from CNA, 28 August 2007, Singapore Tonight
Storybook featuring Singapore's national museums launched

from CNA, 16 August 2007, Prime Time Morning, Interview with Shamini Flint

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Radio

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from Expat Living - December 2007 issue

Snake Rattle & Roll

This is a hilarious tale of an unhappy snake who wishes that it had feet like other creatures do. The story describes in rhyme what other creatures can do with their two, four and eight legs. If having feet is not possible, then the miserable snake would even settle for a fish’s fins. Fortunately the snake eventually realizes that he doesn’t need feet to have fun. Filled with beautiful, colourful pictures, Snake Rattle & Roll will make any child squeal with delight!

How to Win a Nobel Prize

Stay-at-home mum S Mahadevan Flint reckons stay-at-home mums are a force to be reckoned with – and she’s got a point. In a world where important issues – climate change, poverty and world peace, for example – are too difficult for so-called world leaders to tackle, who is going to take the lead? Mothers, according to the author.

This is not exactly a guide to winning the Nobel prize, instead a call-to-arms for consumers (it’s actually more gender-neutral than the title suggests) to be aware of the results of their consumption. If the First World demands the Fair Trade produce, then the trade practices that keep the Third World poor will no longer have any traction, for example, and it is we as consumers who create the demand.

Everything we do as consumers has an effect, even buying Expat – though before you embark on a letter-writing campaign you should know Expat is printed on paper from sustainable forests which is bleached using a non-acid process, using soy-based ink and no solvents.

The text of How to Win a Nobel Prize is nowhere as preachy as it could be – the author has a wry sense of humour and writes engagingly, though George W Bush is mentioned (in less-than-glowing terms, of course) several times too many.

If you are concerned about the big issues of the day and want to do something about them, then How to Win a Nobel Prize is a worthwhile read. Who knows, you may end up in Sweden and accepting an award!

from Expat Living - October 2007 issue

Sasha visits the Museum

Harry Who?

A kid’s book without bespectacled wand-wielding wizards? Yes, it is possible. Sasha Visits the Museum is the latest in the series of children’s book by Shamini Flint. It follows Sasha’s adventure as she visits four museums – the National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore Art Museum and Singapore Philatelic Museum. It’s available in all of the museum’s shop and bookstores – as opposed to “bad” one, but you wouldn’t go to those anyway. For more info visit www.sunbearpublishing.com. We look forward to the next instalment – Sasha Tries To Catch A Taxi In The CBD at Peak Hour… in the Rain.

from Expat Living - March 2006 issue

"Partners in Crime - A Singapore Murder Mystery
S Mahadevan Flint is another first-time author with a story featuring a cast of characters in Singapore's expat community, though in this instance the tale is a murder mystery.'

Annie, a junior partner in the Singapore office of an international law firm, is called to the office of a senior partner for a late meeting, but when she gets there she finds he's been murdered.'

In the course of the ensuing investigation we find that almost all her workmates have dark secrets that could be construed as motive for murder, and there's the senior partner's ex-wife in the picture too.'

There's enough red herrings in the story that you are highly unlikely to figure out who-dunnit - surely a sign of a well-crafted murder mystery. Aside from a few minor typesetting issues, Partners in Crime is a thoroughly professional effort that not only had me wondering who the murderer might be, but also whether we might be looking at a new murder-mystery franchise. - TONY WATTS"

from Expat Living - September 2005 issue

"SASHA in Singapore series
All small children in Singapore will love joining young Sasha as she explores favourite haunts around the island - the Botanic Gardens, the Bird Park, the zoo and more. The scenes are familiar and the author helpfully identifies some of the common flora and fauna, so in reading the books with your child, you'll both learn what to look out for. The scene of the polar bear in Sasha at the zoo will be particularly familiar and endearing for parents who have spent time here with small children."

from Expat Living - October 2004 issue

"Sasha in Singapore
Sunbear Publishing
Illustrated by Alpana
Available at all good bookstores
Two new titles from children's publisher Sunbear, Sasha visits the Zoo and Sasha visits the Botanic Gardens are lovely stories for children who are enjoying living in and exploring Singapore. Watercolour illustrations feature Sasha, a young Eurasian girl, in familiar scenes that will both remind readers of their adventures and point out new things of interest to look for on a future visit. Designed for ages 2-5, these titles are the perfect souvenir for a child who visits your family here, or to keep as a memento of your own expatriate stay. Part of the proceeds of sales of Sasha visits the Zoo is donated to the Singapore Zoological Gardens."

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from Singapore's Child - December 2007 issue

Turtle Takes A Trip

This book not only looks good, and reads well but it is also a nice spring board to introduce environmental consciousness to preschoolers.

Follow Penyu the leatherback turtle as she goes from baby turtle to laying her own eggs as she travels across the rainbow coloured landscape Shamini Flint paints with her catchy text. Penyu has to brave challenges in the form of sharks and other “monsters of the ocean deep”, but she eventually finds her way to the safe harbour where she can “clamber the golden sand” and lay her precious eggs.

Beautifully illustrated by Mariann Johansen-Ellis, this book is a journey for the imagination and a helpful reminder that environmental awareness is something we can nurture even in young children.

from Singapore's Child - October 2007 issue

Sasha Visits The Museum

This book is the writer’s latest addition to the ‘Sasha in Singapore’ series, in conjunction with the National Heritage Board (NHB). It is part of NHB’s board-wide effort to make Singapore’s Museums more friendly and accessible to families with young children.

The writer shares the exciting and eye-opening adventure of Sasha, her young daughter, who visits four museums in Singapore, namely the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore Art Museum, National Museum of Singapore and Singapore Philatelic Museum.

Equally enchanting for your little one will be 10 vivid illustrations painted in rich watercolour, with real photographs of NHB museum exhibits and artworks seamlessly integrated into some of them.

After reading the book with him, you may want to take him to the museums to relive Sasha’s experience for himself.

from Singapore's Child - March 2005 issue

"SASHA goes SHOPPING / SASHA visits SENTOSA ISLAND
Two new titles about Sasha, as she discovers more about life in Singapore. The everyday - shopping, eating lunch, taxi rides - as well as the special outings to Sentosa's beaches, nature walks, aquarium and butterfly park are featured in these titles.

Strong visuals and simple text make these books, as well as the first two in the series (Sasha in the Botanic Gardens and Sasha Goes to the Zoo), a great addition to your preschooler's library.

The beauty of having picture books set in Singapore is the familiarity of the places and items featured. There is so much for the young child to relate to, and you will have many more opportunities for discussion than similarly themed books set in different cultures. Great value for money as well, as they are in hardback and printed on thick paper."

from Singapore's Child - October 2004 issue

"Sasha Visits the Zoo & Sasha Visits The Botanic Gardens
These two richly illustrated hardback books are the first two in the series "Sasha in Singapore". With their local context, these books are an ideal addition to your child's library.

It is so rare to find locally produced books of this quality, and they are just right for reflecting what children are fascinated by when taken to the zoo or the botanic gardens. The tropical plants and the birds in the botanic gardens, and the animals in the zoo are strongly featured in the story, and the reader is encouraged to spot them on the page.

Toddlers will identify with what Sasha sees and does on her visits and there are plenty of opportunities for further discussion, as you recall your own visits or prepare to go again. Watch out for two more titles due to be published later this year."

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from Straits Times - December 2007 issue

"Criminal Minds"

Author Shamini Flint used to be a corporate lawyer, but based on this sharply observed thriller, you would think she did times in the criminal courts.

Battle-weary Inspector Singh of the Singapore Police Force is sent to Kuala Lumpur to provide assistance to a Singaporean ex-model who has allegedly murdered her rich Malaysian ex-husband, after their high-profile custody battle turns sour.

Flint's astute observations about the politics, justice and even environment conservation make a page-turner that is also a thought-provoking read.

from Straits Times - 11th October 2007, Life Style

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from Straits Times - 20th July 2006

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fromToday's Parent- December 2007 issue

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from Today's Parent- May 2005 issue

"For older readers
Sasha Goes Shopping and Sasha Visits Sentosa Island, Shamini Mahadevan Flint, $15 each, Sunbear Publishing

These are books that local children can surely relate to. The short and sweet stories of a little girl's expeditions throughout Singapore with her mum, with realistically painted illustrations of familiar landmarks, will make any child who identifies with them squeal with joy at story-telling time! What we like: the simple sentences, easy for budding readers to understand, and little questions at the end of a page to further involve children in the story that they are reading and help develop their observation skills."

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from youngparents - January 2006 issue

"A tiger called Hari turns himself blue with dye! This is the latest book from Shamini, an ex-lawyer, who localises stories for children in Southeast Asia. Here, she lovingly tells the story in rhyming poetry. Part of the proceeds from the book's sales will be donated to the World Wide Fund for Nature to help save the 4,500 tigers left in the wild. For ages three and up."

from youngparents - September 2005 issue

"ALL BOOKED UP * Shamini Mahadevan Flint, 35, a mother of two young children, used to work as a Barrister-at-Law. She gave up the legal scene and started her own in-house publishing company after giving birth to her daughter, Sasha, now three.

She says: 'I had been determined all along not to give up work, but when my maternity leave was up, it was clear to me that my glib plans to get a caregiver was not an option. Despite very much enjoying the challenges of legal practice, it was impossible to reconcile the demands of the job that involved long hours and a lot of stress with having a baby at home!'

As she settled into her tasks at home, Shamini found that self-motivation and time management is crucial in building a business from home. 'I set up Sunbear Publishing to fill a niche in the Southeast Asian book market...'"

from youngparents - April 2005 issue

"SASHA GOES SHOPPING / SASHA VISITS SENTOSA ISLAND
BY SHAMINI, SUNBEAR
PUBLISHING, $15

This series of books explores interesting features in Singapore.

In Shopping, Sasha finds out that with more than 150 malls on the island, shopping is certainly a great pastime here; and in Sentosa she checks out the cable car and monorail, and meets a dolphin."

from youngparents - October 2004 issue

"FAMILIAR PLACES
Tired of escaping into the forest with Snow White or up the bean stalk with Jack? Surprise your child with familiar scenes close to home with Sunbear Publishing's two titles - Sasha Visits the Zoo and Sasha Visits the Botanic Gardens.

The local publishing house, run by a mother, is putting out the high quality hardcovers with fully illustrated pages. Both books are designed for children aged two to five, who can point out where the flora and fauna are in the illustrations. Retails at $15 per copy (without GST), at all good bookstores."

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from others - click to enlarge

December 2007	November 2007
Mama Baobei	Young Families

October 2007

Mother & Baby	NTUC Lifestyle Chinese	Vanilla
NTUC Lifestyle
Shin Nichi Ho, 11 October 2007
Junior n U

September 2007

TM, 3 September 2007	SUL, 9 September 2007	Little Red Dot, 18 September 2007
Zao Bao, 13 September 2007

March 2006

Singapore American Newsletter

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Website

from CNA, 28 August 2007, Storybook featuring Singapore's national museums launched

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from Junior n U

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from RS1, 25 December 2007, Discovering Singapore: Sasha Visits the Museums

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from RS1, 23 August 2007
How to win a Nobel Prize: A Stay-at-home Mum's guide (Interview on Shamini’s profile)

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