From heartwarming fan moments to quirky trivia challenges, POPULAR Bookstores brought readers face-to-face with their favourite local authors this National Day season, making SG60 a truly unforgettable celebration of Singapore literature.
By Sim Yi Wen & Felicia Chua
In conjunction with SG60 and this year’s National Day celebrations, POPULAR Bookstore honoured the Singaporean way of life with a lively SG60 bookstore event featuring a vibrant mix of homegrown Singapore authors. Across two weekends, book signings, trivia games, and meet-the-fans sessions were held, inviting shoppers to join in the festive celebration of local literature.
First Weekend @ POPULAR Jurong Point
The first weekend of author events was held at POPULAR Jurong Point. Kicking off the celebrations was children’s book author, Vivian Teo, who was greeted by young fans both shy and eager. Some carried just one cherished title from her prized My BFF Is an Alien series, while others were eagerly hoping to complete their fan collections with the latest Mikaela Kong title, often casting pleading glances at their parents. Signing books and posing for photos, Teo turned hesitant smiles into bright, happy ones with her warm and approachable demeanour.
Thereafter, Linda Locke brought Lyna Lankylegs and the Bright Hill Gang to meet with young readers, a story that’s inspired by her own childhood in 1950s Singapore. The bright, cheery, and all-round adorable illustration on the cover certainly won over children and parents alike. Ng Yi-Sheng ended the day on a fun note by bringing along his stuffed monkey companion. His book, Haywire Histories: Twisted Temasek, showcased some obscure stories from our pre-colonial history that are sure to make every Singaporean question their knowledge of this place they call home. While he was signing books, Ng even took the time to sketch some fun illustrations. Now, that’s a collector’s item worth getting your hands on!
The first weekend set the tone for the Singapore author meet-and-greet, combining cosy interaction with the excitement of meeting the creators behind beloved local stories.
National Day Weekend @ POPULAR Waterway Point
The second weekend coincided with National Day, which was befitting of the excitement and patriotism in the air. Lesley-Anne Tan and Monica Lim were among the biggest draws as they were also celebrating the 10th anniversary of their bestselling Secrets of Singapore series. First published during SG50 and now returning for SG60 with a limited-edition holographic cover and updated facts, our hearts swelled with pride for our local authors who have achieved such success in their fields. The Meet & Greet included a fun Singapore trivia challenge, with questions on history, sports, and culture. Children eagerly raised their hands to win prizes, while curious adults whose interests were piqued also chipped in with their two cents.
A.J. Low, the team behind the much-loved Sherlock Sam series, also drew an early crowd, with fans carrying towering stacks of books and even gifting them a hand-drawn card. In one heartwarming moment, the writing duo recognised a shy, young girl who had emailed them, which completely made her day. There was such a buzz at the event that a father-daughter duo stopped to chat with and seek recommendations from A.J. Low, before leaving with new Sherlock Sam adventures in arms — proof that Singapore literature still sparks fresh curiosity.
Adding extra flair to the celebrations was Xie Shi Min who arrived in full costume with props, handing out themed stickers and bookmarks designed for her book, Ghost Hunters of Geylang. She even entertained shoppers with fun riddles. As the last author scheduled for the day, Anittha Thanabalan wrapped up the festivities with a cosy book reading segment where she read excerpts from It Had to Be Her and her debut work, The Light That Finds Us. The former is the first book of a trilogy, for which the next two titles are due for release this December and mid-2026. We loved how she also encouraged shoppers to show their patriotism by buying Singapore literature.
A Celebration of Singapore Stories
Over the two weekends, POPULAR Bookstores transformed ordinary shopping days into a festive showcase of Singapore’s reading culture. From Secrets of Singapore to Sherlock Sam, these stories have grown alongside the nation and captured its history, humour, and heart. With queues, laughter, and signed books in hand, visitors left knowing they had been part of a moment worth remembering.
