Children books about Singapore

Discover the joy of reading through the best books for kids that tell stories about Singapore!

Here, the great collection with educational values for children and within the context of their own local identity that are bound to spark their imagination and keep the pages turning again and again.

Your child will grow up with a richer appreciation of our way of life, recognize about their home city or discover new facts about Singapore.  It is a great present too that is special and memorable!

Find and Seek Singapore

Author: Sally Roydhouse

A small boy arrives in the Southeast Asian island nation with his family, willing to explore his new surroundings with an open heart and a spirit of wonder. All senses are activated as we are taken on his adventure and discover the Singapore experience through the eyes of a child.

Universal themes of travel, exposure to new cultures, and a sense of discovery are pertinent to the story. His adventure will leave an impression on the reader’s memory to keep, and hopefully ignite a love of travel in this diverse world that we share. Find and Seek Singapore is colorful, educational, and written in simple verse, making it an enjoyable read for all members of the family.

Sasha in Singapore Series

Author: Shamini Flint

Sasha in Singapore books are fun, colourful and educational – featuring people, places, flora and fauna that are familiar and attractive to children in Singapore.

Makan Time

Author: Sharon Ismail

Way up on the ‘best things about Singapore’ list would have to be food! This wonderful story follows Sarah and her Grandpa as they set about filling their tummies around Singapore with local delights such as Nasi Lemak and Roti Prata. This is a bilingual picture book for pre-schoolers and the kiddos will love the activities at the end of the book, as well as being introduced to a host of delicious dishes to try!

Jayden & Janelle series

Author: Seema Dadlani and Harsha Dadlani

This fun series of six titles was written by sisters Seeema and Harsha, and stars five-year-old Jayden and his little sister, three-year-old Janelle. These two cuties live in Marine Parade with their parents and grandparents, and the stories follow them in their life in Singapore through HDB estates, chicken rice dinners, Gardens by the Bay and their fave dessert, ice-kacang. Aimed at pre-schoolers, the books embrace strong Singaporean identities and values, and the colourful illustrations will have the little ones page turning time-and-time again.

Nurturing Good Values Series: Being Happy with Ourselves

Author: Florence Teo

Raising children right is critical. The Nurturing Good Values Series is a powerful help in cultivating self-awareness, self-confidence, care for others and a strong sense of right and wrong in children aged 3 to 7. Reading these books to your children will guide them in their formative years, helping them mature into confident, responsible members of society.

Books are: Let us be Brave; Let us be Generous; Let us be Happy; Let us be Wise; Let us have Peace; Let us Stay Healthy

Timmy & Tammy Series

Author: Ruth Wan

Timmy and Tammy is a new series of books for preschoolers. Join them as they go out and about to explore and learn! Practise reading skills and have fun with the activity at the back.

Stacey Goes to the Indian Heritage Centre/Peranakan Museum/Indian Heritage Centre/National Museum

Author: Lianne Ong

Everyone loves school outings and Stacey is definitely excited to visit museums or heritage centres with her friends from school. Stacey doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about to make some new friends or is about to get a special tour.

Timmy & Tammy Series: What is Singapore?

Author: Ruth Wan-Lau

Timmy and Tammy want to know what Singapore is, but everyone is giving them a different answer. Soon, they come up with their own definition of Singapore that is both creative and heartwarming.

Join Timmy and Tammy as they go out and about to explore and learn. Practise reading skills and learn about Singapore in this story, written especially for our Jubilee celebrations.

Timmy & Tammy DISCOVER Series: Lee Kuan Yew

Author: Hwee Goh

Lee Kuan Yew gave up his life to build modern Singapore. How did he do it? What was he like? Come discover with Timmy and Tammy all you need to know about Singapore’s first Prime Minister.

Join Timmy and Tammy as they discover amazing and inspiring facts about our culture, our people and our home, Singapore!

Timmy & Tammy DISCOVER Series: Singapore’s Wildlife Wonders

Author: Hwee Goh

Singapore is a unique City in a Garden that shares its space with nature. Come discover, with Timmy and Tammy, Singapore’s wildlife wonders and how a little help can go a long way in protecting them!

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di series 

Author: David Seow

The Lion Dance

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di are three siblings who love doing things together. Today is extra-special because they are going to see a lion dance. Doong doong chang went the lion dance band. Doong doong chang went the lion dance gong.

At the Night Safari

Sam, Sebbie, and Di-Di-Di are three siblings who love doing things together. In this book, they visit the Night Safari where they come face-to-face with deer, lions, elephants, rhinos…and a sleepy giraffe! The giraffe is asleep right on the path of the tram and no matter what the other animals do to wake him up, he just won’t budge. The siblings come up with a plan; they simply ask him politely to please move. And the giraffe does at last!

At the S.E.A Aquarium

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di are three siblings who love doing things together. One sunny Sunday, their parents take them to the S.E.A. Aquarium where Sam and Sebbie suddenly lose track of their little brother. When Sam realises the fish she saw in the tank was not really a fish, but Di-Di-Di, they jump into the tanks and start asking all the fish if they have seen their brother. Finally they find Di-Di-Di with Jay, the Manta Ray. And they find out Jay has been sad because everyone is too afraid to play with him. So the siblings show all the other fish just how much fun the manta ray can be.

Secrets of Singapore

Author: Lesley-Anne and Monica Lim

In Secrets of Singapore, Danger Dan and Gadget Girl uncover the nation’s past, from the time of Sang Nila Utama in 1299 to independence in 1965. But wait, there’s more!

They also investigate intriguing areas seldom found in your history books (shhhh!), like cinemas, airports, sports and of course, food! Join the superhero duo as they unearth fascinating facts like:

• Which animals have escaped from the Singapore Zoo?
• How long was the very first MRT ride?
• Where can you see a tiger car? (And what on earth is a tiger car??)

The answers to these burning questions and much more in Danger Dan and Gadget Girl’s guide to Singapore’s past.

A Boy Named Harry: The Childhood of Lee Kuan Yew (book 1)

Harry Grows Up: The Early Years of Lee Kuan Yew (book 2)

Harry Builds a Nation: The Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew (book 3)

Author: Patrick Yee

The future leader of Singapore spent his growing up years doing what other children did in the 1920s. Harry liked to play with spinning tops, marbles, and kites—even fighting fish! While he was a little mischievous as a child, Harry worked hard in school to achieve academic success, eventually winning scholarships to attend the prestigious Raffles College.

Told in language accessible to young readers, this inspiring picture book about the childhood of Harry Lee Kuan Yew is one that parents, caregivers and teachers can share with children, providing the perfect opportunity for grown-ups to tell share with them his contributions to the country.

Harry Grows Up is the second book in the series of picture books about the life of Singapore’s remarkable leader, Lee Kuan Yew. Harry Builds a Nation is the third book in the picture book series about Singapore’s remarkable leader, Lee Kuan Yew. Where A Boy Named Harry showed his determination and Harry Grows Up his courage, this book features Harry’s vision. Working with a strong team who shared his can-do spirit, Harry brought Singapore out of colonial rule and turned his beloved country into an independent, successful and much-admired nation.

Grandma’s Eightieth Birthday

Author: Pauline Loh

Apart from the relatively straightforward and short sentences that come with hanyupinyin (which makes it great for Primary 1 kids), they have “lift the flap” words that reveal the English translations below. Totally tailored for Singaporean kids, whose mother tongue, more often than not, is English.

The storyline is simple, but heart-warming, about how the family pulls together despite being so busy with various commitments, to celebrate Grandma’s birthday.

My Home

Author: Cheng Pei Yee, Rayne Ngoi

Happy Reading!

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