Through the Eyes of Om: Exploring Malaysia

PreS-Gr 3—A young American boy named Om, of Indian and Malaysian ancestry, travels to Malaysia to visit his mother's homeland. Through his curious toddler eyes, Om playfully describes his experiences about preparing for his trip, flying on an airplane for the first time, meeting his Malaysian relatives, and learning about Malaysian culture and customs. Using the concept of "Fans of 3," Om lists facts or observations in groups of three, such as favorite details about Malaysian landmarks or ways to show respect to Malaysian elders. While such tidbits are interesting, they are few, and the narrative is awkward at times. Om is supposed to share his perspective, but some of the words and phrases are more characteristic of an adult voice than that of a three-year-old. Prajogo, an Indonesian artist, presents detailed and colorful, digital illustrations that are key to telling Om's story. Maps of Om's journey from America to Malaysia, and images of when Om meets his bibiji (great grandmother) or enjoys Malaysian foods with his family, are especially helpful to visualize Om's experiences. The first in a series of Om's travel logs, this one includes a brief glossary of Malaysian terms.