The Year of the Tiger

Maria Mahat is an author, educator, storyteller, award-winning television producer, and co-founder of Ungu Pen, an independent publisher. She holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and an Advanced Certificate in Assessment and Training, and has also contributed to policymaking and educational research.

A passionate advocate for well-represented literature, she has authored and produced over thirty children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, novellas, short stories, and a best-selling novel, Maybe This is Love. Fluent in English and Malay, she connects with diverse audiences through her bilingual children’s books. The title There are Saga Seeds in Our Pockets! for example bridges cultural and linguistic gaps, and is supported by grants from the National Heritage Board and National Library Board. Its adaptation into a digital program for Esplanade, Singapore, and its translation into Mandarin highlight Maria’s adaptability and reach.

Her middle-grade book, Sahabat Hebat: Rahsia Haiwan Hibrid (Fantastic Friends: Secrets of the Hybrid Animal), was published under the Singapore Book Council and the National Arts Council’s ‘Beyond Words’ series, which aims to promote children’s literature in Singapore’s mother tongue languages. Through Ungu Pen, Maria develops high-quality content for children and young adults, spearheading numerous publications and initiatives that blend technology with storytelling. And with support from the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, Maria has also produced picture books featuring animation, songs, and augmented reality, exemplifying her innovative approach to education and storytelling.

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