Stories of the Hijrah Year
Irma Iryanti Juri, with illustrations by Mohamed Sharif Ishnin

This is the month of Syawal (or Shawwal), the tenth month of the lunar year in the Islamic calendar. Muslims the world over celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on the first day of Syawal, which happens to fall on 1 October this year. After a month of fasting from dawn to sunset each day, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated with a wide spread of delicacies and joyful gathering of relatives and friends. Learn more about the Islamic calendar and what the holy days mean in this colourfully illustrated book for children aged four and above. To buy a copy, contact Irma at 9187 3505 or email iryanti2@hotmail.com.

Anna Tserlingas

Stir-fried and not Shaken: A Nostalgic Trip Down Singapore’s Memory Lane
Terry Tan
Monsoon Books

These memoirs of Singaporean cookbook author and TV chef Terry Tan, now living in the UK, begin with his boyhood in the 1940s and continue through to the 1970s.

The book’s strength lies in Tan’s refusal to give us a potted history of Singapore. Instead, he gives us a series of fascinating glimpses into one man’s tapestry of deeply personal memories.

Tales of the Japanese occupation, Tan’s father’s philandering with cabaret girls, and his doughty little Peranakan grandmother making flying-fox curry on her Siglap fruit farm jostle with anecdotes about Sam Sui women, night-soil men, street theatre, opium dens and gambling.

If you had any illusions that this country was a sterile or one-dimensional place, this insight into its recent history will change your mind. It’s a wonderful read for anyone who loves Singapore and longs to know it better.

Verne Maree

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth
Rick Riordan
Puffin

The latest book by Rick Riordan is the fourth in his Percy Jackson series, about the adventures of a boy who is the son of the Greek god Poseidon and a mortal mother. Riordan is “the man” for writing pre-teen adventure stories. In this book, Percy enters a mysterious maze called the labyrinth in his quest is to battle evil and prevent the world’s destruction.

This gripping story mixes Greek mythology with the present day. It would appeal to any adventurous boy or girl between 11 and 16 years old. The book can be enjoyed on its own, but I’d recommend reading the rest of the series.

Daniel Leng (11 years old)

Travel around China
Collins

If China is in your travel plans, pick up a copy of this definitive and beautifully illustrated guide. Written and researched by local Chinese editors and photographers, it’s perfect for visitors who want to discover the authentic sights and sounds of the country. Sectioned by region, the book features up-to-date information on more than 1,200 attractions, a three-dimensional map, bilingual translations, and insider tips on cuisine, shopping, lodging, and travel routes.

Nora Varty