"Once upon a time, there was a little island called Singapura. It was a rich and thriving kingdom ruled by ancient kings…"
The Little Singapore Book is a fun-filled romp through Singapore’s history, packed in four chapters. It starts with a simplified history of Singapore from the 14th century through nation building and to the present day, then on to a whirlwind tour of the historical districts of Singapore. Flitting from past to present, it reveals the fascinating origins of neighbourhoods such as Chinatown and Little India, and how they have changed. For instance, did you know that Serangoon was once cattle farmland? Or that there was a real fort that once stood at Fort Road? This is followed by the final chapter on the way we live and what Singaporeans are all about, from the rich colourful language that we call ‘Singlish’ to our collective love for food. Sprinkled within are also activities for kids, from walking routes to games and quizzes, and sidebars of fun facts to pique children’s interest.
First published in 2015 with the support of the SG50 Grant, The Little Singapore Book was the first children’s picture book to depict 700 years of Singapore’s history, from the island’s 14th century beginnings until its present-day status as a wealthy, cosmopolitan country. The book is a firm favourite among children, and a choice pick among teachers and parents. Last year, The Little Singapore Book made it to the IFLA World Through Picture Books listing, and was exhibited in the national libraries of France and Japan, in Paris and Tokyo. The IFLA World Through Picture Books is an annotated list of recommended picture books compiled and endorsed by librarians from around the world.
About the authors and illustrator
Singapore writer and history enthusiast Sim Ee Waun has written several historical children’s books including We Shall Remember—The Story of Singapore at War, released just this February in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of WWII in Singapore. She also co-authored The House on Palmer Road and The House on Silat Road. Ee Waun teaches part time at a university in Singapore and is a docent at the Former Ford Factory museum. In a previous life, she was a food and travel journalist for 30 years, and editor of various food magazines.
Born and bred in Singapore, Joyceline See Tully has worked in publishing for the past 25 years, first as a journalist and magazine editor, and now as a children’s book author. Her latest book is Tiger Tales: Almost True Animal Stories from Old Singapore, a charming collection of stories that draws from real events in Singapore’s history. These days, she juggles her time between a full-time job in publishing, parenting a young child and working on her next children’s book.
Singapore based artist Chloe Chang received her first art commission at the age of nine (paid for in ‘country’ erasers). Since then, she has illustrated over a dozen books with local and international publishers, most notably Tiger Tales: Almost True Animal Stories from Old Singapore and the Jack Is Curious book series. She was also the lead character designer for the Mediacorp animated series Lil Wild.