Both nature lovers, they decided to write him little books about themselves, their garden, and the animals that could be found there.
The first, “Kong Kong and the “Baby Boars”, focused on the wild boar residing close to their home.
Four titles followed: “Trog the Tree Frog”, “Ziggy’s Surprise”, “A Leaf Monkey visits Poh Poh!”, and “Who has been eating the bananas?”
And this year, the couple’s book series took flight with its sixth title, “Garden Birds of Malaysia: In Visuals and In Verse”.
The book contains poems about 30 Malaysian garden birds that can often be spotted in the secondary jungle behind their house, once part of the Bukit Sungai Putih forest reserve.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been passionate about birds. I’m from Batu Pahat, and one morning when I was about ten, I saw a hornbill perched on my mangosteen tree. That moment was one of the gamechangers of my life,” Kua told FMT Lifestyle.
“I’ve always loved hiking and going into the forest. I believe that it’s important to connect with nature, especially in the urban jungle we live in. A lot of children nowadays are growing up surrounded by concrete, or screens, instead of leaves and branches and living creatures,” Munro-Kua added
Munro-Kua, originally from the UK, is a certified coach and facilitator with a background in education and a PhD in Sociology from Manchester University, UK.
Kua, on the other hand, is a social activist and researcher well-known for his historical and political books, such as “20 Years Defending Human Rights” and “445 Days Under Operation Lalang”.
Kua, an avid birder, said most current books about birds are a bit “nerdy”, and he wanted to create an ornithological guide that was friendly for birdwatching beginners.
Therefore, the duo’s book lists birds by their common name, with each one described in a humorous way.
“We hope the book will encourage our readers to be curious. So, we tried to make each entry show the bird’s character. Or the sounds that they made, like the woodpecker’s pecking or the distinctive cry of the koel,” Munro-Kua said.
From eagles, orioles and starlings to baya weavers, drongos and coucals, Kua and Munro-Kua’s book depicts many magnificent local birds in all their winged glory.
Each page pays lyrical tribute to these feathered friends, capturing each bird’s essence through vivid imagery and whimsical verse.
The egret, for example, is described as a graceful flyer, with “long sharp beak/such exquisite eyes/and oh, so elegant neck” while the jungle fowl, in “fabulous feathers”, is hailed as a sharp and dapper dresser.
“We hope the books will be read by children, and adults, and by adults reading to children. I think teachers could even use them in the classroom as a way to introduce students to nature,” Munro-Kua said.
Kua described the book as a labour of love, saying he had spoken to local birders and photographers to obtain the best possible pictures of the garden birds.
He said few people knew how to identify local birds, which was a shame as Malaysia had such an abundance of beautiful and fascinating avian species.
“Many people only keep up with celebrities. We know who Taylor Swift is, but don’t know much about an actual swift,” Kua quipped.
The self-published book also contains a list of other titles for budding birdwatchers to check out, as well as the names of several Malaysian bird-watching societies and events.
Might there be a seventh book in their nature series? Perhaps: Kua and Munro-Kua said they are considering one about lizards and insects of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Kuas hope their book will encourage readers to appreciate the beauty and natural diversity around them.
“We hope the book inspires people to appreciate these beautiful creatures, which can be found in most Malaysian gardens where there are flowering and fruiting trees and plants,” Kua said.
“And beyond the garden, we encourage people to explore the rich and diverse world of birds in our Malaysian forests, which we must preserve,” Munro-Kua concluded.
‘Garden Birds of Malaysia: In Visuals and Verse’ is available from Gerakbudaya.