This story is based on a Rungus folk tale, Itut-Itut Oku Bala, as told by Nusiah binti Alim, during a parent workshop at SK Tiga Papan, Kudat, northen Sabah. The original Rungus story was transcribed and translated into English by Lorinna binti Konsiong, and being illustrated by Jainal Amambiang.
The story was written as part of a community project supported by the British Council English Language Development Project (ELTDP), in order to promote family reading activities and to preserve the Rungus language and culture. Therefore, apart from the English verses in most part of the book, there are two pages of the full transcription in Rungus language.
The story sounds weird but funny to me. I am not going to spoil what Itut-itut means for you, but the main character is simply a hardworking farmer who is so forgetful and clumsy. The forgetful and clumsy bloke had a luck so bad that he lost both of his most precious things (and surprise) in one day.
The illustrations done by Jainal Amambing might look like crude childish drawings using pastels, but the combination of vibrant colours and control like Vincent van Gogh is simply astonishing. You might find the story line too simple, but the illustrations alone are feast for my eyes.
Come visit Emerald Library to read this book for free, or purchase on Oyez!Books by clicking the link below.
