written by jeannette teo (2009)
illustrated by atlas associates
(looking forward for this to be in print)
Contact: jeannette teo
email1: whitejade@hotmail.com
email2: jeannette@atlas-associates.com
Story 1 Synopsis:
Rambu Tan Boy’s Bestest Birthday Wish
Rambu Tan boy is like any other 5-year old boy you know – he
loves to play and have fun.
But most of all, Rambu Tan has the bestest friends ever...
... the very clever Banana Wong
... the very happy Apple Chew
... and the very kind Ali Chillipadi.
When his 6th birthday party approaches, Rambu Tan wants to wish
the bestest birthday wish of all! ...er, if only he knows what it is.
So what should Rambu Tan wish for?
Story 2 Synopsis:
Rambu Tan Boy’s Greatest Ice Kachang Feast
Rambu Tan Boy absolutely LOVES ice kachang! So, when it was
time to go to Banana Wong’s house for pot-luck night, Rambu Tan’s
mummy decided to prepare ice kachang for the dinner party. But
before dinner, Rambu Tan just couldn’t resist having a small chunk
of ice kachang... and before he knew it, he had eaten way too much
ice kachang before dinner even began! And what’s worse, he ate so
much deliciously sweet ice kachang that his tummy felt sick the next
day! This is when Rambu Tan realized why he shouldn’t have too
much of anything at one time – even if it were his most favourite
thing in the whole wide world (except lots of hugs).
------------------------------STORY ONE--------------------------------
Rambu Tan Boy’s
Bestest Birthday Wishes
Rambu Tan wished.
He wished
he could travel the world
and be as bright
as Banana Wong.
He wished
he had buckets and buckets
of monster toys
and be as cheerily rosy
as Apple Chew.
He wished
he had a cheeky talking parrot
and be as sweet to his pet
as Ali Chillipadi was to his sleepy cat.
So, when it came to making
that one fabulous birthday wish,
Rambu Tan wished -
he wished he knew what to wish for.
Rambu Tan closed his eyes.
He imagined being as bright as Banana Wong.
He imagined being as rosy as Apple Chew.
He imagined being as sweet as Ali Chillipadi.
Finally he blurted,
“I wish for the bestest birthday wish ever
and I wish I knew what it is!”
Poor Rambu Tan looked so lost, his friends had to flash their biggest, brightest, bestest
smiles to cheer him up.
“Let’s dance!” suggested bright Banana Wong.
“Maybe your answer might moozie moollie move on in!”
So Banana Wong tip-toed and squeaked.
Apple Chew belly-danced like jelly.
Ali Chillipadi flung his hands in the air,
wiggling and giggling.
Rambu Tan boy had an absolutely delightful time dancing with his friends,
but he still didn’t know what his bestest birthday wish was.
“Draw your swords!” cried rosy Apple Chew.
“Ready! Steady! PAINT!”
They painted together, using the brightest, happiest, bestest splash of colours.
“Let’s gobble!” said sweet Ali Chillipadi.
They had a lovely picnic under the swaying coconut tree.
They wolfed down jumbo fishballs and slurped cold creamy soya bean milk with
chunks of birthday cake.
They had so much fun,
Rambu Tan forgot
all about his bestest birthday wish!
Just before their pyjamas party, Rambu Tan told his mummy and daddy that he had the
bestest birthday party ever.
And then,
suddenly,
he knew!
His bestest birthday wishes
had really come true!
Rambu Tan gave them all
the biggest,
brightest,
rosiest,
sweetest
and the most ticklish bear hug!
”Thank you,
for the bestest
birthday party ever!”
“You’re the bestest mum, dad and friends
that any Rambu Tan can ever wish for!!”
------------------------------STORY TWO--------------------------------
Rambu Tan Boy’s
Greatest Ice Kachang Feast
Rambu Tan slurped.
He slurped,
digged,
licked,
gulped and guzzled down
his ice kachang.
“More! More!” he cried, but Mummy said no.
Rambu Tan cried.
He cried until Grandmama felt sorry for him.
She made him another deliciously sweet ice kachang when Mummy wasn’t looking.
Rambu Tan slurped.
He slurped,
digged,
licked,
gulped and guzzled down
his second ice kachang.
When he finished, he wanted more!
But, guess what Grandmama said?
Yuppers! She certainly had to say no.
Rambu Tan cried.
He cried until Grandpapa felt sorry for him.
Grandpapa made him another ice kachang when Mummy and Grandmama weren’t
looking!
Now what do you think happened after Rambu Tan had finished his third ice kachang?
It was dinner time!
They went over to Banana Wong’s house for a pot-luck dinner. Apple Chew and Ali
Chillipadi were also going to be there. It was going to be a fabulously fun dinner!
But Rambu Tan could hardly eat. He could only feast his eyes on the delicious spread
of food.
He couldn’t slurp up prawn noodles like Banana Wong.
He couldn’t wolf down fish head curry with puppodums like Apple Chew.
He couldn’t gobble up satay with peanut sauce like Ali Chillipadi.
Finally, when it came to dessert, Rambu Tan’s mummy brought out his favourite...
A huge dollop of mango sauce over a splash of colourful, sweet syrup on a gigantic
bed of freezing cold...
...ice kachang!
Banana Wong, Apple Chew and Ali Chillipadi slurped.
They slurped,
digged,
licked,
gulped and guzzled down
the gigantic ice kachang.
And all Rambu Tan could do was watch.
That night, Rambu Tan had a nightmare.
He dreamed of a gigantic ice kachang monster with slurpy eyes!
He dreamed that it wanted to eat him up!
When he woke, his tummy felt terribly wrong.
Mummy had to bring him to the clinic to ask old Dr Durian Poh to examine him.
It took a few days of rest, porridge and gigantic hugs from mummy, daddy, grandmama and grandpapa before Rambu Tan fully recovered.
He was so happy to be well that he invited Banana Wong, Apple Chew and Ali Chillipadi to come over for a mini tea party.
This time, Rambu Tan enjoyed eating with his friends.
They slurped,
digged,
licked,
gulped and guzzled down
crispy curry puffs, tutti frutti jelly
and mummy’s special ice kachang.
It was indeed a splendid tea party and Mummy’s greatest ice kachang was the sweetest
point of the day!
This time, Rambu Tan knew that
he couldn’t,
wouldn’t
and needn’t
ask for any more.
Except, maybe,
some more gigantic hugs.
(end)
Thank you for reading! :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Writer’s Notes:
I have 3 wonderful, bright and healthy children – Aidan (8), Christen (6) and Jannah
(2). I read them storybooks and I watch hours of tv cartoon programmes with them on
weekends.
For them, and children like them, I want to craft stories with Asian characters, content
and flavour. Yet, at the same time, I also want to tell fun, creatively imaginative and
exciting stories with universal themes which children (and their parents) can easily
relate to and appreciate.
Adapting from an original bedtime story created just for my children (not written yet),
Rambu Tan was “born”, together with his colourful friends - Banana Wong, Apple Chew
and Ali Chillipadi. Regardless of a child’s shape, size, age, roots (heritage/race) or
background, I hope to write stories that will not only entertain, but to also share
a slice of life’s experiences.
From my manuscripts (as above), I have provided 2 mini stories revolving around
Rambu Tan and his friends. I hope I’ll be given the opportunity to share my characters
and stories by publishing them (*big hint*). And, if it’s business viable, I would love to
create a series of stories revolving around Rambu Tan and his friends, eventually
venturing into creating comic strips and/or animated cartoon series for children (and
adults) around the world.
Thank you for reading!
I certainly look forward to hearing from you.
Yours truly,
jeannette teo
feb 2009
