Mother Tongue Language Resources

At a loss for Mother Tongue Language (MTL) resources to use with your child? Here is a list of MTL books funded by the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism (LKYFB)!

These books are readily accessible through our public and regional libraries!

CHINESE LANGUAGE RESOURCES

A Cosy Place to Sleep/ 大猫小猫要睡觉
Author: Gary Goh/ 吴国雄

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A Dangerous Place to Live/ 一个危险的地方

Author: Gary Goh/ 吴国雄

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Chili, Sharp and Spicy/ 辣椒，又辣又够味!

Author: Linn Shekinah

Oh no! Chili has lost her flavour! If she can't help the chefs make her dishes sharp and spicy, she might get tossed out of the Asian Spice Kitchen. What can Chilli do? Find out in this spicy tale about working hard and doing your best.

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Cinnamon, Swift and Smart!/ 肉桂，敏捷又聪明

Author: Linn Shekinah

The Spice Kids' friends from overseas, the Herbs, have come for a visit. Everyone is excited! Everyone, except for Cinnamon. He is afraid the Herbs want to move in and take everything away from them. So he comes up with a plan to get rid of them. Will it work? Find out in this delicious tale about jealousy, trust and friendship.

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Clove, Bold and Brave!/ 丁香，勇敢又胆大！

Author: Linn Shekinah

Clove always helps people with their problems. But now she has a problem - and nobody can help her. She has been chosen to speak at the Spice Town show and tell programme, but she is too afraid to speak! Can she help herself this time? This is a zesty tale about finding the courage to do things differently.

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Lion's Heart, Painted Thoughts/ 狮心绘意

Creater(s): Chen Zhi Rui/ 陈志锐, Wu Shuang Ying/ 吴双英, Zhao Rong Hao/ 赵容浩

Lion's Heart, Painted Thoughts is a book specially created for the Asian Festival of Children's Content 2015 in Singapore. 16 renowned children's authors from Singapore and China have come together to create this beautiful book surrounding the themes of "Home, Dreams and Friendships".

Authors of three generations from Singapore and China wrote playful, childlike stories that depict the harmonious life of animals and nature, and embody the emotions of family and friendship. The book demonstrates the richness of children's stories in Singapore and China, and is also a tribute to the friendship and harmoney between both countries.

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Little Wayang Kid/ 戏曲男孩

Author: Raymond Tan/ 陈睿翰 

Little Wayang Kid tells the story of Raja, a good-natured and active boy, expected by his parents to pick up an activity for his development. Little did they expect Raja to choose Chinese Opera. Can he go against all odds: language, culture, and his disapproving mother, to master the craft? Join Raja as he ventures into the fascinating performance.

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Purple/ 紫

Author: Wang Chu Qiao

Purple tells the story of Blue as he seeks friends to mix with in the world of colours. Ridiculed by the family of warm colours and left alone by the neutrals, Blue finally stumbles upon the truth of his intrinsic beauty and finds a friend in Red. But will the rest allow Red to mix with Blue?

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Shallot, Strong and Steady!/ 红葱，强壮又坚定

Author: Linn Shekinah

The Asian Spice Kids move to a new home and they find their spice corner a little too small. Shallot annoys her friends by getting in their way and they chase her away. But when the Spice Kids come face to face with a giant, Shallot unexpectedly saves the day. This is a hearty tale about respect, friendship, and the courage to stand up for what is right.

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Singapore: Our Pledge/ 信约

Author: Dr Tan Wee Kiat/ 陈伟杰博士)

Written in 1966 by S. Rajaratnam shortly after Singapore's independence, the National Pledge is the embodiment of how people of different religions, races and language are bonded together by their common love for the country. Using images of stamps from various eras of Singapore history, this children's book not only promotes nationalism, but a fervent regard for history and development through philatelic representations of the island-nation's key events and achievements.

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Star Anise, Superstar!/ 八角，超级明星！

Author: Linn Shekinah

Star Anise may look like a star, but she certainly doesn't feel like one. She feels inferior to the other Spice Kids, like Chili and Cinnamon, because she does not have a dish named after her. When her efforts to stand out are not appreciated, she runs away. She stumbles upon a plot to attack all the Spices, and succeeds in saving them! Star Anise finally discovers what it truly means to be a "star".

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The Crane and The Crab/ 鹤与螃蟹

Author: SR Nathan/ 纳丹

A long time ago in a kampong was a pond that was full of fish. But the pond soon began to dry, and a watchful and greedy crane had an idea. He fools the fish into thinking that he will bring them to a large sparkling lake. In the meantime, a crab who has been watching the crane had plans of his own.

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The Naughty Mynah/ 调皮的八哥

Author: Evelyn Sue Wong

Paul Jones, a visiting art teacher who has just arrived in Sinapore, befriends a clever mynah that can speak English and Mandarin. Agreeing to help Mr Jones learn Mandarin, the mynah accompanies him to surprise his students on the first day of school. The mynah soon learns from the students and Mr Jones that it is too clever for its own good. Or does it?

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Where's Grandma?/ 外婆在哪里?

Author: Edmund Lim/ 林伟杰

Luke is different from other boys his age because his best friend is his grandma. They do everything together - walking to his school, strolling in the park, and playing in the playground. That was before Grandma's fall. Everything changed after that. She lost her way in the housing estate she has lived in for over twenty years. She even forgot Luke's name. "Where's Grandma?" tells the poignant story of how one boy copes with losing his beloved Grandma to Alzheimer's disease only to discover something more powerful.

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Why did the Pangolin Cross the Road?/ 穿山甲为什么要过马路?

Author: Emily Lim/ 林美玲

Kai and Mei stumble upon an injured pangolin outside their school. As the children help the poor animal to safety, it sparks off their interest in the pangolin and why it risked it life to cross the road.

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MALAY LANGUAGE RESOURCES

Adil's Dining Table/ Meja Makan Adil

Author: Rilla Melati Bahri

Follow Adil's humourous tale when his dining table gets taken away by Ah Pek, the rag-and-bone man?

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Ati's Baju Melayu/ Baju Melayu Ati

Author: Rilla Melati Bahri

Join Ati as she disguises herself in a baju melayu and find out how this funny adventure ends!

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Chili, Sharp and Spicy!/ Lada, pintar dan pedas!

Author: Linn Shekinah

Oh no! Chili has lost her flavour! If she can't help the chefs make her dishes sharp and spicy, she might get tossed out of the Asian Spice Kitchen! What can Chili do? Find out in this spicy tale about working hard and doing your best.

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

Cinnamon, Swift and Smart!/ Kayu manis, pantas dan bijak!

Author: Linn Shekinah

The Spice Kids' friends from overseas, the Herbs, have come for a visit. Everyone is excited! Everyone, excpet for Cinnamon. He is afraid the Herbs want to move in and take everything away from them. So he comes up with a plan to get rid of them. Will it work? Find out in this delicious tale about jealousy, trust and friendship.

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

Clove, Bold and Brave!/ Bunga cengkih, berani dan gagah!

Author: Linn Shekinah

Clove always helps people with their problems. But noe she has a problem - and nobody can help her. She has been chosen to speak at the Spice Town show and tell programme, but she is too afraid to speak! Can she help herself this time? This is a zesty tale about finding the courage to do things differently.

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

Makan Time!/ Waktu Makan!

Author: Sharon Ismail

This 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 with activities to try out at the end of the book!

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Shallot, Strong and Steady!/ Bawang merah, kuat dan tegap!

Author: Linn Shekinah

The Asian Spice Kids move to a new home and they find their spice corner a little too small. Shallot annoys her friends by getting in their way and they chase her away. But when the Spice Kids come face to face with a giant, Shallot unexpectedly saves the day. This is a hearty tale about respect, friendship and the courage to stand up for what is right.

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

Star Anise, Superstar!/ Bunga Lawang, bintang handalan!

Author: Linn Shekinah

Star Anise may look like a star, but she certainly doesn't feel like one. She feels inferior to the other Spice Kids, like Chili and Cinnamon, because she does not have a dish named after her. When her efforts to stand out are not appreciated, she runs away. She stumbles upon a plot to attack all the Spices, and succeeds in saving them! Star Anise finally discovers what it truly means to be a "star".

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

The Crane and the Crab/ Bangau dan Ketam

Author: SR Nathan

A long time ago in a kampong was a pond that was full of fish. But the pond soon began to dry, and a watchful and greedy crane had an idea. He fools the fish into thinking that he will bring them to a large sparkling lake. In the meantime, a crab who has been watching the crane had plans of his own.

Click here for book availability in public libraries.

Where is My Home?/ Di mana rumah saya?

Author: Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar

Callie gets lost and could not find her way home. She encounters different animals in her search for her home. She discovers the value of home and learns to appreciate how it is to have a home of her own.

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TAMIL LANGUAGE RESOURCES

The Crane and the Crab/ கொக்கும் நண்டும்

Author: SR Nathan

A long time ago in a kampong was a pond that was full of fish. But the pond soon began to dry, and a watchful and greedy crane had an idea. He fools the fish into thinking that he will bring them to a large sparkling lake. In the meantime, a crab who has been watching the crane had plans of his own.

Click here for book availbility in public libraries.

The Snail Who Didn't Want His Shell/ தன் ஓட்டை விரும்பாத நத்தை

Author: Ramanathan Ramachandran

Sentil Snail loves to race and finds a way to beat his friends. In the process, he learns that his shell is more valuable than he first believed it to be.

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LEE KUAN YEW FUND FOR BILINGUALISM

Click here for more information about the Lee Kuan Kew Fund for Bilingualism!