Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace

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Release Date: February 15, 2022

Author: Judith Vun Price and Jacqui Vun

Genre: Picture Book, Asian, Myths/ Fables/ Legends, Children’s Fiction, Multicultural Interest

Publishers: Crotchet Quaver

The Illustrations within are wonderful.

I was so confused while reading this book. I advise anyone who reads this to look at the words in the back to learn what they mean before they begin reading it.

Nenek Tata heads out to feed the animals and get dinner while Nenek Jantan goes to get some hula (sugar) before the weather gets bad. While she is out doing chores, a large creature comes up behind her. She is frightened and runs home. She is worried about Nenek Jantan and devises a plan to take on the creature.

To me this was a pretty simple and somewhat silly book. I do wonder if some little ones might be a little frightened by the creature though.

If you are trying to learn Malay or think your children would like to learn a few words in another language then this is a simple book to start, with a few words in Malay thrown in throughout the story. Think Dora the Explorer.

This could also be used to discuss other cultures as it has different aspects from American culture. So, the is potential for it to be a teachers resource for elementary children.