Guest Post: Yashika Mody on FUNcles
As a semi-frequent visitor to Singapore and unashamed appreciator of her creatives and the kids' content they produce there, it fills me with immense pleasure to introduce, Yashika Mody as she invites us to learn more about the genesis of her latest picture book realease, FUNcles. So, sit back, grab a cup of kopi (or your favourite caffeniated beverage) and enjoy!
For those of us living in Singapore, these are phrases that you’ll hear on almost every corner, street, and neighbourhood. You'd be hard-pressed to find a child or adult refer to community elders by their formal names; instead, we use terms of respect and endearment like 'Uncle' and 'Aunty' here. It's one of Singapore's most memorable cultural traditions, but you can find beautiful parallels all around the world—from the Philippines to Latin America, and even in Hawai'i!
The idea for FUNcles first came to me when my oldest son was around 18 months old and was just beginning to grasp language. On our family walks around our neighbourhood, my husband and I would greet our community members as 'Uncle' and 'Aunty'—a cultural norm that is very common in Singapore and other collectivist societies, where people define themselves through community relationships and shared connections.
Turns out, our son quickly caught on to this cultural tradition! As he grew older, everyone around him became his 'Uncle' and 'Aunty' and became a valued member of his community. His hairdresser who's been cutting his hair since he was a baby lovingly became 'Haircut Uncle Jeremy' (fun fact: there's a character inspired by him in my book!). His sweet school custodian became 'Aiyi' (the Mandarin term for 'Aunty’). Even our car's GPS became 'Car Aunty!'
A few months later, we travelled to London for a holiday and it was so incredible to watch how he brought this same spirit of neighbourliness and community with him, thousands and thousands of miles away! In Singapore, we call this spirit of togetherness the ‘Kampong Spirit’—a nod to how vital community was during Singapore’s traditional village days. Even in London, everyone belonged to his little circle and his little community: there was 'Lobby Uncle' at our hotel, 'Breakfast Aunty,' and even the guards at Buckingham Palace became 'Red Guard Uncles!'
Seeing how my son experienced the world through the lens of community made me realize how powerful this message of belonging really is. I knew I had to write a story about it.
And so, FUNcles was born as an ode to culture, community connection, and joyful storytelling. Inspired by my son's absolute adoration for his community Uncles and Aunties, FUNcles is a look into cultures like Singapore where community plays a central role in a child's life. Now more than ever, we all need the reminder that the need for connection, community, and belonging is fundamental!
Want to know more? Read my review of FUNcles, here!
Yashika Mody is a picture book author who lives in sunny Singapore with her husband, her two ever-hilarious and ever-sweet sons, and her playful Westie puppy (who is a doppelganger of Snowy from Tintin!). Inspired by her diverse upbringing as a Third Culture Kid, she loves writing funny and heartwarming books about culture, community, and family. FUNcles is her picture book debut and her next picture book will be releasing in 2029 (stay tuned for more details!).
Title: FUNcles
Author: Yashika Mody
Illustrator: Adriena Fong
Publisher: Latana Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 13 October 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781836290506
For ages: 2 - 5
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Simon & Schuster
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