LLT Journal, e-ISSN 2579-9533, p-ISSN 1410-7201, Vol. 25, No. 2, October 2022, pp. 754-757 LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Learning http://e-journal.usd.ac.id/index.php/LLT Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 754 BOOK REVIEW: TALES FROM THE PADDY FIELDS: SOUTHEAST ASIAN FOLKTALES ON RICE CULTURE Title : Tales from the Paddy Fields: Southeast Asian Folktales on Rice Culture ISBN : 978-616-7961-18-7 (e-book); 978-616-7961-36-1 (print) Author : Margaret R. McDonald et al. (editors) Publisher : SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA), 2018 Page : 95 pages Novita Dewi Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia correspondence: novitadewi@usd.ac.id https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v25i2.4854 received 5 July 2022; accepted 20 October 2022 Material selection is a fascinating yet complex part in Teaching English for Young Learners (TEYL). Teachers should select effective and motivating materials with which young learners develop not only their linguistic skills, but also psychological, social and cultural competences. Picture books with stories about the origin of rice may be of particular interest for EFL learners in Asia, especially for the young mind. But, to begin with, why rice? Rice being the main staple food is a sensitive matter in many Asian countries: The success of the government can be measured, among other things, by the availability of food and the fluctuation of rice prices. While rice is a food source for more than half of the world’s population, Asian people produce and consume more than 90% of rice. With rice consumption of approximately 100 kg per person per year in this region, rice sufficiency is closely related to sustainability, food security and political stability. That is why not only is rice central to the economy and nutrition of the society, but in many ways, it is a sacred plant. Rice is a plant that is culturally privileged. Therefore, rice and culture are inseparable in Asia. In almost all Asian languages, separate terms are used describe each phase of rice cultivation, types of rice harvested, processing, cooking and serving it at the dining table. There are literally thousands of locally adapted rice varieties in Asia that have been painstakingly treated by farmers according to the specific, climatic and altitude of the soil. In short, rice has a deep meaning for the nations of Asia as it has its own story. Having said that, rice story is a prized possession for Southeast Asian people to tell from one generation to the next. Indeed, introducing children to diverse cultural heritages through folktales is important in order to appreciate and broaden knowledge of their own culture and that of others. Tales from the Paddy Fields: Southeast Asian Folktales on Rice Culture (henceforth TPF) is first published in September 2018 in digital format by SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA). Preservation of cultural heritage is the aim of