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 encourage the quality and quantity of books published for children;
- To promote the publication of books, set in a familiar and meaningful background that is relevant to Singapore children.
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
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“It was not an easy deliberation with so many entries of such high quality. We considered each entry in its appeal to its intended audience and how it would measure up in its own genre. Generally, we kept to the criteria guidelines—literary merit, visual merit, readership appeal, and originality. The shortlisted books stood out from the rest in their masterful narration of original subject content with a strong interplay of text and visuals. We are indeed privileged to have read and viewed such a wide array of children’s books that are locally written. We are heartened that among us exist such promising writers and illustrators that are on their way to making a mark not just locally but also internationally. We look forward to a rich and vibrant scene in children’s literature especially in a world we can call our own”.