Despite a shrinking local publishing scene, Epigram Books is doubling down on children’s literature and distinctive non-fiction in the first half of 2026, unveiling nine new titles that span picture books, middle-grade adventures, history, memoir and food culture.

Speaking at a media engagement, Epigram founder Edmund Wee framed the new lineup against what he described as a sobering reality for Singapore publishing. With several presses scaling back or closing their book trade operations, especially in English-language children’s books, Wee noted that “it’s kind of quite depressing to realise that not many people are publishing children’s literature in Singapore anymore.”

Yet Epigram is positioning itself as a counterbalance. “Apart from a memoir and a cookbook, the other seven books we are releasing in the first six months of the year are children’s titles,” Wee said. “We hope to put a balance to what everybody else is not doing.”

The year opens in January with The ABCs of Chinese New Year by Jayne Ong, author-illustrator of the bestselling The ABCs of Old Singapore. Ong described the new book as “my little love letter to the sights, sounds, and stories that make Chinese New Year so special,” adding that it uses the alphabet to introduce traditions through rhyme, humour and visual detail.

“I hope this book can be a great conversation starter for families,” Ong said, explaining that the illustrations aim to make traditions accessible and playful for young readers. She also shared a personal family ritual: hanging vegetables wrapped in red paper for prosperity, which reflects the book’s emphasis on lived culture and memory.

Joining it is the return of Erni Salleh’s travelling heroine in The Travelling Library Chronicles of Maizey Lee #2: The Trail Through China. Salleh, a Singaporean writer now based in the UK, was unable to attend in person but shared that the sequel explores identity through travel and lived experience.

“Maizey learns that identity isn’t just one big thing,” Salleh said. “It can be both, or many at the same time.” Set against lesser-known Muslim heritage sites in China, the book blends adventure with STEAM learning and cultural discovery.

February sees the next book by Vivian Teo, who continues her popular series with Mikaela Kong #3: Return of the Dragons, aimed at upper middle-grade and early young adult readers. Teo described the series as “a celebration of the joys and wonders of my childhood,” drawing inspiration from Journey to the West, K-pop culture and Singapore’s secondary school experience.

“I really feel for kids today,” Teo said. “They have very high expectations placed on them from a young age.” The book explores resilience, identity and ambition, following a K-pop-loving Singaporean girl navigating prophecy, dragons and personal pressure.

In March, look out for The Most Punctual Country in the World in March, written by debut author Tan Ya Wen and illustrated by Giselle Tan. The picture book imagines a society run by a giant clock, until it stops. For Tan, who grew up with dyslexia, the story carries a deeper message. “Through the story, I wish to encourage children to take responsibility and ownership of their time,” she said, adding that she hopes it empowers young readers to be confident in their own abilities.

April brings nostalgic mischief with Lyna Lankylegs and the Bright Hill Gang #2: Doggy Drama by Linda Locke, inspired by the author’s childhood in 1950s Singapore. Locke explained that the series resonates not just with children but with parents and grandparents. “It gives families a chance to share their own childhood experiences, how things were similar or different,” she said.

Non-fiction for younger readers continues in May with Haywire Histories #2: Crazy Colonisers by Ng Yi-Sheng, winner of the Singapore Literature Prize. Describing the book as “our Singapore version of Horrible Histories,” Ng said it aims to rebalance colonial narratives.

“If only there was a book that told the story of Singapore’s colonisation with equal weight given to British and Malay sources,” he said. “Now there is.” By spotlighting overlooked historical figures and absurd moments, Ng hopes the book will “change a whole generation of minds about what Singapore history can be.”

The series Secrets of Singapore also returns in June with its tenth title, Terrific Transport, written by Angèle Lee. Framed through humour and trivia, the book traces Singapore’s transport evolution, from rickshaws and pirate taxis to electric trams and driverless cars. “We mix what’s good to know with what’s fun to know,” Lee said, noting that the series remains popular with schools and libraries.

Rounding out the lineup announcement are two adult non-fiction titles. Come May, look out for The Mad Towkay: Unconventional and Unapologetic, a candid memoir by advertising veteran Adrian Tan, founder of The Adplanet Group. Tan, who has ADHD, dyslexia, OCD and Asperger’s, said the book’s purpose is to offer hope.

“I want to show that disadvantages can be advantages,” he said. “It was precisely these differences that drove me to be successful.” The book, illustrated by Malaysian artist Shu Yee, is aimed at creatives, students and families navigating neurodiversity.

Finally, June sees culinary icon Terry Tan revisit his roots with Terry Tan’s Peranakan Classics, a modernised edition of his first Peranakan cookbook. Now in his eighties, Tan said preserving family recipes has always been a calling. “If I hadn’t written it all down, the world would have lost part of the cuisine and its heritage,” he said.

Designed for today’s busy cooks, the book updates traditional recipes without sacrificing authenticity. “People want to cook, but they don’t want too much fuss,” Tan explained. “This book stays faithful to tradition, but strips away anything that slows the cook down.”

In a climate where children’s publishing in English is increasingly rare, Epigram’s 2026 lineup signals both resistance and resolve. As Wee put it, “We’re quite confident these books will all come out. And we hope you’ll support them.”

Happy reading, indeed.

Find out more about Epigram’s titles at their website. Enjoy 10% off your next purchase with code CAT10. Apply the discount code at epigrambookshop.sg, limited to one use per customer,