In celebration of SG60, NTUC First Campus (NFC) has launched a special storybook titled Happy Birthday to You!, written in all three official Mother Tongue languages.

The story follows a grandfather as he shares cherished memories of his childhood in Singapore with his two grandchildren – from playing goli (marbles) and feeding chickens at his kampong attap house, to experiencing water rationing and riding early public buses. His memories are beautifully contrasted with scenes of present-day Singapore: MRT trains, towering HDB flats, and the iconic Jewel Changi Airport, showcasing Singapore’s remarkable transformation through the decades. The story concludes with a heartwarming dual celebration, honouring both the grandfather’s birthday and Singapore’s, blending personal memories with national pride.

Developed specially for preschoolers at the Kindergarten 1 and 2 levels by NFC’s Chinese Education Development Specialists, the books will be distributed as reading resources across NFC’s network of over 180 My First Skool and Little Skool-House centres in Singapore, reaching more than 10,700 children.

“SG60 is a timely opportunity to help our youngest citizens understand how far we’ve come as a nation. This book encourages young readers to cherish their roots and inspires them to imagine and build a hopeful future. Stories like this are valuable learning tools as they deepen cultural identity and foster interest in Mother Tongue Language learning. By presenting language in familiar, culturally relevant settings, this has a direct impact on improving language acquisition through contextual understanding,” said Dr Connie Lum, NFC’s Director of Mother Tongue Language Curriculum and Professional Development, and also the book author.

She added, “This book builds on our ongoing efforts at NTUC First Campus to create Mother Tongue storybooks rooted in local culture, making language acquisition more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for our young children.”

The book was launched today at the “Discovering Fun in Bilingualism!” event at One Punggol, where families enjoyed performances by children from My First Skool and Little Skool-House. The event is supported by the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism.

NFC will make the books available at the National Library Board’s Children’s Community Libraries. It is also exploring digital versions on its website, so more children and parents can access and benefit from them.

Media coverage:

8world (12 July 2025)