The Beginning is an illustrated storybook about a little girl who has recently lost a grandparent. She is taken on a journey by magical sprites to understand death and beliefs of the afterlife in a Singaporean context. It utilizes engaging illustrations to introduce children to this grave subject, creating a safe space for both children and parents to ease into a conversation.

The project thus seeks to create a starting point for parents to broach the controversial subject.

In Asia, the subject of death is a taboo that is rarely or perhaps never brought up in conversations between parents and their children. Ironically, avoidance of the topic causes inadequate education, resulting in children growing up with a fear of death. The lack, moreover, of children’s literature that addresses death and the afterlife in a local context points to the necessity of such a book.

llustrated Narrative
Printed Books of 29.7cm x 21.0cm