What This Book Is About
This is an A to Z of the lesser-known native mammals of Southeast Asia: the colugo, which glides between treetops, the dhole, the siamang, Raffles' banded langur and the rest. Each animal gets its habitat, what it eats, how it behaves and how it gets along with people.
Debby Ng, a wildlife ecologist, wrote the text, and Darel Seow illustrated it. It was made in Singapore and published by Difference Engine, and the thing that makes it unusual on a school shelf is that every animal in it is one of this region's own, rather than an African or Arctic one.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, Woods in the Books, and the Singapore National Library.
Why We Recommend This Book
For A1-A2 readers, non-fiction can feel intimidating, but Marvellous Mammals makes it effortless. The alphabetical structure means every page is a self-contained mini-discovery, so young readers never feel lost or overwhelmed. The vivid illustrations carry meaning alongside the text, providing natural scaffolding for emerging English readers.
What makes the book especially useful for families here is that the animals are local. These are not African savanna animals or Arctic ones: they live in the forests and waters of Southeast Asia, and a few of them, the colugo and Raffles' banded langur among them, live in Singapore. That turns reading into a way of looking at the world just outside, which is harder to do with a book about polar bears.
Reading Level Guide
Building reading foundations? Start with picture books and simple labeled stories.
The sweet spot. Accessible for A1 readers; A2 readers will read fluently.
A quick, easy read. Great for building speed and confidence.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.