Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award

The Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award (HABA) is presented biennially to an outstanding children’s book written by a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident.

Objectives:

  • To recognise outstanding published works by Singapore writers and illustrators
  • To encourage the publication of quality children's books in Singapore

About Mrs Hedwig Anuar

Mrs Hedwig Anuar was the first Singaporean Director of the National Library of Singapore, a position she held from 1960 until her retirement in 1988. She put in place the foundations of the modern library system in Singapore and made contributions to all aspects of library work. This award recognises her outstanding contribution to children's librarianship and the promotion of books and reading for children.

Enquiries

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

29 October 2022

HABA 2022 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

We are currently accepting submissions for the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award 2022! The closing date for submissions via the online form is 29 October 2021, 2359h (SGT). For more information, please refer to the rules and regulations here.

ABOUT THE JUDGES (2020 EDITION)

Dr Donna Lim (Chief Judge)

Dr Donna Lim (Chief Judge)

Dr Donna Lim (Chief Judge) is a lecturer with the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She specialises in primary English Language methodology. Her interest area is in developing literacy with a focus on teaching writing. She has considerable teaching experience with young learners and finds it fulfilling to work with fellow educators to enhance EL teaching and learning. Dr Lim serves as the Chief Judge for HABA 2022.

Adeline Foo

Adeline Foo

Adeline Foo is an adjunct lecturer with 28 books published in Asia. 10 of her books were Singapore’s best-selling children’s titles in a ten-year-run. Currently, Adeline is an independent TV researcher-scriptwriter, with five original TV productions. Adeline holds an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has also written non-fiction for adults. Adeline is best-known for the successful Diary of Amos Lee series of children’s books, which has been adapted for television.

Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith is the award-winning author and illustrator of Small in the City as well as the illustrator of I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson, The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart, among others. Sydney has received multiple awards including four consecutive New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Awards, two Kate Greenaway Awards and is nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Sydney was born in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Photo by Steve Farmer.

Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award Winner List

Shortlists below are not listed in order of merit.

Judging Committee:
Chief Judge: Dr Donna Lim
Charles Santoso
阿果 (Lee Kow Fong)

Winners

Kelly and the Krumps

Kelly and the Krumps

Author: Ken Kwek

Illustrator: Lolita Chiong

Shortlists

Jun and the Octopus

Jun and the Octopus

Author: Ekkers (Goh Eck Kheng)

Illustrator: Lim An-ling

Panjang: The Tall Boy Who Became Prime Minister

Panjang: The Tall Boy Who Became Prime Minister

Author: Peh Shing Huei

Illustrator: Drewscape (Andrew Tan)

The Incredible Basket

The Incredible Basket

Author and Illustrator: Quek Hong Shin

We Can

We Can

Author and Illustrator: Ben Lai

‘X’ and ‘O’ are B.F.F.s!

‘X’ and ‘O’ are B.F.F.s!

Author: Lynette Teo

Illustrator: Xinnie Ng

Winner

Dragonhearted

Dragonhearted

Author: Xie Shi Min

Shortlists

I Can

I Can

Author: Ben Lai

The Amazing Sarong

The Amazing Sarong

Author: Quek Hong Shin

Fossil Finders 3: Triassic Trouble

Fossil Finders 3: Triassic Trouble

Author: Andy Chua

Illustrator: Ray Ong

Karang Guni Boy

Karang Guni Boy

Author: Lorraine Tan

Illustrator: Eric Wong

Mount Emily (Book 1)

Mount Emily (Book 1)

Author: Low Ying Ping

Illustrator: Chee Jia Yi

Co-Winners

The Mango Tree

The Mango Tree

Author: Hidayah Amin

Illustrator: Idris Ali

The Rock and the Bird

The Rock and the Bird

Author: Chew Chia Shao Wei

Illustrator: Anngee Neo

Shortlists

Hidden in Plain Sight

Hidden in Plain Sight

Author: Su-Lin Ang

Letters to Aly

Letters to Aly

Author: Lee-Ann

Not in the Stars

Not in the Stars

Author: Pauline Loh

The Travel Diary of Amos Lee: Monkeying in Malaysia!

The Travel Diary of Amos Lee: Monkeying in Malaysia!

Author: Adeline Foo

Illustrator: Stephanie Wong

Winners

Where's Grandma?

Where's Grandma?

Author: Edmund Lim

Illustrator: Tan Zi Xi

Shortlists

Extraordinary Losers – Operation Pants on Fire

Extraordinary Losers – Operation Pants on Fire

Author: Jessica Alejandro

Illustrator: Cherryn Yap

Farrer Park

Farrer Park

Author: Ann Peters

Illustrator: Lydia Yang

The Mudskipper

The Mudskipper

Author: Ovidia Yu

Judging Committee:
Chairman: Dr. Ken Spillman, Australia 
Dr. Noel Chia Kok Hwee, Singapore 
Ms. Sayoni Basu, India 
Mr. Yusof Gajah, Malaysia 
Ms. Zubaidah Mohsen, Singapore

Winners

The Book That Was Handed Down

The Book That Was Handed Down

Author: Yixian Quek

Illustrator: Grace Duan Ying

Shortlists

Bunny Finds The Right Stuff

Bunny Finds The Right Stuff

Author: Emily Lim

Monkey Magic – The Curse of Mukada

Monkey Magic – The Curse of Mukada

Author: Grant S. Clark

The Singapore Kid

The Singapore Kid

Author: Jessica Alejandro

Ten

Ten

Author: Shamini Flint

There's Soup on My Fly!

There's Soup on My Fly!

Author: David Seow

I Don't Want Mei Mei Anymore

I Don't Want Mei Mei Anymore

Author: Lynn Lee

Rochee The Friendliest Cockroach

Rochee The Friendliest Cockroach

Author: Gavin Goo Thiam Chuan