718d3c38b9fb45d7b46e4c0d11280739.tmb-thumb200.jpg?sfvrsn=ddf9387b_1 "Ecolit Logo Final (Round)")
A delightful book can influence a child’s life in a multitude of ways. What more if the books are about Singapore’s own wildlife and important environmental issues? Stories like these will capture the hearts and minds
of these young ones, give them deeper understanding of the environment around them, strengthen their values and inspire them to explore further and possibly take action!
Raffles Institution recognised the lack of good, locally-based, children’s picture books on Singaporean habitats, her nature hotspots and growing environmental issues. Understanding the powerful reach of children’s books, Raffles
Institution initiated a place-based, Ecological Literacy book-writing project, as a culmination of their year-long Ecological Literacy Programme. The first book was written and published in 2010, and since then, a series was born, children’s
picture books written and drawn solely by students.
The Eco-Lit students (as they are called) are involved in every stage of the book development: conducting of research, reconnaissance of locations, interviewing and discussions with subject-matter mentors, before defining the environmental
messages and aims of their books. They learn storybook writing techniques and finally write and plan their desired illustrations for their books. Some teams took on the additional challenge of writing the books in rhyme, while others illustrated the books
themselves or collaborated with fellow schoolmates from the Raffles Art Institute.
The vision of inspiring the younger generation to do their part in the conservation of Singapore's natural environment and biodiversity has been realised. These Eco-Lit books have become companion books for children, they have been incorporated
into primary school curricula in some schools and have inspired other schools to write their own eco-literacy books.
In a move to increase the outreach and impact of these books, Raffles Institution has converted all previous and current publications into E-books. This will make this impactful ‘ecoliteracy library’ available to children around
the world, especially those in South-East Asia who share our biodiversity!
All titles published from October 2010 - July 2022, can be found at all National Public Libraries in Singapore.
Schools and educational organisations interested in using the books for outreach or educational purposes,
may contact us
at [email protected].