The Elephant and the Tree

Life isn’t all about ourselves, is it?

That is the premise that got Jin Pyn started on her first book The Elephant and the Tree.

Knowing full well the message she wanted to bring forth, her pen couldn’t stop. (Well, not that there was a lot to write for a children’s picture book, but hey, less is more!)

Set uniquely in black, and orchestrated with a tuneful rhythm, THE ELEPHANT AND THE TREE is about an endearing friendship between an Asian elephant and a tree, with a dose of reality and a strong conservation theme.

The unique illustrations and powerful writing touched the panel of judges who selected the manuscript for the Media Development Authority and the National Book Development Council of Singapore to groom as representational of National talent under the First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

By the same token Jin Pyn was also selected out of 34,000 applicants worldwide for yet another development course, this time as a natural history filmmaker in a flagship Animal Planet production.

Till this day she staunchly believes that she has her focused altruistic intentions to thank for her good fortune, and that good fortune is bestowed for a reason – so she may be a tool through which this good will is channeled, and be a voice for the voiceless. (The publishers think that it is her creative talents and hard work.)

For this reason she has spearheaded a charitable cause for the book. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be channeled into an elephant welfare fund.

This way the returns will be double, for ourselves.

For more information, visit www.elephantandtree.com

Kids Company magazine

The Elephant and the Tree is great company for kids too, as featured in the January issue of KIDS COMPANY magazine.



KIDS COMPANY, January 2007

MADE IN SINGAPORE, SAVING THE WORLD
The tree and the elephant were best of friends, until man came along. Set in black, this simple message tells us about the sad effects of deforestation. Good for ages 5 and up. Five per cent of the proceeds from the sale of this book funds elephant welfare projects.

Featured in Lifestyle - the most widely circulated magazine in Singapore

Lifestyle's review was again a testament to the timeless quality of The Elephant and the Tree.



LIFESTYLE read

Lime-green crayon sketches on matt black pages. Minimal writing but what a strong message in a few words. Jin Pyn has done a wonderful job of drawing attention to the plight of elephants (and all wildlife), to nature abused by selfish, callous humans. My heart breaks for elephants, orang utans, tigers and all life on earth (including trees) we have destroyed. Although designed as a child’s book, this is for all who care. I’m keeping it because it’s such a simply beautiful book.

For the STYLE-ish adults

Very rarely can a children's tale bring adults back to the fairytale world of the lost wonder years. The Elephant and the Tree has done just that. Discerningly stylish adults have taken to The Elephant and the Tree. Although designed as a children's book, it has made it to STYLE magazine's January 2007's checklist!



STYLE CHECKLIST

AN ELEPHANT”S TALE
Relive childhood bliss with the whimsical The Elephant and the Tree, written and illustrated by Jin Pyn. The charming story of an elephant’s love for its tree friend, accompanied by deceptively sophisticated graphic design will have you smiling and feeling about five again. Five per cent of sales proceeds go to funding elephant welfare projects.

And again in the Chinese news

The Elephant and the Tree, and Jin Pyn had a pleasant interview with the reporter of the most widely read Chinese papers in Singapore, subsequently published in a full page article - so big Jin Pyn had difficulty scanning it.

In Malaysian news too

The Elephant and the Tree made it to Malaysian papers too, The Sunday Star, to be specific, on Dec 3, 2006. Seems that wherever the book has been travelled, it has received good reviews!


… I like the illustrations for Samsui Girl by Lee-Ling Ho and The Elephant and the Tree by Jin Pyn.

Crossing over to Mandarin Channel 8 News

Dec 7 - The Elephant and the Tree was selected for feature in the mandarin television channel, Channel 8's news coverage of the official opening of Page One at VivoCity and the announcement of the inclusion of a new graphic novel category for MDA and NDBCS's First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

"A rare classic ..." The Straits Times, Dec 3

Kristina Tom of The Straits Times, the most widely read and circulated English language paper in Singapore, likened Jin Pyn's The Elephant and the Tree to Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar - "a rare classic ... where wit and playfulness and heartache leap from the brilliantly illustrated pages all at once."

Jin Pyn is also said to have "an alarming instinct for the very nub of what makes a great fairytale - magic, laughter and very real evil."



"CHILDREN'S picture books do not hold the same magic for me anymore. Of course there is the rare classic like Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, where wit and playfulness and heartache leap from the brilliantly illustrated pages all at once."

I am happy to say that Singapore has a new rare classic of its own with Jin Pyn's debut.

The slim black book has a minimalist look reminiscent of neon yellow chalk on a blackboard. The doodles - a tree is simply a vertical line topped by a hasty squiggle - seem simple, but they are infuse with a warmth and kooky sense of humor."

It is also a simple story: Elephant befriends tree, tree befriends elephant and the two share everything. The elephant wanders far and bring back stories for his rooted friend, while the tree grows tall enough to report the happenings of a nearby village.

But the tale takes a dark turn. A hunter captures the elephant, who stands by his friend in an attempt to prevent his friend from getting the axe.

When the elephant comes to, the tree has been made into a wooden seat on his back, and the two continue as brothers in bondage, as the elephant, presumably, is used for tourist rides.

"So it was the two friends stayed together in company; one chained and one bound, recounting the happy memories."

This is of course, little consolation for the chilling account of freedom and innocence lost - a subtext that is not lost on young children.

Do not be surprised if you are affected by this book as much as your kids are. Jin Pyn has an alarming instinct for the very nub of what makes a great fairytale - magic, laughter, and very real evil." - Kristina Tom

It's so cute!

"It's so cute!" was the most common reaction to The Elephant and the Tree at the CLEAN AND GREEN WEEK SCHOOLS CARNIVAL.


Many children who visited the booth left with a new knowledge about the relationship between elephants and trees, as well as the plight of some elephants in captivity.

Many simply stood watching the naturally funny animals on the documentary again and again.

Most were also a card richer - a calendar card that is.

The elephant and the tree found the children cute too.

RAVE REVIEWS!

Just back from major industry events - Frankfurt Book Fair for publishing, and Wildscreen Film Festival in Bristol for Natural History Filmmaking.

Many of the names and faces on television - the natural history genre, that is, were at the latter event.

Many who have seen and read "The Elephant and the Tree" commended it for its illustrations and design. Someone's eyes were watery by the end of the read.

It was a shame I did not carry the book with me when I met Sir David Attenborough. Would have been an honour to present a copy to him.

The Elephant and the Tree

Life isn’t all about ourselves, is it?

That is the premise that got Jin Pyn started on her first book The Elephant and the Tree.

Knowing full well the message she wanted to bring forth, her pen couldn’t stop. (Well, not that there was a lot to write for a children’s picture book, but hey, less is more!)

Set uniquely in black, and orchestrated with a tuneful rhythm, THE ELEPHANT AND THE TREE is about an endearing friendship between an Asian elephant and a tree, with a dose of reality and a strong conservation theme.

The unique illustrations and powerful writing touched the panel of judges who selected the manuscript for the Media Development Authority and the National Book Development Council of Singapore to groom as representational of National talent under the First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative.

By the same token Jin Pyn was also selected out of 34,000 applicants worldwide for yet another development course, this time as a natural history filmmaker in a flagship Animal Planet production.

Till this day she staunchly believes that she has her focused altruistic intentions to thank for her good fortune, and that good fortune is bestowed for a reason – so she may be a tool through which this good will is channeled, and be a voice for the voiceless. (The publishers think that it is her creative talents and hard work.)

For this reason she has spearheaded a charitable cause for the book. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be channeled into an elephant welfare fund.

This way the returns will be double, for ourselves.

For more information, visit www.elephantandtree.com