Elaine Russell - All About Thailand: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

Author's Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to Warunee Prommanuwat, Thai Studies Teacher, at the NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand, for sharing favorite Thai games, songs, and folktales, and answering my many questions. Thank you to Yuphaphann Hoonchamlong, Associate Professor of Thai, University of Hawaii at Manoa, for help in understanding the Thai language and transliteration of words in this book. I appreciate the help of Nonglug Waldorff, who teaches Thai at the Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram for her assistance and for the recording on the books webpage of the pronunciation of Thai words in the chapter Speak Thai with Me. A special thanks to my familymy son Russell, who lived in Bangkok for two years, and my husband who helped me research materials in Thailand. I greatly appreciate the wonderful guidance of my editor, Terri Jadick and all the team at Tuttle. And finally, thank you to Patchuree Meesukhon and Vinit Yessman for their beautiful illustrations.

Books for Further Reading

Thai For Kids, Pictionary Vol. 1 by Naam Sanannok Sheakley, Illustrated by Nee Boonyarattaphan (South East Asian Language Publishers, LLC, Bristow, 2008)

The Life of Rice: From Seed to Supper by Richard Sobol (Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts, 2010)

Thai Tales: Folktales of Thailand Retold by Suparpom Vathanaprida (World Folklore Vol. 5, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, Connecticut, 1994)

The Breath of the Dragon by Gail Giles (Clarion Books, New York, New York, 1997)

The Girl Who Wore Too Much: A Folktale from Thailand by Margaret Read MacDonald with Suparpom Vathanaprida (August House, Atlanta, Georgia, Bilingual Edition 2015)

It Rains Fishes: Legends, Traditions and the Joys of Thai Cooking by Kasma Loha-Unchit (Pomegranate Communications, Portland, Oregon, 1995)

Websites

First Monkey Training School: http://www.firstmonkeyschool.com/

Thai Elephant Conservation Center: http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/index.html

Thai Elephant Orchestra: http://www.mulatta.org/thaieleorchpage.html

Surin Annual Elephant Roundup: http://www.earsasia.org/#!surin-roundup/c4u8

Sangkran New Year Water Festival: http://www.bangkok.com/information-festivals/songkran.htm#

Bangkok Sepak Takraw History: http://www.bangkok.com/sport-sepak-takraw/origins---history.htm#

Dragon Boat Festivals: http://www.dragonboatfestivalsthailand.com/

Boat Racing in Thailand (different types of boats and a good discussion on history of racing):

http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/thai_article/2310_boat_racing_in _thailand/boat_racing_in_thailand.html

Thai National Parks: https://www.thainationalparks.com

National Geographic KidsThailand: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/thailand

Hello Sawatdi Kha

(Sa-wat-de Ka)

M y name is Mali. I am nine years old and I live in a village in northern Thailand with my grandparents, mom, dad, brothers and sisters. The monsoon rains bring lots of water from June until October. We need the water to grow our rice and vegetables. But it means we have to build our houses on poles to stay dry.

This is how to say hello in Thailand if you are a girl. Boys say sawatdi khrap (sa-wat-de kra). When we meet, we make a wai by bowing our head and putting our hands together under our chins as a sign of respect.

We live by a river where I fish with my grandfather, and near a forest where I pick fresh mangoes and watch for shy leaf monkeys in the trees. I like to write stories and make shadow puppets to put on shows for my family and friends. Most of all, I love elephants and helping to keep them safe.

Mali is making a wai

Welcome Yindi Tonrap!

(Yin-ti-tawn-rap)

M y name is Tawan. My mom gave me the nickname Ling Noi (little monkey) because I used to climb on everything. She still calls me that even though Im 11 years old now. It makes sense that monkeys are my favorite animals.

Yindi Tonrap means Welcome in Thai.

Bangkok has lots of traffic, but we use the subway, Skytrain, and boats to get around.

The most fun way (and noisiest!) is by tuk tuk , a three-wheeled motorcycle car. The name comes from the sputtering noises their engines make.

My favorite sport is sepak takro , which is like volleyball except that you can only use your feet. I also like making kites and Im learning to play the pi , a traditional Thai instrument that is like an oboe.

I live with my parents and little brother Phoom (hes seven) in Bangkok. This is the capital of Thailand, with over 8.5 million people. My mom owns a business selling Thai crafts. My dad is a science teacher. Our school has kids from all over the world.

Putting Thailand On The Map

T hailand is in Southeast Asia. We say it is shaped like the head of an elephantwith a very long, skinny trunk! You might have to turn the book sideways to see it.

The Thai Elephant Conservation Camp near Lampang (where my uncle works)

Northern Thailand (where Mali lives) is the elephants ear. Hundreds of years ago, people migrated here from China. They called it the Kingdom of Lanna (1292-1775), which means a thousand rice fields. And we still grow lots of rice here! There are huge mountains and forests surrounding beautiful valleys. Many groups of people, like the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu, live in those mountains and have their own customs and languages. I have Hmong and Lisu friends at my school.

Isan , or northeastern Thailand, is the elephants neck. This area was once part of neighboring Lao kingdoms. Many people in Isan speak Lao and eat Laotian food.