasked with the daunting challenge of competing with the multitude of digital distractions in the new media age, forcing them to evolve into innovative and inventive works of art.
[....]
“Diversity Of Asia In Picture Book Art
“Peter points out that the museum holds four broad categories of books: Malaysian English, Bahasa Malaysia, Southeast Asian and international books, though there are still books in other languages, such as Chinese.
[....]
“Linking The Past To The Future
“The Museum of Picture Book Art demonstrates that a two-dimensional art form, such as picture books, can be anything but.
[....]
“Linda’s Oyez!Books publishing business has facilitated the production of books by authors in their late teens, paving the way for the books of the future.
“A child with a book is king. A child who reads has a future,” Peter said, quoting Linda….
[....]
“The Museum of Picture Book Art doubles as a bookstore and gift shop, offering a diverse range of picture books in multi language and art of various forms.
[....]
“Books And Workshops For Teens
“For teenagers, the museum also occasionally offers workshops on topics like publishing to writing and illustrating. Peter says the effort is aimed at getting more teenagers involved in the book industry.
Please go to https://www.eksentrika.com/museum-of-picture-book-art-malaysia/ for the full article written by Nuan Ning for Eksentrika
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author Maria Kawah Leung loves picture books, photo by LeYung
To read my blog post “Malaysia – Telur Pecah is about making art accessible to everyone, breaking creative, cultural, and economic boundaries” please visit:
Cheering for everyone who advocates literacy!
Teresa Jade LeYung at KL Tourist Information Centre – photo by MKWL
Author / Blogger / Story-Theme Consultant / Photo Historian
https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos for
short short movies of Paris, FRANCE; Portland, Oregon USA; Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 2024
Love Made Of Heart ®
2024 July
I wish for all children everywhere – gentle, kindhearted, easy-going, safety conscious, open-minded guardians/caregivers/teachers, nature’s healing, love and laughter.
I celebrate Educator, Children’s Book Author, Children’s Advocate MARIA KAWAH LEUNG and her duo-language (in English and Chinese), delightfully illustrated children’s book entitled:
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: AND HOW THEY STAY STRONG IN AN UNHAPPY HOME

Teresa Jade LeYung took Maria Kawah Leung's delightfully illustrated children's book LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET to City of Light, spring 2024
MARIA KAWAH LEUNG shows how a girl named Mia and her loyal companion Happy Dog (he’s much much more than a stuffed animal) use their imagination to cope in an environment they have no control over – domestic violence.
Together, they learn that friends do not have to always like the same things, and, that love means protecting and comforting each other.
Maria Kawah Leung’s messages help everyone – “When you’re scared or sad, talk to grown-ups you trust.” and “It’s not a child’s job to make parents happy.”
Maria Kawah Leung says: “Domestic Violence Awareness is about helping the Families.”
To watch the 39-minute interview – author Maria Kawah Leung in conversation with Kim McMillon, Ph.D.
https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET is endorsed by Hannah Yeoh who is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia.
Story Time with Hannah Yeoh: LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8DLcJlvVg 20 minutes
author Maria Kawah Leung reading her delightfully illustrated children’s book
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vivKrfvokkk 13 minutes
Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog post:
Maria Kawah Leung in conversation with Kim McMillon, Ph.D.
https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/educator-childrens-book-author-childrens-advocate-maria-kawah-leung-says-domestic-violence-awareness-is-about-helping-the-families-2/
Thank you for reading my blog post:
“Author Maria Kawah Leung uses her illustrated children’s book to speak out on behalf of families everywhere”
I wish for all children everywhere – gentle, kindhearted, easy-going, safety conscious, open-minded guardians/caregivers/teachers, nature’s healing, love and laughter.
To see my other blog posts that reference Maria Kawah Leung https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/?s=Maria+Kawah+Leung&search=
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Published author, blogger, lover of Paris, FRANCE, photo historian, Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
Love Made Of Heart ®
2022 July 31 California
Dear Readers,
I wish you and everyone around you – wellness, kindness, happiness.
I celebrate these two women -
Ms. Maria Kawah Leung and Ms. Goldie Hawn
Maria Kawah Leung is the author of a delightfully illustrated children’s book about a serious subject matter – domestic violence. https://mariakawah.com/
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home
(illustrators: Maria Kawah Leung, Sandra Elyse Chavez, Maren Sleire Aasgaard)
This book is endorsed by Hannah Yeoh who is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia.
The main characters in LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET are Mia (a little girl) and her Happy Dog (who is much much more than a stuffed animal). Happy Dog is Mia’s best friend and confidant.
Maria Kawah Leung says:
“I was born in Hong Kong but my family moved to San Francisco when I was almost two years old. I have happily been a teacher of young children for over 25 years and have taught in the USA (California and Massachusetts), China and Malaysia.
“My most rewarding experiences in life were working with children in pediatric wards, studying Chinese in Beijing, China and studying Spanish in Bogota, Colombia.
“I have also traveled to about 30 countries and all the continents except Antarctica. I have always enjoyed writing. Creating this book to help children feel they are not alone has been a life-long goal.
“Empowering children to overcome obstacles is my passion. This is why I wrote the children’s book Little Heroes of Bay Street and How They Stay Strong in an Unhappy Home.”
Ms. Leung adds: “I’m hoping that through my book… that every teacher would get a copy… and school counselors… nurses… so that they can be aware, and, look out for signs, and reach out to these children.”
Maria’s book is available in English, Chinese, Spanish and Bahasa Malaysia
To watch Maria Kawah Leung interviewed by Kim McMillon, PhD https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q 39 minutes
https://mariakawah.com/
Teresa Jade LeYung here …
As I watch Ms. Goldie Hawn’s keynote speech at Teachers College, Columbia University … I think about Ms. Maria Kawah Leung as teacher, author, children’s advocate.
Teachers College – Columbia University – Academic Festival Opening Ceremony Keynote Address: Goldie Hawn on Why Mindfulness in School Matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh5-Pwj9T8E 39 minutes
Ms. Hawn’s foundation is MindUP https://mindup.org/
“Why aren’t we teaching kids about their brain?” When the teacher says “Pay attention.”… how can children know what that means when they don’t know about their brains? “The brain has plasticity.” “What the amygdala is.” “Nobody knows what the kids are feeling. Kids and silent stress.”
Through MindUp … kids learn how to practice kindness, what being mindful is.”
Based firmly in neuroscience, MindUP teaches the skills and knowledge children need to regulate their stress and emotion, form positive relationships, and act with kindness and compassion.
MindUP was created in response to the global epidemic of:
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childhood aggression
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anxiety
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depression
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suicide
Ms. Hawn’s book - 10 MINDFUL MINUTES: Giving Our Children–and Ourselves–the Social and Emotional Skills to Reduce Stress and Anxiety for Healthier, Happy Lives (paperback) – by Goldie Hawn (Author), Wendy Holden (Author), Daniel J. Siegel MD (Foreward)
I celebrate Ms. Maria Kawah Leung and LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET, Ms. Goldie Hawn and MindUP, and children all over the world!
To read my June 28, 2022 blog post “Educator, children’s book author, children’s advocate Maria Kawah Leung says “Domestic Violence Awareness is about Helping the Families”
https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/educator-childrens-book-author-childrens-advocate-maria-kawah-leung-says-domestic-violence-awareness-is-about-helping-the-families-2/
Thank you for reading!
I wish you and everyone around you – wellness, kindness, happiness.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Proud sister of Maria Kawah Leung and proud auntie of Happy Dog
Story Theme Consultant / Photo Historian / Author / Public Library and Public School Advocate
http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa’s Blog
Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
2022 June 26, 21:18; June 27, 01:00; June 28, 13:00, 23:16 California
Teresa Jade LeYung here saying “Thank you, Kim McMilllon, Ph.D., for having children’s book author Maria Kawah Leung on your show “Writers On Writing”. You both are Heroines / Heroes!”
To watch the 39-minute interview https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
Maria Kawah Leung https://mariakawah.com/ is the author of the delightfully illustrated book
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home
which is endorsed by Hannah Yeoh who is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia.
The main characters in LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET are Mia (a little girl) and her Happy Dog (who is much much more than a stuffed animal)
children's_book_author_Maria_Kawah_Leung_and_Happy_Dog
Kim McMillon asks: “Maria, why did you write your book?”
At the first words, Maria Kawah Leung shows courage …
Maria: “Kim, I’m very much honored… because I am a behind-the-scenes kind of person, but, because of my book Little Heroes of Bay Street, it’s important for me to get the message out there… about domestic violence.”
Maria: “Happy Dog has been my best friend since I was 6 years old. He helped me survived watching my father abuse my mother. When I was little, and this was happening, I thought that my family was the only one in the entire world that this was happening to. So, it was very scary. And I felt very lonely. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I found out that other families had the same situation….”
Maria: “I wanted to de-stigmatize this issue [domestic violence], so that people don’t think it’s something that happens ‘to those kinds of people’. It happens everywhere, all cultures, all social economic statuses. I want to raise awareness. Especially for the children. And the mothers. That’s why I wrote a children’s book. Whereas my sister [ Teresa Jade LeYung] wrote an adult novel Love Made Of Heart.”
Kim: “The books you and your sister write help community, families, helping people understand just how prevalent and how dangerous domestic violence is.”
Maria: “I wish I had a book like this when I was little. That’s why I wrote it. For the children. For the teachers to be aware. No teacher was ever aware that I was going through all this pain. I didn’t act out in school. It’s not like I brought attention to myself.”
Maria: “I’m hoping that through my book… that every teacher would get a copy… and school counselors… nurses… so that they can be aware, and, look out for signs, and reach out to these children.”
Maria: “It’s NOT an easy thing. It’s NOT an easy thing for a teacher to approach the parents. Because of feeling ashamed. I felt ashamed when I was abused. I thought people were going to say ‘She must be stupid or uneducated’ or ‘ she brought it onto herself’. You have to be brave and confront the parents so that they can seek help.’
Kim asks Maria about Happy Dog …
Maria: I was 6 years old, my brother Vitus was 10. My brother had asked our parents to get Happy Dog for me…. At the store, my brother saw him [Happy Dog] on the top shelf. One of a kind. No tags. Nothing. I think he’s an alien from somewhere. There he was, already kind of tattered… people must have played with him. His arm already needed sewing.”
(please watch/listen to the interview to find out who Happy Dog is a successor of)
To watch the 39-minute interview https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
Maria: “A few years ago, artist Chandra Garsson, a dear friend of my sister Teresa’s, gave him [Happy Dog] … would you say botox? New lips altogether. Thanks to Chandra, he looks brand new.”
Maria: “Maybe I didn’t publish the book until now… because I wrote it ten years ago… because I felt ashamed that I grew up in a family with violence and that I also experienced it myself [when I was an adult] … that people might think I’m childish because I still cherish my childhood toy. Now I’m old enough to realize I don’t care what other people think. It’s a healthy thing for children to have somebody or some thing to make them feel safe… to go to their happy place.”
Kim: “I remember your mother. She was extraordinary beautiful. [ Rita ] I had great admiration for her.”
Maria: (holds up photo of herself and Happy Dog with her mother) “My mother was dying of metastasized breast cancer in 1999… Yes, she’s beautiful. Powerful. And she’s a powerful guardian angel now.”
Maria: “I’m not trying to tell happy children in happy homes that they should know about all these horrible things that happen in the world. But if it’s a friend in the classroom… you want to help that friend.”
Maria: (showing audience pages from her book; pages 22 and 23 where Ms. Chavez tells Mia that it is not Mia’s job to make her parents happy. )
Maria talks about the illustration on page 22 – about the pictures of the two people on the classroom wall. “… my real life fourth grade teacher, I loved her, but she didn’t see any signs that I needed help. But she was a wonderful teacher. And that’s my friend Mayhar A. Amouzegar, provost at University of New Orleans. He has published several novels. And he writes nonfiction for his work. All these inspirational people in my life.”
Kim: “I found your book so inspirational. I love it. It’s so important. I felt it was healing for you, pouring out that experience, that it could help another person. I thought that was beautiful.”
Maria: “If I can reach as many children as possible and help them heal … when children witness violence at a young age….”
Kim: “When I saw your book was out, I was so proud of you, Maria. I just adore you and I’m so happy that you’re doing so great for the world. I do believe helping people to overcome issues is one of the greatest things, in service to others, so, thank you for so much service to others.”
Maria: “During lockdown of this pandemic, domestic violence has skyrocketed…. Please reach out to people because it’s scary for everybody, this pandemic. There’s fear, there’s hatred, it’s a scary time. Help the families out there now.”
https://mariakawah.com/ has resources for families in USA and Malaysia
To watch the 39-minute interview https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
Please help LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET get into all branches of public libraries https://www.worldcat.org/
Where to purchase Maria’s book: LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home
The book is available in 3 formats - Hard cover; paperback; ebook – written in 2 languages – English and Chinese (simplified characters).
Soon the book will also be available in Spanish and Bahasa Malaysia.
Amazon Paperback edition https://www.amazon.com/Little-Heroes-Bay-Street-Simplified/dp/1543759815/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1610550303&sr=8-1
Amazon E-Book edition https://www.amazon.com/Little-Heroes-Bay-Street-Simplified-ebook/dp/B08L6224B1/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1652110887&sr=1-1
BookDepository Paperback https://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Heroes-Bay-Street-Maria-Kawah-Leung/9781543759815?ref=grid-view&qid=1656449469019&sr=1-2
BookDepository Hardcover https://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Heroes-Bay-Street-Maria-Kawah-Leung/9781543759839#
Barnes & Noble Paperback https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-heroes-of-bay-street-maria-kawah-leung/1137780986?ean=9781543759815
Barnes & Noble NOOK e-book https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-heroes-of-bay-street-maria-kawah-leung/1137780986?ean=9781543759822

children's book author Maria_Kawah_Leung_inscribes_Litttle_Heroes_of_Bay_Street_to_her_sister_Teresa
To watch the 39-minute interview https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
https://mariakawah.com/
Educator, children’s book author, children’s advocate Maria Kawah Leung says:
“Creating my book LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET to help children feel that they are not alone has been a life-long goal. Empowering children to overcome obstacles is my passion.”
Dr. Kim McMillon, thank you again for having Maria Kawah Leung and Happy Dog on your show.
Maria, Happy Dog and Mia, thank you for being so brave. YOU are all beautiful and mighty Heroes!
Everyone, thank you for reading my blog post:
“Educator, children’s book author, children’s advocate Maria Kawah Leung says “Domestic Violence Awareness is about Helping the Families”
I wish you peace and wellness always!
Teresa Jade LeYung
Proud sister of Maria Kawah Leung and proud auntie of Happy Dog
Story Theme Consultant / Photo Historian / Author / Public Library and Public School Advocate
http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog
Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
“MIT new study – Time spent indoors increases risk of COVID at 6 feet or 60 feet…”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/23/mit-researchers-say-youre-no-safer-from-covid-indoors-at-6-feet-or-60-feet-in-new-study.html