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The Grandpa Elephant Who Explores the World 

Yusof Gajah

Yusof Gajah is a Malaysian children’s book author who is famous for his distinctive and colorful illustrations of elephants. While he takes his inspiration from his numerous encounters with people and cultures while traveling around the world, Gajah has special ties to Korea and even published a multilingual picture book here about Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. We met with the author, nicknamed the grandpa elephant, who says that all children, regardless of where they are from, are honest and pure, and that working with them is the happiest thing in the world.

Q. Thank you for allowing us to interview you. First off, please briefly introduce yourself to our readers. 

My name is Mohd Yusof Bin Ismail but I am known as Yusof Gajah. Gajah means elephant in Malay. My wife [and collaborator] is Zakiah Mohd Isa, and we have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. At the moment, I am a full-time artist, a children’s picture book author and illustrator, as well as a consultant and trainer. I love working with children because they are honest and naïve. Children everywhere are the same, they are curious and willing to learn.

Q. I heard you are planning to write a book about your culinary experiences during a recent trip abroad. Did the dishes you tried in Korea suit your taste? 

Yes, I am still thinking of producing a book based on my culinary experiences, not only those I’ve made in Korea but also in other countries that I have visited. I have tried kimchi but I especially loved seafood in Korea. When I was in Jeju, I tried an array of seafood dishes. In Seoul, I tried Buddhist temple food. As a Muslim, it is very difficult to find Halal food in Korea. The noodles that I tried were quite tasty, and I also like spicy food.

Q. You were born in Malaysia, grew up in Singapore, and graduated from a university in Indonesia. A few years ago, you worked with children on Nami Island in Korea, published various books here, and are now organizing activities with children in China, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and other countries. Is there a particular reason for your frequent travels?  

I love to travel and so far have traveled to 28 countries. My first flight was in 1970, when I went to Jakarta. When I was a kid, I loved camping and enjoyed the nature, and traveling always gives me a lot of new ideas and inspirations.

Q. You said you are using elephants in your stories not only to highlight social and environmental issues, but also to promote Malaysian culture. What is the message that you intend to convey through elephants? 

I’m using elephants as my trade mark. Elephants are wonderful animals, known as gentle giants, but elephant populations are getting smaller, and they could soon be extinct. I want to tell the world that Malaysian elephants are being chased out from their natural habitat. They are faced with a major crisis at the moment, with the increased logging and cutting down of trees for commercial reasons. I think it the time to save the forest.

Q. Based on your experiences in Korea, which animal would you choose to promote Korean culture and why? 

I would prefer the white-naped crane. I could sense Koreans’ perseverance by observing these cranes’ endurance during their flight. “The white-naped crane is a large species of crane that inhabits grassy marshes, wet meadows and reed beds in broad river valleys. It has a gray body, pinkish legs, a gray and white neck, a white head and characteristic red patches around its eyes. The eastern populations of the species migrate through the Korean peninsula, often making their wintering grounds and migration staging areas in and near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Several hundreds of birds continue on to southern Japan, where they join a large wintering population of hooded crane.” (© 2020 The Culture Trip Ltd. All Rights Reserved.)

Q. Last year, your wife, Zakiah, and you participated in an event held at the ASEAN Culture House. Among the Malaysian culture and stories that you shared with Korean children, what did they seem to enjoy the most? Also, what aspect of Korean culture particularly resonates with you and why? 

I think they enjoy the snacks, nasi goreng and my book. I can see the joy in their faces. And I particularly admire your discipline and cleanliness. Korea put a lot of effort in promoting the arts. There are a lot of galleries and public sculptures.

Q. I believe when you worked with children on Nami Island it was your first visit to Korea, is that right? Please tell us more about what you did there. 

I was invited to Nami Island together with writers and illustrators from more than 20 countries to write and illustrate a project called “Peace Story.” It was indeed my first visit to Korea but since then, I have returned here over 20 times.

Q. You published several books in Korea, including “Where Is My Red Ball?,” “Let’s Build A House,” “Roads,” and “At The Foot Of A Hill.” Why do you think your picture books are so popular here? 

I met my publisher on Nami Island and we discussed publishing a book for Korean children. I still have a publisher representing me here in Korea. I try my best to make my books entertaining and full of things to learn for children.

Q. “Learn Hangeul With Elephants,” which you created together with Korean author Lee Han-sang, is a particularly meaningful book. Please tell us how you came up with the idea to create a picture book about the Korean alphabet and how your collaboration with Lee Han-sang came about.  

When my book “Elephabet” was published, my next step was to produce more books about alphabets from different cultures and countries around the world. Working with Lee Han-sang was quite challenging at first because we could only communicate via email and phone. My idea was to teach Hangeul in a fun way.

Q. If you had an opportunity for another collaboration with a Korean author, what kind of story would you like to tell? 

I’d like to create books with children’s songs, poetry and lullabies, and about cultural exchanges and travelling through Malaysia and Korea.

Q. Through its many exhibitions and events, the ASEAN Culture House puts a spotlight on the histories, cultures and societies of the 10 ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, and we aim to further exchanges between people from the ASEAN region and Korea. As a Malaysian artist with deep ties to Korea, do you have any suggestions for the ASEAN Culture House? 

It would be nice to see an exhibition of children’s picture books, workshops with writers and illustrators from ASEAN countries, and a cultural show with ASEAN children.

Q. Lastly, please say something to your Korean readers who love your picture books. 

Thank you for supporting my work as a writer and illustrator. You are my inspiration.