The House on Palmer Road

It is 1930s Singapore and war is raging in China and Europe. But for eight-year-old Sing and her nine brothers and sisters, life is carefree and fun at their wooden house in Palmer Road where they live with Mother, Father and Ah Seem. Join them as they go frog hunting, escape fierce guard geese, visit a ‘coolie room’, and head off on other exciting adventures in pre-war Singapore.

This charming series of short tales is based on the childhood of 91-year-old author, Si-Hoe S.S. who is the ‘real’ Sing. Young readers will fall in love with the large but lovable family, and relive a magical though tumultuous time in pre-war Singapore, brought to life in vivid landscapes, snatches of overheard conversations among the grown-ups, and a motley cast of characters
from itinerant hawkers to coolies and night soil men.

This book offers a light-hearted and relatable approach to history. It has been used in the
reading programs of many schools in Singapore.