Constance Luk’s little coconut helps kids express big feelings

A boy sits alone in his new classroom, too afraid to talk to others. When his teacher encourages him to join his new classmates, he bursts into tears.

Meanwhile, a girl is so nervous by her first day of school that she refuses to get out of the car. What adults may see as misbehaviour could be a child struggling to say: “I am scared. Can you help me?”

Constance Luk has found an unlikely way into that conversation: a pandan coconut adrift at sea.

The Penangite wrote and illustrated “Coco The Floating Coconut”, a children’s picture book that aims to help young readers recognise their feelings. It also presents a way for adults to start conversations with them.

“A child may not understand the word ‘anxiety’, but they understand what it means to feel worried, frightened or even unsure,” Luk, 31, told FMT Lifestyle.

As Coco drifts through the sea, it experiences worry, fear, loneliness and uncertainty. Reading the book, a child might see a little of themselves in the floating coconut. An adult can then gently ask: “Have you ever felt like Coco?”

This is the first book by Luk, who is also the founder of the non-profit organisation “People’s Health & Emotional Wellbeing (Phew!)”. This youth-led initiative encourages conversations about mental health while bridging communities with relevant support and resources.

Now, through her book, Luk is bringing the initiative’s mission to children. Vibrant illustrations and simple language make the story easy to follow, while familiar expressions such as “walau eh” and “alamak” add a Malaysian touch.

She began working on the book in May last year, and set the story in Penang to pay homage to her hometown.

As for Coco? Luk was inspired at the beach, watching coconuts drift with the changing tide, sometimes towards the shore, sometimes out to sea, but always staying afloat.

To her, this was resilience. “I asked myself, ‘What if we used a little coconut to guide our children? What if we taught them from young that it’s OK to feel sad, angry or afraid, and that it’s OK to ask for help?’

“Then we’d be giving them a language they could carry into adulthood.”

But the story is just the beginning. Luk wants children to do more than read it, so she has added affirmation stickers, colouring pages, questions to help adults start conversations, and information on local mental health support.

“I hope parents learn to listen before they try to fix things. Adults often want to solve problems, which isn’t a bad thing – but when a child says, ‘Mummy, I feel scared’, their immediate response might be, ‘Don’t be scared’.”

According to Luk, what many parents don’t realise is, “the child may not need someone to remove the feeling; they may need someone to say, ‘Tell me more. What makes you feel scared?’”

She also revealed that “Coco” is the first in a series of 16 books called “Little Malaysia, Big Hearts”, with one story set in each of Malaysia’s 13 states and three federal territories. Luk hopes to release a book every October, in conjunction with World Mental Health Day.

She offered two clues for the next book: the story is set in East Malaysia, and the main character is orange in colour!

Luk further hopes to work with local communities to bring storytelling sessions to schools, nurseries, orphanages and refugee centres, leaving a copy at each venue so the conversations can continue.

“I hope children grow up knowing that their feelings matter. I also hope we can change the way we think about mental health in childhood,” she said.

“It shouldn’t be something we talk about only when a child is in crisis. I would like to see emotional wellbeing being a part of growing up.”

‘Coco The Floating Coconut’ is priced at RM35, excluding delivery, and is available throughout Malaysia and internationally.

You may order via this Google form or message Luk on Instagram.

Customers on Penang island can collect their copies directly from Luk once orders are confirmed.

Book launch details:

• When: Saturday, Oct 3 at 11.30am
• Where: Ground floor, Extension Wing (near Love & Co.), Gurney Plaza, Penang

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