Asian Festival of Children’s Content: SCBWI Opportunities in Asia

 August 14, 2025

Guest Post by Holly Thompson

Serving on the SCBWI Japan Regional Team for many years meant that in addition to interacting with authors, illustrators and translators in Japan, I often connected with SCBWI regional members in other areas of Asia–Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, Mongolia and Malaysia.

SCBWI International Regions may be smaller in member numbers, but they typically include close-knit groups of authors, illustrators and translators. SCBWI international members are often bilingual or multilingual, and most have experienced living in more than one country, which results in international SCBWI regions that bloom with diverse energy, interests and talents. 

With my home in Japan for over 25 years, I had opportunities to learn from SCBWI members throughout Asia. In addition to the Japanese picture books and monthly children’s magazines that I devoured, I encountered a broad range of storytelling modes and narrative structures from around Asia; I considered word play and poetry in different languages; and I learned from specialists about illustration preferences, traditions and techniques.

Asia-based SCBWI members have often gathered at the annual Asian Festival of Children's Content Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. AFCC is a major festival in Asia for writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, librarians and educators of children’s content. The festival features presentations, panels, workshops, masterclasses, and networking, with the aim of cultivating Asian stories for young people. Organized by the National Book Development Council of Singapore and the National Library Board, the AFCC has brought together local, pan-Asia, and international talents since 2010.

Though not affiliated with SCBWI, AFCC is where many SCBWI members from Asia and the world kidlit community gather. During my many years living in Japan, I attended, presented, led workshops and gave keynotes at AFCC. This year I attended the 16th edition of the AFCC…traveling the loooooong way from my new home in Massachusetts–more than twenty-four hours of flight time–as opposed to my previous seven from Japan. 

Top left: Singapore's Lion; Top right--Korea Country of Focus exhibits; Bottom left: SCBWI members from Japan and Singapore at AFCC; Lower right: book signing in the festival bookstore

At AFCC 2025, I presented on crafting verse novels–the why’s and how’s. And I served on the translation panel “Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Translation?”--well, yes, and no, we panelists from different language and country backgrounds discussed. And I signed copies of Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker for the festival bookstore.

Korea was this year’s AFCC Country of Focus. So many dynamic author/illustrators from Korea presented, showcasing bold styles and techniques, contemporary applications of traditional arts, and fresh storytelling approaches. The gathered Korean talent was stellar: Suzie Lee, Park Hyunmin; Lee Geumyi; Baek Jee Hye; Cha Eunsil; Han Rakyoung; Huh Jungyoon; Kang Hyesook, Oh Mikyeong; and So Yunkyeon. 

Asian Festival of Children's Content: Korea, Country of Focus presentations

I attended as many presentations and workshops as possible. Well aware that learning more about illustration and practicing visual art helps my story building, I attended a number of illustrator workshops: I made a monotype in French printmaker Clémence Pollet’s workshop, and an accordion book during SCBWI Japan’s Kazumi Wild’s session on Folding Accordion Books.

L: Clémence Pollet explains monotype printmaking;
R: Kazumi Wilds surrounded by accordion book makers

 At AFCC, I also reconnected with old friends and made new friends from around Asia, enjoying conversations with SCBWI members from Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and elsewhere. I was reminded of the importance of creative gatherings, of talking craft with other creatives, of making art and stories together, and of how many brilliant ways stories can be initiated, incubated, constructed, illustrated, explored, and ended.

I hope that many members of the SCBWI community will have the chance to visit Singapore, connect with Asia SCBWI members there, and encounter the magic of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content. 

August 2025 SCBWI Blog posts by Holly Thompson

August 7 SCBWI: One Intro to Another, Learning from Each Other 

August 14 AFCC: SCBWI Opportunities in Asia

August 21 Translation and Reading the Wide World of KidLit

August 28 Observe, Experience, Research, Write–The Impact of an Internship

 

Posted by Holly Thompson hatbooks.com