A Blue Cat's Tale: A Storytelling Session

Sorry for the long silence. The children's picture book that I wrote has finally been published and is in all major bookstores in Singapore!

A Blue Cat's Tale (ST Press, 2008, 32pp)

Written by Sangeetha Madhavan, original paintings by Michelle Chang

Synopsis: Max has just moved to a new home but all the other cats are afraid of him because he's blue! Follow Max around his neighbourhood as he tries to find a friend.

Winner of the 2008 First Time Writers & Illustrators Publishing Initiative Award, supported by the Media Development Authority and the National Book Development Council of Singapore.

Join me for a storytelling session on Saturday, November 22, 3:00-3:30pm at Woodlands Regional Library, 900 Woodlands Drive, Woodlands Civic Centre.

For those of you who haven't been there, Woodlands Regional Library is four floors of books and their children's section on the fourth level is awesome with its reading park theme, an artificial tree and a twinkling sky. When it opened in 2001, it was Singapore's largest library. Now only the National Library on Victoria Street is bigger.

All are welcome!

Hungry caterpillars and stuffy noses

Mermaid Theatre from Nova Scotia who brought Anita Jeram's children's stories brilliantly to life last year will be giving the same treatment to Eric Carle's classics The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and Mixed-up Chameleon. 15 - 23 Nov.

There's also another show A-tishoo! about a girl with a cold who goes on a magical journey. 30 Oct - 9 Nov.

Early bird bookings for both shows end Monday, September 15. For ages 3-6.

The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella

Two big musicals are coming to a stage near you. It's going to be indie vs. blockbuster.

One is the screen-to-stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz by I Theatre whose Little Red Hen is a house favourite and the other the Rodgers & Hammerstein version of Cinderella starring Lea Salonga early next year.

Early bird bookings for WOZ till 21 Sep.

Roald Dahl on television

Apologies for the long silence but work called...many times. Led the LO to say,  Another meeting! Mama's running away from us again.

Anyway for starters, here's a poem by Roald Dahl on television that dropped into my inbox recently, which library-goers will especially enjoy. Chew on it while I get up to speed on Mamasez.

SSO Children's Concerts: The Listener, 6 Sep

SSO and mime artists from Magic Circle Mime join forces for a concert that proves Bizet and Britten are anything but stuffy.

"The conductor has planned to present a concert exploring the many art forms in which the orchestra is involved, but his efforts are complicated by the unexpected participation of two overtly enthusiastic spectators. A bugle playing mime who wants to sing opera and a tap dancing ballerina are just two zany characters bringing "the art of listening" to life." Suitable for 5-12 year olds and no admission for below-4s.

Free entry to museums 3pm onwards: 1-15 Aug

To liven up these inflationary days, here's a nice little treat. In celebration of National Heritage Board's 15th birthday, enjoy free entry to the following NHB museums and institutions from 1500 hours between 1 and 15 August.

• Asian Civilisations Museum
• Memories at Old Ford Factory
• National Archives of Singapore
• National Museum of Singapore
• Peranakan Museum
• Reflections at Bukit Chandu
• Singapore Art Museum
• Singapore Philatelic Museum

SSO Classics in the Park - 10 August

If your inner picnic pixie wasn't satisfied with Ballet Under the Stars, there's always the open air classics concert at the Botanics this coming weekend. 6pm, 10 August at the Shaw Foundation Stage.

Octoburst! activities: 1 - 5 October

Turns out there's more to Esplanade's Octoburst than just a drawing competition - it's going to be a full-fledged lil fest with theatre, music, ballet and Bharatanatyam which is great news for kids. 

Ticketed events include The Japanese Garden, another edition of the Tick, Tock and Tack series and The Nutcracker by the SDT. Free events include a concert by the young folks at NAFA's Chinese instruments programme, Mouse and Cookie by The Players Theatre and Shakuntala by Bhaskar's Arts Academy.

Experimenta Play ++ - till 2 Aug

While the International Symposium of Electronic Arts might seem like a mouthful for young kids, some of their exhibitions promises to be fun for young 'uns. My pick would be Experimenta Play ++ at Sculpture Square; any place that encourages touching - normally forbidden at most art exhibitions - is a must-visit.

Storytellers Showcase - extra show added

The performances by master storytellers from all around the world at the Singapore International Storytelling Festival are mostly sold-out but there's an extra show added on on 31 Aug at 3pm. For kids 7-12 years, at the Arts House.