May 20, 2024
HANOI – Vietnamese writer Isabelle Müller will be taking readers on another fantasy journey in her new picture book that will be published on Children’s Day (June 1).
The book, entitled Hip Hop and the Master Singer, is the third work in the series about a little flea called Hip Hop.
In his first and second adventures, published in 2022 and 2023, Hip Hop heads to the fantasy land of Ellsaby and the Golden Forest, and in this third one, he will travel to the city of Falbalo, a valley away from his home – Green Valley Zoo.
In Falbalo City, all the songbirds have suddenly fallen silent. They have been ignored by humans for far too long. Now some bird species are in danger of disappearing forever as they have forgotten how to sing and how to defend themselves if necessary.
Master Singer Cosma could certainly fix this, but she would need help in order to be successful. Hip Hop and the Master Singer will reveal how Hip Hop and his friends are able to rescue the songbirds from their desperate situation before spring arrives.
Lovingly told by Müller, with detailed illustrations by Daniel Gaucher, this book about the flea’s next great adventure focuses on cohesion and the need for more mindfulness in life.
“In our actual world, everything is moving faster and faster,” said Müller.
“People are under pressure and often don’t have time to relax their minds. Modern means such as smartphones, computers or tablets have become part of education and can be a good support, but children’s attention is drawn to the devices. Communication between people is becoming less and less and as a result there are deficits in social behaviour and the bond within the family also weakens.
“In addition, the relationship between people and nature and the animal world is also divided. Mother Nature with the plants and the animals that surround us give us so much strength and help us find peace of mind. We can meditate, come back to our senses and observe the wonders of our world (birdsong, social behaviour in animals, wonders of nature in plants and trees, etc), but only if we consciously take the time to do so. If you don’t do this, valuable things in life will be lost.
“This book shows how important it is to maintain and develop awareness of our surroundings. In the circle of life, everything is connected (humans, animals, nature) and we should cultivate this circle and honour it with respect.
“Hip Hop’s next adventure awakens this awareness and emphasises the importance of cohesion and creativity to solve problems.”
Hip Hop and the Master Singer is expected to be published in three languages – Vietnamese, English and German – by Hồ Chí Minh City General Publishing House.
It is suitable for children aged six to ten and all proceeds will be donated to the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) which aims to help Vietnamese disadvantaged children in mountainous areas have a better life.