AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS | 2020 LAUNCH TITLES | PAST PUBLICATIONS

Message by Minister Desmond Lee

On the occasion of the 10^th Anniversary of the Raffles Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme

Congratulations to Raffles Leadership Institute (RLI) on the 10^th anniversary of the Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme! For 10 years, the Eco-Lit Programme has provided students with the opportunity to explore the outdoors and gain a deep understanding of the rich biodiversity in our natural environment. Many students have benefitted from this programme by developing their sense of wonder and curiosity about nature, and sharing these learnings in books for the benefit of their peers.

To-date, 22 children’s story books on our environment have been published under Eco-Lit, written and drawn by students from Raffles Institution. These books feature animals found in Singapore, making them relatable and relevant to our young readers. This year, the students are publishing three more books – Crisis in the Crabital, The Sea Slug Who Could Cook, and No Nest Like Home.

This programme has been valuable on many fronts. First, it promotes Singapore’s biodiversity and heritage to our young. Our pre-school and primary school children have learnt much from reading about our local biodiversity through these books. Second, our young writers and illustrators are able to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the environment through their research. In fact, past participants in the programme have gone on to study and work in fields related to the environment, and some have become strong advocates for our natural environment.

This need for ecological literacy must be nurtured from a tender age especially as we work towards a more sustainable future. I hope parents, too, will take time to read through these books with their children. The Eco-Lit series of books are available at our public libraries and now online too, giving everyone with access to the internet to read and learn about the beauty of Singapore’s natural environment.

My deepest appreciation to our young authors and illustrators, as well as our educators and mentors for coming together to co-create this valuable picture book series over the last decade.

Mr Desmond Lee
Minister for National Development
Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration

Message by Mr Frederick Yeo, Principal of Raffles Institution

On the occasion of the 10^th Anniversary of the Raffles Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme

This year 2020 marks the 10^th anniversary of the Raffles Ecological Literacy (Eco-Lit) Programme’s Book Project Initiative. Raffles Institution would like to thank Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, for supporting this year’s Eco-Lit storybook launch with his congratulatory message to our students, in conjunction with the 10^th anniversary.

Since its inception in 2010, successive batches of passionate Eco-Lit Rafflesians have been involved in the annual Book Project exploring the multifaceted aspects of Singapore’s rich biodiversity and sharing our amazing local flora and fauna with children through creative storybooks. To ensure the authenticity of the environmental narratives in the storybooks, our students had immersed themselves in an experiential journey of learning and discovery, through field trips to nature hotspots across Singapore, engaging nature enthusiasts and experts on various topics of environmental interests, and embarking on overseas study trips to deepen their understanding of environmental conservation in other communities. They also self-learnt storybook illustration techniques and the crafting of children narratives, so that important environmental messages could be effectively communicated through their storybooks. The product of their laudable effort - Eco-Lit storybooks for children that are presented in a humorous and creative way, yet undergirded by important messages of environmental conservation.

At the Eco-Lit storybook launch each year, the team comprising current students and alumni would collaborate with the National Library Board (NLB) in organising storytelling sessions and craft activities for children. Past book launch titles, such as You Been to Ubin? , The Adventures of Max and Ritchie, Monkey Business, I Will Be Clean and Little Backyard Tales of MacRitchie, had all evoked warm memories of places in Singapore some of us might sometimes take for granted.

Due to COVID-19 this year, a physical launch is not possible. Notwithstanding this, the school is pleased to commend and support our Eco-Lit students in the e-launch of this year’s storybook titles - No Nest Like Home, Crisis in the Crabital and The Sea Slug Who Could Cook. Through the e-launch, our 2020 batch of Eco-Lit students have demonstrated their steadfast commitment in ensuring that important messages of environmental conservation continue to reach as many children as possible, regardless of the challenges of COVID-19. These storybooks will be gifted to all primary schools in Singapore; copies will also be made available at the children’s section of the National Library. We hope the children will enjoy reading the storybooks and the accompanying illustrations.

Mr Frederick Yeo
Principal of Raffles Institution

The Students' Eco Lit Journey (2019-2020):

Introducing the Authors and Illustrators of the 2020 Eco Lit Books (from Left to Right):

No Nest Like Home Book Cover.PNG

Bird Grp Pic.jpg NO NEST LIKE HOME:
Zhao Wenrui, Natalie Leong,
Tan Dionne, Li Wenjiao and Charisse Kwong.

Crisis in the Crabital Book Cover.PNG

CRISIS IN THE CRABITAL:
Yeong Su Hui, Zhang Ziru,
Sravani Somisetty and Cheyanne Wong,

The Sea Slug Who Could Cook Book Cover.PNG

THE SEA SLUG WHO COULD COOK:
Jonas Chia, Xavier Leung,
Cheryl Chan and Milton Lee.

Learn about each book's story writing and illustration process.

Watch the story and its characters come alive through the animated videos.

Discover even more by reading the E-Books!

No Nest Like Home

Published: July 2020

ISBN: 978-981-14-6527-7

Bella and Benji have a problem: they need a new home.

Lucky for them, as they search high and low for their new nest, they find inspiration in the homes of a few unlikely friends they make along the way. However, with such a long list of demands, will they ever be able to find the perfect nest?

Or will they realize that there's more to a perfect home than meets the eye?

Follow them as they weave through the pages of this book, in search of their new home!

Learn	Watch	Discover
The Making Of "No Nest Like Home"	No Nest Like Home (Animated Video)	Click the book cover above to access the E-Book. Set the Page View as "Double Page" (under Settings) to enhance your reading experience.

Crisis in the Crabital
Published: July 2020

ISBN: 978-981-14-6525-3

Let us take you on a magical journey through time, to the wondrous land of the Crabital. Nowhere else will you find another crab paradise like this, where crabs of all shapes and sizes thrive in harmony.

Life in the Crabital has always been peaceful until one fateful day, when the city was engulfed in a terrible crisis! It is now up to the four chosen crabs to save the city, but... will they be able to fulfil their mission?

Learn	Watch	Discover
The Making Of "Crisis in the Crabital"	Crisis in the Crabital (Animated Video)	Click the book cover above to access the E-Book. Set the Page View as "Double Page" (under Settings) to enhance your reading experience.

The Sea Slug Who Could Cook
Published: July 2020

ISBN: 978-981-14-6526-0

Whoever said that only humans could cook?
It's not easy being a chef underwater, and the ocean's denizens are very picky indeed!

Follow Ollie's culinary adventures, as he tries to feed the many weird and wonderful sea slugs
who are in search of their next meal?

Learn	Watch	Discover
The Making Of The Sea Slug Who Could Cook	The Sea Slug Who Could Cook (Animated Video)	Click the book cover above to access the E-Book. Set the Page View as "Double Page" (under Settings) to enhance your reading experience.

Did you know!? The quick-fact sheets of the subject-matter or characters in the books!

No Nest Like Home Info Page.jpg

Crisis in the Crabital Info Page.jpg

The Sea Slug Who Could Cook Info Page.jpg

Interested in our past publications? Find them here!