'Kampung Boy will put a smile on the face of everyone who reads it.'

A great review in The Age newspaper of Lat‘s graphic novel/cartoon story, Kampung Boy by Mike Shuttleworth of the State Library of Victoria’s Centre for Youth Literature.

The runaway success of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is a reminder that comics have never really been off the menu as far as kids are concerned. Malaysian cartoonist Lat is a master of the form and Kampung Boy will put a smile on the face of everyone who reads it.

Growing up beside a rubber plantation, Lat has a childhood that is seemingly carefree: swimming in the river, fishing, living in the love of his family, learning and drawing. But this story of a bright, adventurous boy also shows village life gradually giving way to change and the outside world. Lat’s bold caricatures of teachers, parents and friends are immediately funny, while his skill at comic understatement rewards close attention. Often the text doesn’t quite say what the pictures show and the memories are laced with poignancy. Kampung Boy is one to steal back after the young folk have enjoyed it.

If you haven’t already done so, you can enjoy the promotional video for the book on our Youtube channel here.