Did you know that the Padang was turned into a large tapioca orchard during the Japanese Occupation? Find out more facts and lesser-known milestones about life in Singapore during the Second World War with author Sim Ee Waun. Ee Waun will draw from tales in The House on Silat Road, which highlights the realities of war through the eyes of a 9-year-old.

A food & travel writer and freelance editor for 28 years, Sim Ee Waun turned to writing children’s books as her second career. She co-authored history-based The Little Singapore Book and The House on Palmer Road and is a founding partner of boutique children’s publisher Pepper Dog Press.

Return to Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s with author Josephine Chia. Your students will get a glimpse of the fabled kampong spirit as the author shares stories from her memoir Growing Up in Kampong Potong Pasir (adapted for young readers).

Josephine was inspired to be a writer and share the stories of her kampong life and Peranakan heritage. Her books often incorporate Singapore's social and political history, with Kampong Spirit Gotong Royong winning the 2014 Singapore Literature Prize. She has spoken at several international writing festivals, and mentors teenage and adult aspiring writers.

Go on a rainforest adventure with author, Mellissa Saw and learn all about rainforest animals, and understand how small, meaningful steps can

make a huge difference. During this session, students will discover interesting cultural elements within the story, learn about the author’s journey, and the key aspects of writing a picture book.

Mellissa Saw, with fifteen years of advertising experience, ventured into the world of children’s literature where she discovered her passion for storytelling. She is the author of A Hippity-Hop Rainforest Adventure and continues to weave tales that are inspired by her Malaysian heritage, multicultural background, and love of nature. Her hope is to spark

curiosity and love for her culture and our shared planet.

In this absolutely essential talk, the author will share about her experience growing up in Nee Soon kampong and how she started her journey in animal conservation. Students will also learn about the author's research process and how we can care for our environment. Expect lots of animal fun facts that will have students ooh-ing and aah-ing!

Debby Ng is a wildlife disease ecologist, environmental journalist and wildlife crime investigator. She is the Co-founder of the Himalayan Mutt Project (HMP), a community-led effort to monitor and manage infectious diseases in wild and domestic animals in Nepal. Debby has also led projects across Tanzania, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia with the Environmental Investigation Agency, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Animal Protection, and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. She is also the Founder of the Hantu Blog, a volunteer organization that engages policy makers and enhances ocean-literacy through storytelling, citizen science and ecotourism to protect coral reefs in Singapore. Debby is a Duke University Global Fellow in Conservation Biology and Policy, and a National Geographic Explorer.

In this workshop, strengthen imaginations, build problem solving skills and enhance creativity - all with a huge belly laugh! Author, Rachelyn Gordon, will take students through workshop where they will learn how humour can be a powerful storytelling tool. 

Rachelyn Gordon is a Singaporean children’s author and creative writing educator. She runs workshops that help children explore real-world issues, discover their voices and write with heart. Her books include Rosie and the Mamak Shop, Curly and Frank.

Writing stories from scratch can seem like an impossible task to some of your students. Let Namita Moolani Mehra show them how they can draw inspiration from ordinary things, people, and everyday life.

Namita Moolani Mehra is a children’s book author, cookbook author, and freelance food writer. She is the author of picture books Anni Dreams of Biryani and The Light Within You, and children’s cookbook Superfoods for Superheroes. Namita is also an entrepreneur and the founder of a social-impact business called Indian Spicebox, that helps fund hot meals for

underprivileged children in India. Namita was born in a remote village in Nigeria, grew up in the UK and India, studied in Chicago, and worked in New York for over a decade. 

From emojis, to memes, to gifs – your students (and the world at large) increasingly use images to communicate. In this talk, Colin Goh — the award-winning cartoonist, writer, filmmaker and co-creator of Dim Sum Warriors — explains the visual tools that cartoonists use to communicate and how your students can learn to infer and draw meaning from images.

Colin Goh is an award-winning film-maker, humourist, and the artist/co-writer of Dim Sum Warriors, the graphic novel series about kungfu-fighting dumplings, which was praised by Time, Fast Company, and many others. It was recently adapted into a major musical in China.

Your students have ideas, scenes and characters. How can they turn this into a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end? In this talk, Colin Goh — the award-winning cartoonist, writer, filmmaker and creator of Dim Sum Warriors — breaks down one of the stories from the Dim Sum Warriors series to demonstrate the power of good storytelling.

Colin Goh is an award-winning film-maker, humourist, and the artist/co-writer of Dim Sum Warriors, the graphic novel series about kungfu-fighting dumplings, which was praised by Time, Fast Company, and many others. It was recently adapted into a major musical in China.

Creating characters for their stories might seem daunting to some of your students. In this talk, Colin Goh — the award-winning cartoonist, writer, filmmaker and creator of Dim Sum Warriors — shares with students the craft of creating memorable characters using iconic examples from popular culture. 

Colin Goh is an award-winning film-maker, humourist, and the artist/co-writer of Dim Sum Warriors, the graphic novel series about kungfu-fighting dumplings, which was praised by Time, Fast Company, and many others. It was recently adapted into a major musical in China.

AJ Low, creators behind the bestselling Sherlock Sam series, will break down the twists and turns of what makes a good mystery (and story). Your students will also be guided to create characters and stories of their own.

AJ Low is the husband-and-wife writing team of Adan Jimenez and Felicia Low-Jimenez who write the Sherlock Sam series of children’s books. Their books have won the International Schools Libraries Network’s Red Dot Award. An animated Sherlock Sam series is also in the works. When they're not solving mysteries, Felicia is a comics publisher and Adan edits video games.

New villains? Adventures in foreign countries? Where do the creators of the Sherlock Sam series get their many, many ideas from? Let AJ Low share how they continue to create mysteries more than half a decade on. Your students will also learn practical tips to pen adventures of their own. 

AJ Low is the husband-and-wife writing team of Adan Jimenez and Felicia Low-Jimenez who write the Sherlock Sam series of children’s books. Their books have won the International Schools Libraries Network’s Red Dot Award. An animated Sherlock Sam series is also in the works. When they're not solving mysteries, Felicia is a comics publisher and Adan edits video games.

In the picture book Counting Sheep, the characters try again (and again) to help a wobbly sheep get over the fence. Pippa Chorley, the book’s author, speaks about what it means to innovate and experiment when faced with challenges.

Pippa Chorley grew up in a pretty village in England surrounded by sheep. Trained as a primary school teacher, she loves to write stories that make children giggle and think outside the box. Pippa now lives in Singapore with her husband and their very own flock. Counting Sheep is the first book in the Sam Series featuring a spunky and imaginative little girl called Sam.

When Sam awakes to find her stuffed toys strewn across the bedroom, she is sure that they have had an argument in the night. How will she solve their squabbles? With help and ideas from your students, of course! Join Pippa Chorley as she reads from her rhyming story, Stuffed, and enjoy simple craft activities.

Pippa Chorley grew up in a pretty village in England surrounded by sheep. Trained as a primary school teacher, she loves to write stories that make children giggle and think outside the box. Pippa now lives in Singapore with her husband and their very own flock. Counting Sheep is the first book in the Sam Series featuring a spunky and imaginative little girl called Sam.

Uncover stories celebrating self-discovery and hope with author Emily Lim-Leh. The author will share how she drew from challenging personal experiences to create beloved tales such as Prince Bear and Pauper Bear. If your students are struggling to fit in, we hope this session shows how they can be ‘different’ and still feel like they belong.

Emily Lim is an award-winning children’s book author. She was the first outside North America to win three Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY awards) for her books, Prince Bear and Pauper Bear (Bronze Medal 2008), Just Teddy (Bronze Medal 2009), and Bunny Finds The Right Stuff (Silver Medal 2010).

Uncover stories celebrating self-discovery and hope with author Emily Lim-Leh. Select a story from the list below and the author will bring the tale to life in a dramatic reading. Sessions for small groups may be paired with a craft activity.

• The Tale of Rusty Horse
  
• Bunny Finds the Right Stuff
• Prince Bear and Pauper Bear
• Just Teddy
• Little Mole's Awesome Star
• Little Godwit Finds His Wings

Emily Lim is an award-winning children’s book author. She was the first outside North America to win three Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY awards) for her books, Prince Bear and Pauper Bear (Bronze Medal 2008), Just Teddy (Bronze Medal 2009), and Bunny Finds The Right Stuff (Silver Medal 2010).

A big, bad mood can be overwhelming and talking about feelings can be scary. In this session, Leila Boukarim and Barbara Moxham, creators of a series of books for highly sensitive kids, will talk about feelings, moods and how the world reacts to them. This session is perfect for small groups and will include a craft activity that the children can replicate at home.

Leila Boukarim was born in Lebanon, raised in several countries, and now resides in Singapore. She spends her time writing stories that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions between children and caregivers. 

Barbara Moxham was born in Munich, raised in Sydney and currently calls Singapore home. She worked as an art director after completing a Master of Arts in Painting and Drawing. Her addiction to books and becoming a mum led her to illustrating picture books, including two books for highly sensitive children. 

Starting over can be a scary adventure. Learn from Maja, the lead character in ​Hello Goodbye, Little Island​, who finds her way as she relocates to a new and very different environment. Leila Boukarim and Barbara Moxham, the book’s creators, will draw lessons from the story to help students who may be struggling with new beginnings.

Leila Boukarim was born in Lebanon, raised in several countries, and now resides in Singapore. She spends her time writing stories that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions between children and caregivers. 

Barbara Moxham was born in Munich, raised in Sydney and currently calls Singapore home. She worked as an art director after completing a Master of Arts in Painting and Drawing. Her addiction to books and becoming a mum led her to illustrating picture books, including two books for highly sensitive children. 

Who’s that ninja at the park? Find out with Leila Boukarim and Barbara Moxham, the author and illustrator of Everyday Ninja, as they share the book’s delightfully surprising story and lead students in a movement-based activity to find their inner ninjas.

Leila Boukarim was born in Lebanon, raised in several countries, and now resides in Singapore. She spends her time writing stories that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions between children and caregivers. 

Barbara Moxham was born in Munich, raised in Sydney and currently calls Singapore home. She worked as an art director after completing a Master of Arts in Painting and Drawing. Her addiction to books and becoming a mum led her to illustrating picture books, including two books for highly sensitive children. 

Join Eunice Olsen as she celebrates extraordinary women such as Paralympic medalist Theresa Goh in her book, I’m a Girl. See What I Can Be!. Eunice will also share how your students can conduct research and create rhyming poems about amazing humans who inspire them.

Eunice Olsen is the founder and Executive Producer of International Emmy® Nominated series, WomenTalk TV. She is actively involved in philanthropic causes such as Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore and Habitat for Humanity. I’m a Girl. See What I Can Be! is her debut collection of poems. 

Introduce your students to values such as kindness and perseverance with stories by Leila Boukarim and Barbara Moxham. If you have a specific focus that you would like for this session, please let us know – we’re happy to recommend a story that would fit!

• The Yummiest Cupcake
• Best Foot Forward
• All Too Much for Oliver
• Everyday Ninja
• A Warm Christmas

Leila Boukarim was born in Lebanon, raised in several countries, and now resides in Singapore. She spends her time writing stories that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions between children and caregivers. 

Barbara Moxham was born in Munich, raised in Sydney and currently calls Singapore home. She worked as an art director after completing a Master of Arts in Painting and Drawing. Her addiction to books and becoming a mum led her to illustrating picture books, including two books for highly sensitive children. 

What happens when Gus the tiger sets out in search of some tea? Will he visit Changi Airport, the Botanic Gardens or Chinatown? Find out with author and illustrator Fleur Vella-Chang as she brings the board book, Afternoon Tea at Raffles Hotel, to life. She will also show your students how they can draw penguins and tigers of their own using basic shapes.

Fleur Vella-Chang is an author-illustrator, teacher and homeschool mum. She is the author of the much-loved book Afternoon Tea at Raffles Hotel and its companion Mabel Moves to Singapore. Fleur enjoys visiting schools to share with students her love for storytelling and passion for seeking wonder in ordinary things.

Expand your children's bilingual vocabulary in this session with award-winning author Colin Goh. In this session, Colin will read one of the hilarious Little Dim Sum Warriors stories in both English and Chinese before introducing key words and phrases in both languages. He will conclude the session with an interactive live drawing activity.

Colin Goh is an award-winning film-maker, humourist, and the artist/co-writer of Dim Sum Warriors, the graphic novel series about kungfu-fighting dumplings, which was praised by Time, Fast Company, and many others. It was recently adapted into a major musical in China.

Introduce your students to a diverse range of festivals and stories from Hindu mythology with Bhakti Mathur’s Amma Tell Me series. Through her simple and light-hearted tales, your students would gain a better understanding of the customs and traditions celebrated by one of Singapore’s communities. 

This session will take place digitally and we will work with the speaker and the school to ensure that the technology set up is in place for a fruitful session. 

Bhakti Mathur, private banker by day, mother to Shiv and Veer and an avid delver in Indian mythology at all other times is the creator of the Amma Tell Me books – a series of picture books about Indian festivals and mythology for children in the 3 to 9 years age group.

As the Great Depression brought families and cities to their knees, Robert Shun Wong and his younger brother Tommy, dreamed of flying.

Money was tight, racial discrimination was high and times were tough. But in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, the two brothers built a single-seat plane - a Pietenpol Sky Scout. Pushing the boundaries of their world, the two brothers were soon flying beyond their wildest dreams!

Evelyn Sue Wong is a children’s book author who sparks curiosity and inspires change through her books. Growing up in Toronto Canada, she loved flying with her father and earned her pilot’s licence at the age of nineteen. Now living in Singapore with her family, Evelyn hopes to inspire children everywhere to reach for the sky.

The café across the street from Anni’s home in Little India makes the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant, spicy and succulent—Anni could eat it every day. In fact, Anni loves that biryani so much that she’s determined to uncover the secret to the recipe. But uncovering the secret is harder than she thinks! Will Anni give up on her dreams? In this yummy talk, Namita will pepper the history of biryani with tips on writing and chasing your dreams. 

Namita Moolani Mehra is a children’s book author, cookbook

author, and freelance food writer. Namita is also an entrepreneur and the founder of a social-impact business called Indian Spicebox, that helps fund hot meals for underprivileged children in India. Namita was born in a remote village in Nigeria, grew up in the UK and India, studied in Chicago,

and worked in New York for over a decade. 

Travel back in time with The Little Singapore Book as a guide. Sim Ee Waun, who co-authored the book, will share lesser-known facts and stories to help your students connect with history. Each talk has been designed to cover a specific period in Singapore’s history (namely, 14th century to the end of the Japanese Occupation, colonial days to Independence or the 1800s) and may be paired with a craft activity.

A food & travel writer and freelance editor for 28 years, Sim Ee Waun turned to writing children’s books as her second career. She co-authored history-based The Little Singapore Book and The House on Palmer Road and is a founding partner of boutique children’s publisher Pepper Dog Press.

How many ways can you use a basket? Find out with author Quek Hong Shin as he tells the story of Xiaoming and The Incredible Basket. Students will also take part in interactive activities and learn more about Singapore in the 1970s. 

Quek Hong Shin has illustrated several picture books including The Amazing Sarong, which was shortlisted for Best Children's Title at the 2016 Singapore Book Awards. Hong Shin conducts workshops for primary-school children and is an advocate for Superhero Me, an inclusive arts movement for children with special needs.

What was growing up in Singapore in the 1970s like? Find out with author and illustrator Quek Hong Shin in this interactive session. Through the adventures of the characters in his works such as The Amazing Sarong and The Brilliant Oil Lamp, your students will learn more about different customs in multicultural Singapore.

Quek Hong Shin has illustrated several picture books including The Amazing Sarong, which was shortlisted for Best Children's Title at the 2016 Singapore Book Awards. Hong Shin conducts workshops for primary-school children and is an advocate for Superhero Me, an inclusive arts movement for children with special needs.

Rosie loves kentang curry puffs - especially the ones from the Mamak shop. But one morning, the Mamak shop is closed! With this talk, author  Rachelyn Gordon, will explore how we can tell stories set in the world we live in and why telling local stories matter.

Rachelyn Gordon is a Singaporean children’s author and creative writing educator. She runs workshops that help children explore real-world issues, discover their voices and write with heart. Her books include Rosie and the Mamak Shop, Curly and Frank.

Find out more about prehistoric life with Andy Chua, the author of the Fossil Finders series. Your students will also learn how to include scientific facts in their stories and get to see Andy’s fossil collection up close.

This session comes with an optional show-and-tell session for a smaller group of students and can take place during recess or right after the talk. 

Andy Chua is a speaker on prehistoric life and dinosaurs in schools and museums. He's been collecting fossils since he was 20, and owns over 450 unique specimens! He has met fossil-experts from around the world, and has real dino fossils of his own that he'll show interested students.

The Young Adult trilogy, RunHideSeek, tackles issues such as food shortage, genetic modification and the ethics of survival. Learn how the trilogy’s author Gabby Tye created dystopian societies and beloved characters in her novels. Your students will also learn how she balanced her passion for writing with school work and other commitments and get the chance to ask the bestselling author questions.

Gabby Tye is an 18-year-old Veterinary Sciences student and also the national-bestselling author of RunHideSeek, the five-book series. Gabby is the youngest Singaporean author to have had her book rights acquired by a major Chinese publisher.

How do different perspectives impact a story? Author H.S. Norup will share how she developed The Missing Barbegazi in two voices – that of 11-year-old Tessa and 154-year-old Gawion, a fantastical creature called a barbegazi. Your students will also get the chance to see things and describe ordinary objects from a barbegazi’s point of view. 

This session will take place digitally and we will work with the speaker and the school to ensure that the technology set up is in place for a fruitful session.

H.S. Norup grew up on a golf course in Denmark and has since lived in the UK, the US, Austria, Singapore and now, Switzerland. The Missing Barbegazi is her first novel and it shares the same inimitable editor of the Harry Potter books, Sarah Odedina.