– by Josef Lee
The ‘House of Mini Picture Books’, founded by writer-artist Josef Lee from Singapore, is an online library of picture stories, available freely for downloading, and printing, to be D.I.Y. into mini picture books.
I am Josef Lee—a picture-book writer and artist from Singapore. My journey with picture books began with a simple, yet profound belief: that simple words paired with the right visuals can create stories with extraordinary meaning. Stories that are powerful, timeless, and capable of gently educating young minds on even the biggest issues.
In April 2020, when the world seemed to come to a standstill, my passion for storytelling was put to the test. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of all 25 public libraries in Singapore, along with bookstores and schools. With these closures, children were left with limited access to physical books, and I worried about how this would impact their love for reading.
Shortly after, the National Arts Council (NAC) in Singapore launched a Digitalisation Grant to support artists in sharing their work online. I saw an opportunity—a chance to bring books back into children’s lives, but this time, in a way that was safe, accessible, and equally magical. That’s when the ‘House of Mini Picture Books’ (HOMPB) was born.
Five months later, in December 2020, HOMPB was launched as an online platform offering 20 original picture stories that could be read online, downloaded, or even printed and folded into DIY mini picture books. Out of the 20 stories, I personally wrote and illustrated 10 of them, and another 10 were created by my group of talented writers and artists friends whom I invited to join the project.
The response was overwhelming. Thousands of parents and children visited the site, and educators eagerly used these resources in their lessons. Each story was paired with learning activities and discussion points, making them not just tales to read but tools to teach and inspire.
But the journey didn’t stop there. In 2023, I received another grant from the ‘Harmony Fund’, which allowed me to create the ‘House of Mini Picture Books – CULTURAL Edition’ — eight new stories celebrating Singapore’s rich tapestry of racial and religious harmony. This project was deeply personal to me, as I had the chance to mentor five young student-artists from NAFA, an arts institution where I lectured at. Together, we refined their stories to make them resonate with children, and the results were incredible.
Another three stories were collaborations between me and three other ethnic writers, each writing a story about their own culture, and I learnt so much from them through the process.
Then came a connection I never expected.
Rosario Obregon, the founder of ‘Mi Primer Libro Peru’ @miprimerlibroperu reached out to me. She shared how in Peru, books are often a luxury, with many children growing up without the joy of reading. She saw HOMPB as a beacon of hope for the books-scarce Peru, as a way to bring books into the hands of children who needed them most.
Rosario’s passion inspired me. With her leadership, communities and preschool teachers in Peru began translating the HOMPB stories into Spanish, creating mini-books and even mini-libraries to promote reading in early childhood. Seeing these stories transcend borders, languages, and cultures has been nothing short of humbling.
Singapore and Peru are 19,122km apart, with a time difference of 13 hours. But in the world of books and curious wonderment, we are magically connected through stories.
Pre-school teachers in Peru with their handmade mini picture books.
Mini libraries created by teachers in Peru, to house their collection of mini books.
Looking back, I’m reminded of why I started this journey—to show that stories, no matter how simple, can spark change. They can bridge gaps, ignite imaginations, and bring people together in ways we never expect.
Storytelling at a public library in Singapore, to launch our new stories from HOMPB’s CULTURAL Edition.
So to anyone reading this: embrace the power of books. Whether you’re a reader, a parent, an educator, or a creator, know that every story you share has the potential to touch lives far beyond what you can imagine. And for me, there’s no greater joy than being part of that journey.
Here’s to the endless possibilities of stories, and to the readers who make them come alive.
