In a world where wildlife headlines are dominated by orang utans, Bornean pygmy elephants, and the other icons of Borneo’s celebrated Big 5, a new children’s book dares to ask: what about the creatures we never notice?
Tim’s Tiny Ten, officially launched yesterday at the Borneo Eco Tours HQ in Kota Kinabalu, shines a long-overdue spotlight on ten of the Kinabatangan River’s smallest and most overlooked inhabitants, from micro-frogs and millipedes to insects and pygmy squirrels, creatures that we could have missed right under our feet!
Authored by Dr Sarah Pye, environmentalist, speaker, and researcher whose doctoral work explored the power of storytelling in conservation, and Mr Albert Teo, pioneer of eco-tourism in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and a lifelong guardian of Borneo’s rainforest, the book is at once a work of wonder and a call to action.
The story was inspired by Timothy Teo and his son William, a father and son whose deep connection to the Kinabatangan represents the next generation of stewards committed to protecting the biodiversity of this irreplaceable landscape.
Brought to life through the vivid illustrations of Woon Bing, the book blends curiosity with the warmth of a personal story, making it accessible to young readers while resonating deeply with conservation-minded adults.
The official launch ceremony featured an address by Dr Sarah Pye joining virtually, a special book reading by Timothy Teo together with his son William, and an engaging panel discussion on the future of conservation in Borneo.
At a time when biodiversity loss is a sad reality in our day and age, Tim’s Tiny Ten makes the case that conservation begins not in policy rooms, but in the imagination of a child. By choosing to spotlight creatures that rarely receive attention, like the pill millipede, the rough-sided frog, the forest floor insects, the book gently reframes how young readers understand the natural world: not as a collection of charismatic megafauna, but as an intricate web of life in which every species, however small, plays an indispensable role. For educators, the book offers a powerful entry point into conversations about ecosystems, interdependence, and the responsibility each of us holds toward the environment. And for parents, it is a reminder that wonder, the kind that leads to lifelong stewardship, often begins with something very, very small.
Also present at the book launching were representatives from the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Noor Amy Ajak (Marketing Manager) and Lea Ann Lakim (Assistant Digital & Communications Manager) who came on behalf of Mr Julinus Jimit, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board, to show their support.
“The Kinabatangan is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and yet so many of the creatures that hold it together remain invisible to us. Aside from the iconic Borneo Big Five, Tim’s Tiny Ten is our way of changing that, one child at a time.”
— Mr Albert Teo, Co-Author, Founder & Executive Chairman, Borneo Eco Tours, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Utan Rainforest Lodge
“It’s essential that we connect kids to nature. So, if this book is successful in igniting stewardship in the next generation, we aren’t just saving the species that we’re talking about in the story, we’re saving our own species.”
— Dr Sarah Pye, Co-Author
“When we speak to the younger generation through this book, it speaks about our deepest values. I hope this book is the beginning of many more stories that will positively impact the future generations to come and inspire humankind.”
— Timothy Teo, Managing Director of Borneo Eco Tours, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Utan Rainforest Lodge
ABOUT THE BOOK
- Title: Tim’s Tiny Ten
- Authors: Dr Sarah Pye and Mr Albert Teo
- Illustrator: Woon Bing
- Target audience: Children of all ages, conservation-conscious families and
educators - Setting: The Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo
- Theme: Biodiversity, conservation, and the wonder of nature’s smallest creatures
- Retail Price: MYR29.90
- Available for purchase at: Wild Borneo Boutique (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah), Sukau
Rainforest Lodge & Utan Rainforest Lodge - Contact for orders: Wild Borneo Boutique (+60 13-811 0583)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr Sarah Pye is an award-winning author, speaker, and environmentalist based in Australia. Her doctoral research explored how narrative storytelling can engage non-scientists in conservation, and her books, including the Wildlife Wong series and Saving Sun Bears, have brought Borneo’s wildlife to readers around the world. She conducts workshops for schools and organisations and is a regular speaker at literary and
conservation festivals.
Mr Albert Teo is one of Borneo’s most respected eco-tourism pioneers and the Founder and Executive Chairman of Borneo Eco Tours, operators of Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Utan Rainforest Lodge. A passionate advocate for sustainable tourism and conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Mr Teo has spent decades working to protect one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
ABOUT BORNEO ECO TOURS
Borneo Eco Tours (BET) is an award-winning eco-tourism company committed to responsible travel and conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Through its lodges Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Utan Rainforest Lodge, BET offers immersive wildlife experiences rooted in conservation, culture, education, sustainability, and a deep
respect for the natural environment.
For more information, visit: www.borneoecotours.com
