Book Signing of A Flower Named Princess
Yesterday was the book signing of “A Flower Named Princess”, the very first children’s comic book that Kechara has published. It was initiated by the Kechara House Education Committee (KHEC) and published by Kechara Media and Publications (KMP).
The book signing was an event organized by the Manjushri Kid’s Class (MKC) teachers and was held at Kechara House. Both the illustrator, Yun Kim Loong, and comic book author, Shirley Maya Tan, were there to promote their comic book and for their autograph signing session. There were 55 guests who attended… most of them were kids, of course!!
The fun-filled and energetic crowd signed each of their names using their thumb prints. They then sat on cushions while Mr Ngeow gave a short speech on behalf of KHEC. This was followed by a speech by Shirley Maya Tan (the author) talking about her inspiration for the book… and then Kim Loong took the spotlight!
He demonstrated a short sketch of the main comic book character… Princess. All the kids loved it and crowded around him. There was a lot of interaction between them and the cartoonist!
Kim Loong is a free-lancer and illustrated this book because of his personal passion for art. When the kids were asked which part of the comic they liked best, one kid shouted out, “Om Mani Padme Hum!”.
Which is YOUR favourite part of the book?
Tsem Rinpoche
Guests signing in with their thumbprints!
The cushions are filled with comic book fans!
Mr Ngeow explains why this book was conceptualized…
Shirley Maya Tan (in white) and Mr Ngeow showing an illustration by Kim Loong (in red).
Kim Loong then takes the stage and draws the main character.
Kim Loong is very talented and creative.
Mr Ngeow presents a bouquet of flowers to Shirley Maya Tan in appreciation of her work.
Mrs Ngeow presenting flowers to Kim Loong on behalf of Kechara House.
A group picture of those involved in the making of the comic book!
Autograph session time. The kids grab their comic books for the writer and illustrator’s autograph.
Many kids line up…
… to get a personal message from Shirley Maya Tan!
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It is imperative that kids today learn dharma. In a world filled with conveniences, materialism and peer pressure, it is very easy for children to grow up spoilt, angersome, intolerant… and become horrible adults who cause pain and suffering wherever they go. In this book, KMP has come up with creative ways to impart Dharma to children, and it is not surprising that the KMP CEO is a mother herself! I hope to see more children start taking little footsteps towards the big goal of enlightenment from a very young age.
This is a very good idea to share the Buddha way of life to the new generation by using the way that they like. Instead of force dharma teaching down to their throat, let them read and adsorb will be much more effective.
KMP always come out with the brilliant idea how to makes deep and profile Buddha teaching suitable for all age, this is just one of them. I’m sure more and more will come and it will benefit a lot.
by the way this is a very good gift for young children.
Many of the books I read when I was a kid I can still remember them up to now, especially adventure and fantasy books. It was really a fun moment then. Perhaps that’s why it’s so much easier to absorb information whether it’s fiction or real. Story-telling makes it really fun and easy to learn. What more if it’s full of pictures? It appeals to both girls and boys. What a fantastic way to absorb dharma. Good job to all the people who worked hard on the book!
Congratulations KMP, for your first comic book. I read it and loved the simple story with subtle Dharma teachings included. An easy way to teach your kids good ethics / moral and fun too.
This comic is a great way to teach children and in fact, readers of all ages ethics, responsibilities and morality. It’s a light and entertaining medium that appeals to all ages. I hope that there will be a series of similar comics that KMP publishes for the huge population of comic fans.
Rinpoche said that it’s important to start instilling the above qualities when we are kids. Then we’ll grow up being better citizens who are caring and responsible. There will be more peace and harmony around the world.
The first time I received any comic books, they were from my mother who went to India and met Rinpoche. It was a set of Jataka Tales comics and I remember how much they captured my imagination and how I really learned a lot from what the artists had drawn. So from personal experience, I know that kids respond well to comic books.
I know it’s been Rinpoche’s dream for the longest time to have a series of comics that will teach kids about ethics and morality and virtue, and now Rinpoche’s dream is another step closer! Books for young and old, Rinpoche never stops conceptualising to bring Dharma to others… thank you Rinpoche!
It is amazing that we can come out with a good comic book for children especially when it encompasses dharma in it. It is very good if children are exposed to dharma from a young age as they will become a better and more responsible adult when they grow up.
Good job to KMP and Education Committee. This is one of the way to educate our kids. We should give Dharma to the kids, Rinpoche mentioned before, if we learn Dharma since young, our life now will be better, not that we will not have problem, but when we’re facing problem, we have Dharma to teach us how to see thing in another angle and let go eventually.
Many of the youngster I met these days are quite sad and many of them have many anger in themselves or too materialistic, some of them have slight depression at young age. Since kids like to read comic, KHEC, KMP and MKC work very hard to produce and publish this new Comic book to pass good message to the kids. I rejoice for their effort and may this comic book bring more happiness to the kids and family.
I came across the first dharma comic book from Kechara. I thought it was a brilliant idea to have illustrated comic as a dharma book. It is not heavy, easy to read and very engaging. It was Lama Tsongkhapa comic. I love it! in 10 mins you can read up pretty much the life story of Lama Tsongkhapa! How cool is that? The best thing about comic is the illustrations are normally very lively and drawn beautifully. Definitely a must have for Manga lovers! And you can read it again and again!
Now the new comic book from Kechara did it again! I am pretty sure the kids will love it. Not only it leaves a good imprint and learning something good, they will get in touch with dharma since a very young age, how wonderful!
Kechara, you did it again!
My kids really love the comics. Somehow she didn’t get the books during the signing ceremony, and keep asking one from me. After I gave her one, she can’t wait to show it to her friends in school.
Comic can really captivates readers, especially the kids. If we can attract the kids to learn more about Dharma from young, they can grow up less materialistic and more generous.
I rejoice for what KMP has done and I will want to sponsor the next publication!
KMP has certainly come very far and it has much more diverse offerings to when it started. The book sounds like of fun even for an adult like myself. So dharma can be fun for everyone, its all in the presentation.
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Ngeow Voon Chin (Head of KH Education Committee), Shirley Maya Tan (author), Kim Loong (illustrator), Kechara Media and Publications and all those involved in the production of “A Flower Named Princess”. The proceeds from the sale of the comic book goes to the Manjushri Kids Class (MKC). I would also like to thank the organisation committee of this book signing event and all the parents and children for their support. The second book which continues the story will be out soon. I heard the children are waiting eagerly to find out what is going to happen to the princess.