Jom, Kita Bincang!

Can children's literature spark conversations around sustainability, health, and social issues? These were the questions posed for the Jom Kita Bincang! (Let’s talk about it!) project, which was spearheaded by the Embassy of Sweden in Malaysia, together with the Raja Tun Uda Library, and the Malaysia Board on Books for Young People. The impact of Swedish children's literature on global kids' books has been significant, and over time has moved from "watered-down” or “preachy" to instead encourage children to be thinkers, to dream and to ask questions about the world, with a focus on the “child’s perspective.” We speak to His Excellency Dr Joachim Bergström, the Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia, and Ingrid Källström, a pedagogue and librarian, to discuss the importance and profound impact of Swedish tales on young readers worldwide, and also to find out more about the events offered for Malaysians through the Jom Kita Bincang! project.