Quality kids' books in short supply

In his book Buku dalam Indonesia Baru (Books in New Indonesian), Alfons Taryadi writes that Indonesia publishes a mere 4,000 new titles annually, mostly reference and general books, and on average each title sells only about 3,000 copies.

Riris K. Toha Sarumpaet, a professor of children's literature at the University of Indonesia, also said recently that most local children's books come up short on quality.

"They exploit children as commercial objects. None of the books reflect the sincerity and empathy from the writers as adults toward children," she said as quoted by Kompas daily.

These facts present an obstacle to the operations of mobile library The Wandering Books Foundation in seeking to provide good books for children.

"There are many people or companies who donate books, but couldn't care less about the quality. The books are poor and filled with so many errors, even though they are school textbooks!" said foundation director Nasti Reksodiputro.

"We don't dare to give them to children. So, those books are piling up in the storeroom now."

The foundation tries to eschew giving out formal textbooks, in an effort to stimulate the children's imaginations through fiction.

"Unfortunately, the quality of local children's books is so bad as writing lessons have been ignored for years in the school curriculum," Nasti said.

She is now trying to provide more English books despite the fact that proficiency in the language remains low.

"Too bad, as reading books in another language can broaden our horizons. But who knows, the children's interest might increase to read English books." -- Hera Diani