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From inspiring memoirs to charming children’s tales, this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards honours Singapore’s favourite homegrown reads.
By Sim Yi Wen
A celebration of Singapore’s favourite reads
The POPULAR Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 Prize Presentation Ceremony wrapped up with plenty of literary cheer as readers, authors, and publishers gathered at the Carlton Hotel on 22 November. The awards is a celebration of the stories that have captured readers’ hearts in the past year and the writers who dedicate themselves to the craft. This year marks the first time that the Chinese category is split into Chinese (Adult) and Chinese (Children), highlighting the growing diversity and vibrancy of local Chinese literature.
POPULAR has always been committed to championing the local literary community and the awards is one way for us to provide a platform for local authors to showcase their works. At the heart of what we do lies the belief that stories have the power to connect, inspire, and uplift communities across generations. As the largest bookstore chain in Singapore, we remain fully dedicated to connecting authors with readers and driving readership.
The POPULAR Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 Prize Presentation Ceremony was held as part of the event lineup for BookFest@Singapore 2025, an annual books and stationery extravaganza featuring family-friendly activities, exclusive discounts and bargains, meet-and-greet sessions with authors, craft activities, and more.
Winners across four categories
English (Adult)
Readers picked a mix of financial wisdom, historical insights, and international perspectives:
- Retire with More Money by Tan Ooi Boon
- The First Fools: B-Sides of Lee Kuan Yew’s A-Team by Peh Shing Huei
- The Land of the Rising Sun and the Lion by Tommy Koh and Ishikawa Hiroshi
English (Children)
From nostalgia to mystery, this category offered an abundance of charm:
- My Singapore Childhood by Claudia Ju, illustrated by Thin Thin
- Secrets of Singapore: 10th Anniversary Edition by Lesley-Anne Tan & Monica Lim, illustrated by James Tan
- Sherlock Sam’s Orange Shorts: The Second Pair by A.J. Low, illustrated by Drewscape
Chinese (Adult)
Four thought-provoking works topped the category this year:
- 《加减人生：畅谈处世之道》 by 尤今
- 《思索的长度》 by 李慧玲
- 《天外有天，人外有人 • 迷时师渡，悟时自渡》 by 卓顺发
- 《在商言商：郭令明》 by 白胜晖, translated by 郭书真
Chinese (Children)
A trio of colourful and heartfelt titles took home the honours:
- 《哪吒1——勇气和担当》 by 林得楠, illustrated by 王虹元
- 《下雨天蚂蚁做什么》 by 孙雪玲, illustrated by 李文良
- 《辛苦了，红头巾》 by 余广达
Singapore stories chosen by the people
Winners were selected through public voting held from 1 September to 31 October, from a shortlist of 38 titles by Singaporean authors. If you’ve missed all the action this year, don’t fret, as you can still enjoy a 20% discount on all nominated titles at all POPULAR Bookstores from now through 31 January 2026.
