I Can’t Do Many Things

After Sampan and I Wish I Had a Dog, I Can’t Do Many Things is the third picture book written by award-winning author, Chua Hui Ying. A counsellor by day, Hui Ying was inspired to write this book for children who think they are failures or who have been told they are failures. We all need dreams and aspirations to motivate us in life. When situations are challenging, our goals are there to encourage us to try and not quit. It is hoped that this book will help children to start a conversation with their parents, teachers or caregivers. In an earlier life, Hui Ying had spent her days helping multinational companies to brand themselves better. These days, she would rather invest her time with clients who want to change their life narrative.

Isabelle Tan is an illustrator and comic artist who loves telling meaningful and hopeful stories through her art. She especially enjoys creating colourful and vibrant art that add a touch of wonder, magic, and nostalgia to the everyday life with the hope of helping others appreciate life with fresh eyes. Isabelle believes that life’s unprecedented joys and growth lives in the trying—not in the perfect finish. Just like Pip in I Can’t Do Many Things, she hopes her art reminds readers (big and small!) that trying is in itself a brave and beautiful thing. Her favourite moments of illustrating this book were adding Easter eggs and instances of continuity across pages. Can you spot all of them?