Nostalgic books from our primary school days
Love it or hate it, silent reading is a core memory for every Singaporean kid. 7am on the dot, kids all over the country would be corralled into assembly halls or parade squares to read a book for the next half hour before the National Anthem. Whether you went with the mainstream and read fiction books like Geronimo Stilton or you sheepishly whipped out a Young Scientists magazine, here are a few nostalgic books from our primary school days that take us straight back to silent reading time.
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1. Geronimo Stilton
Image credit: @dearbooksph via Instagram
This title needs no explanation. Geronimo Stilton was the poster child for morning silent reading. We follow the titular mouse, a journalist in New Mouse City who always seems to be caught in the most nonsensical mishap each day.
His adventures go from rescuing his cousin from Transratania, to rescuing a stolen painting on Valentine’s Day – sounds about right for a typical journalist.
However, it isn’t to say that the franchise was beloved by all. It was public enemy #1 for some parents and English teachers who made it their lifelong mission to eradicate “Fabumouse” from every student’s vocabulary.
Purchase Geronimo Stilton books.
2. Rainbow Magic
Image credit: @elliereads24 via Instagram
You know you’ve made it in life when your name finally graces the cover of a Rainbow Magic book. When Shannon the Ocean Fairy hit the shelves, I was beyond ecstatic. If you were one of the chosen ones like me, I’m sure you know the excitement. For those still waiting for your destined time, we offer our deepest sympathies.
The series’ plot is something straight out of a Disney film. Each book follows a similar plot, best friends Kirsty Tate and Rachel Walker meet a new fairy friend who sends them on a quest to retrieve a stolen magical item from the evil goblins, saving Fairyland from mass destruction.
With a new fairy and fresh theme in every book, the series’ potential seemed endless.
Restock your Rainbow Magic library.
3. The Young Scientists
Image credit: @debe_closet via Carousell
As a child who dreaded science lessons, The Young Scientists was a lifesaver. Haters will say it isn’t real educational material, but the real ones know that’s how we learned “why mushrooms appear after rain” or “the amazing eyes of the superfly.”
This home-grown publication aimed to make science fun for the kids through engaging comic strips in a magazine format, and it’s safe to say it worked wonders.
If you were lucky enough to convince your parents to sign up for a monthly subscription, you would remember your first taste of adulthood when you received your magazine in the mail in its shiny blue sleeve – an unbeatable feeling.
Although every kid wrestled with the same question during silent reading – is this really a book? Say what you will about this iffy silent reading choice, but it definitely had a serious grip on every primary school student.
Get a copy of The Young Scientists.
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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A global phenomenon upon its release in 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid took the world by storm – and Singaporean kids were no exception.
The series follows the lovable menace Greg Heffley, who chronicles his life in a journal gifted to him by his mum. We follow his life through middle school as he climbs the social ranks and navigates friendships.
Known for popularising books in a journal format, the series’ unique literary approach made it stand out in bookshops. The franchise was committed to recreating a real-life journal using jotter-lined pages, a notebook cover, and handwriting-esque font.
We probably didn’t know what “wimpy” meant when we first picked it up, but that didn’t stop us from being locked in on this series.
Get your copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
5. Mr Midnight
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Regarded as “Asia’s answer to Harry Potter,” Mr Midnight was well received both locally and internationally, reaching countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The series centres around a group of young detectives solving paranormal mysteries in their town, Tanah Merah, with Mr Midnight serving as a blog to detail their adventures.
With the series’ plot being based in Singapore, it’s no surprise that kids were immediately drawn to its narrative and found comfort in characters relatable to them.
I remember averting my eyes whenever I walked past the books in the library – My Invisible Friend had a cover with an image of a blue monster in the mirror that haunted me for days.
Get the first instalment of Mr Midnight.
6. Dork Diaries
Image credit: @dorkdiaries via Instagram
First released in 2009, Dork Diaries was immediately swept up by young readers, especially those who were craving more journal-esque books following the success of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The series revolves around Nikki Maxwell, a 14-year-old who navigates the ups and downs of high school life, with a healthy mix of drama, romance and shenanigans.
Similar to its predecessor, Dork Diaries embraces the journal format and kicks things up a notch through its signature and almost manga-like art style that features a mix of doodles and detailed sketches.
Grab your own copy of Dork Diaries.
7. Captain Underpants
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Looking back, the titles from the Captain Underpants series sound like something out of a fever dream. The covers don’t do it any favours either – a bald guy rocking tighty-whities is hardly the stuff of Marvel heroes.
I remember being slightly confused whenever I passed the titles on my way out of the library. But it’s precisely this brand of kookiness that saw books flying off shelves in school libraries.
The plot is boatloads of fun too. It revolves around 2 friends who accidentally hypnotise their school principal, turning him into their comic-character creation, Captain Underpants.
The book blends the style of graphic novels by interweaving comic panels within the plot and even includes flip-o-ramas that animate the story’s action.
Purchase Captain Underpants books.
8. Magic Tree House
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Magic Tree House, the series that served us fantasy with a side of history lessons, was another popular choice among primary school students back in the day.
The plot follows siblings Jack and Annie who discover a magical tree house that transports them through various historical periods, leading to a new misadventure in every book.
Their adventures range from finding their way home during the prehistoric period to travelling back to ancient Egypt to help a ghost-queen.
So, here’s my petition to include Magic Tree House in our history syllabus. Granted, it’s not the most accurate – Wikipedia will tell you that there was not a Pegasus in the first Olympic games, like in Magic Tree House: Hours of the Olympics. But it could still be a fun addition to classes.
Add Magic Tree House to your library.
9. Dr. Seuss
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Who can forget the iconic Green Eggs and Ham? Dr. Seuss walked so Drake could run.
With a whopping 60 books under his belt, Dr. Seuss is a household name in the children’s publishing world.
Fun fact: the author isn’t actually a doctor, but added it to his pen name as an ode to his father’s wishes for him to study medicine.
His creations broke the boundaries of imagination and brought us beloved literary characters like the Grinch and the Lorax. Although I’ll be the first to admit that his illustrations operated as nightmare fuel to me as a kid, there’s no denying that they were a game-changer among other books in the children’s section.
Purchase your own copy of Dr. Seuss.
10. True Singapore Ghost Stories
Image adapted from: @xaviertann via Carousell, @rl.angsanabooks via Instagram
For those who thrived on a daily dose of supernatural and mystery at 7am in the parade square, True Singapore Ghost Stories was obviously a top pick. As someone who’s still terrified of the series, I applaud kids who had the literary courage back then.
A collection of supernatural stories based in Asia, the series was a hit among kids. Even more mystifying than its paranormal tales was the creator himself, Russell Lee.
If you attended his book signings, you would remember a person covered head to toe in a black suit and whose face was hidden behind a mask, claiming to be Russell Lee. To this day, there hasn’t been an unmasked photo of the elusive author.
The guy was obviously ahead of his time, as that novel marketing move further sparked curiosity among readers and expanded the series’ fanbase.
Pick up a copy of True Singapore Ghost Stories.
11. The Diary of Amos Lee
Image credit: The Diary of Amos Lee Books via Facebook
Another entry into the journal genre, we have our very own Singaporean Greg Heffley. Introducing The Diary of Amos Lee, which chronicles the life of titular 9-year-old Amos Lee as he survives primary school.
The book broke records after its release in 2009 and emerged as a second runner-up at the Popular Readers’ Choice Award in 2011.
The first instalment’s title, I Sit, I Write, I Flush!, is a pretty apt description of how the writing takes place. In a quirky attempt to get Amos to practise his writing skills, his mum installs a makeshift rack to hold pens and a notebook.
Definitely an innovative parenting method to get your child to practise their compositional writing skills.
Purchase a copy of I Sit, I Write, I Flush!.
12. Roald Dahl
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Of course, we have to talk about the one and only Roald Dahl. Reading his books was like a canon event for every primary school kid. Even if you haven’t read any of his books, odds are, you know what Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is all about.
A match made in heaven, Quentin Blake’s charming illustration style, paired with Roald Dahl’s whimsical characters, made the books instantly recognisable on the shelves.
The guy’s cultural impact can’t be ignored. I know more than one kid who tried staring at a glass of water to telekinetically tip it like Matilda did. Ah, childhood innocence.
Buy your own Roald Dahl library addition.
13. Usborne Books
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We were reading SparkNotes way before we knew what it was. Usborne Books was the perfect gateway into classic literature without the multiple dictionary checks to search what “perchance” and “remonstrate” mean.
For those not in the know, Usborne Books was a collection of classics that are typically untouched by early readers, including Little Women, Treasure Island, and Pride and Prejudice.
However, the series makes the text accessible to younger audiences using illustrations and simplified vocabulary.
You were definitely a cultured kid if this was on your reading list as a kid.
Get your own Usborne Books.
14. Enid Blyton
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End Blyton singlehandedly sparked my dream of attending boarding school as a kid. Her boarding school series was the GOAT in the halls of primary schools.
Who hasn’t thought of midnight feasts in Mallory Towers, having Ginger Beer in St. Clare’s, and going horseback riding with Elizabeth Allen from The Naughtiest Girl?
As much as I cherish my memories in an all-girls secondary school, it never quite lived up to the magic in Blyton’s books.
Relive the magic again with Enid Blyton’s books.
15. Beast Quest
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Beast Quest was another popular series, with the fantasy-adventure franchise spanning 154 books. A mainstay in almost every primary school library, usually competing for space with Geronimo Stilton due to their expansive series.
The series takes the main characters, Tom and his friend, Elenna, through their adventures in the kingdom of Avantia as they battle bloodthirsty beasts with magic on their side. Just the right amount of chaos and destruction during silent reading.
If the books weren’t enough, the series also had collectible cards featuring familiar characters and beasts.
Purchase the first instalment of Beast Quest.
How many of these nostalgic books from primary school are you familiar with?
Regardless of whether you were a reader or not, it’s safe to say that silent reading was a treasured moment in our childhoods. As much as we may have rolled our eyes at our teachers’ pleas to get us to read, you can’t deny it definitely introduced us to fantastic worlds beyond the parade square.
For more trips down memory lane:
Cover image adapted from: @dearbooksph & @rl.angsanabooks via Instagram
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