Fascinating facts and stories of Singapore’s past, present-day narratives are captured vividly in The Little Singapore Book. Written by Sim Ee Waun (author of We Shall Remember) and Joyceline See Tully, beautifully illustrated by Chloe Chang, The Little Singapore Book is THE book for families and loved ones overseas.
Did you know that…Singapore had a Greek name? There was a large Teochew cemetery in Orchard Road? Or that the Changi Tree can grow taller than a twenty-storey building, and there was a legend behind the tree?
What is The Little Singapore Book?
The story of how Singapore came to be is captured succinctly in The Little Singapore Book and engages both children and adults with little known facts accompanied by colourful illustrations. The Little Singapore Book informs young readers about Singapore’s history and culture.
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Consisting of 88 full coloured pages with five chapters of Singapore’s story, facts and activities are also peppered throughout the book. This is a new edition featuring updated activities and brand-new illustrations.
What’s in The Little Singapore Book by Sim Ee Waun and Joyceline See Tully
There are four chapters in the book starting with Singapore as a kingdom and active trading hub, then succumbed to battles therefore forgotten until Raffles came. Then immigrants arrived contributing to the growth of the island-settlement. Then the war reached Singapore’s shores.
My favourite chapter was the Little Red Dot That Could, a nod to the little engine’s resilience.
In this case, the strength of the nation really lies in its people. I really enjoyed the mentions and illustrations of old landmarks like Van Kleef Aquarium and Haw Par Villa – which were places of interest I have seen when I was a young child.
Chapter 3 highlights ethnic precincts in Singapore and fun facts about the different areas. There were many facts I did not know. For instance, the origins of the name Tekka Market was from bamboo plants in Little India.
The last chapter pays tribute to the various ethnicities in Singapore, and our way of living. The final section of the book features different attractions in Singapore we should visit and highlights found in each landmark.
Accompanied by illustrations that the youngest child can appreciate, the book brings to life the stories about our little red dot. Turning the pages yield pleasant surprises and familiar sights on our favourite places to go, things to do and intricate details of the neighbourhoods we never paid close attention to.
One big bonus on this new edition – activities, instructions for folding the Samsui woman’s hat and even a heritage trail guide in City Hall!
My 10 Year Old’s Take on The Little Singapore Book
Here is the perspective of my 10 year old:
“I never knew what school was like in the olden days. It surprised me when I read about students standing outside the class when they were naughty, and that the canteen was the ‘tuckshop.
My favourite parts of the book are on the war and the history of Singapore in a nutshell. I learnt facts about the past and more about the people who contributed to our nation-building too.”
Parent’s Review of The Little Singapore Book
I thoroughly enjoyed this read as an adult and learn tidbits about Singapore I never knew. It certainly connected me to what Singapore was like and what the forefathers and my grandparents, and parents encountered when they were younger.
This gem will be wonderful for intergenerational bonding. Older ones can talk about their past encounters while admiring the illustrations of their old haunts while the younger ones can learn about Singapore’s past to truly appreciate what they can enjoy now.
The activity pages will be an additional fun element for all to complete, even the heritage trail guide should be something to try for a family day out.
I appreciated the nod to the forefathers and foremothers – the pioneer generation that sacrificed much for our island state to develop rapidly. It allows parents to read it to their children without going too much into the details of the war or other political developments that younger ones might not understand.
The Little Singapore Book was a joy to read and definitely one to keep on the bookshelf.
Get a Copy of The Little Singapore Book
Purchase your own copy of The Little Singapore Book from Epigram Bookstore or Closetful of Books. Each book costs $28.
