SINGAPORE, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A book named "Encyclopedia of Singapore," said to be the first of its kind in the country, has been launched here by the Singapore Heritage Society, Channel News Asia report said Saturday.

Written by Justin Corfield, an Australian scholar whose mother is a Singaporean, the book includes an A to Z of Singapore's history, politics, people and culture.

Also launched was a book called "Singapore's Firsts," which records some 300 milestone events happened here ranging from Singapore's first a capella group to its first zoo, the report said.

It is hoped that the book about normal Singaporean life would ignite a particular passion for history and their roots among Singapore students.

Another "Encyclopedia of Singapore," written and compiled by the government, is expected to be launched later this year to coincide with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, which will be held in Singapore in mid-September, according to the report. Enditem