DeKALB – Northern Illinois University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a display of Southeast Asia-themed children’s books at the DeKalb Public Library. The books are available for checkout through Jan. 31.

Library visitors are invited to browse through the 68 volumes ranging from picture books for young readers to chapter books, some nonfiction, for middle-school readers. Titles include “Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella,” “Brothers Wu and the Good Luck Eel,” “Malaysian Children’s Favorite Stories,” “Nine-in-One, Grrr, Grrr!,” “Peek: A Thai Hide and Seek,” “Rice is Life,” “Song of the Buffalo Boy” and “The Dancing Pig.”  All of the books are written in English or are bilingual. A few are translations of favorite American storybooks, such as “The Rainbow Fish,” which is available in the languages of Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

“Exploring these books is a great way for children to learn about this part of the world,” said center outreach coordinator Julia Lamb. “Some of the books include Southeast Asian arts and crafts activities as well as wonderful stories and folk tales.”