Children’s books by 3 star-writers cited by website among ‘the best’

The children’s books of three local star-writers have made it to “the best” list of the Asian Parent website which came out also with “the worst” list. The selection was limited to celebrity writers also including, among others, Jay Leno, Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Crystal and Julianne Moore. Congrats to Rita Avila, Maricel Laxa and Tintin Bersola for making it to the charmed circle.

Rita’s books were Si Erik Tutpik at si Ana Taba and The Invisible Wings. Maricel’s were SuperBenj!, Meet My Super Dad and Kuya na si Bunso. And Tintin’s were Bryan Learns His Lesson and Basura Monster.

Said Rita (whose husband is director Eric Reyes), “Si Erik Tutpik at si Ana Taba is about the friendship between two different kids and how they both face their bullies. The Invisible Wings is about three siblings who want to do good things every day for the love of God. Little do they know that their guardian angels have put invisible wings on their backs.”

Maricel has actually written six books.

Rita Avila and the cover of The Invisible Wings

Recalled Maricel (Mrs. Anthony Pangilinan), “I wrote SuperBenj! after I returned from the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in San Francisco where my youngest son, Benjamin, had an open-heart surgery. He was four years old at that time. It was an amazing experience of faith and strength, and I needed to tell the story to others, especially to those who have young children who are ill. There is hope and healing in the hands of Jesus.”

Benjamin, now 14, shows no signs of any heart ailment.

“He’s a champion athlete, having won numerous trophies in triathlon, cross-country running, table tennis, basketball and other sports,” added proud Mama Maricel (Mrs. Anthony Pangilinan). “SuperBenj! has been shared to thousands of children in different pediatric wards and we are so glad to have been recognized by the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) as the Best Children’s Book of the Year (2006).”

Tintin’s two books are among the six she has written so far.

Admitted Tintin (Mrs. Julius Babao), “Bryan Learns His Lesson was a collaboration between me and Julius. We wrote it in 2004 before I gave birth to Antonia. I wrote the story and Julius did the illustrations. The book is out of print. Kelangan mag-reprint na.”

Basura Monster has sold more than 250,000 copies to date and has won a CMMA. Tintin’s other books are The Story of Christine and Bakit Siya Mayroon, Bakit Ako Wala? which have also been cited by the CMMA under the Children’s Books Category.

The first book that Tintin wrote was SuperHeroNio (illustrated by Clark Suano), published in 2014 in honor of her five-year-old son Nio who, like boys his age, loves superheroes.

“The story is about heroism in many forms,” said Tintin who does storytelling in schools and bookstores to promote the love for reading, and also donates books to schools and learning centers. “There is a hero in our everyday life and we can all be heroes in our own little way. My next book is Basura Monster Strikes Back, out next year.”

Maricel Laxa signing a copy of her book SuperBenj!

Rita launched The Invisible Wings Coloring Book at the recent SMX International Book Fair. Last month, the book became a finalist at the Cardinal Sin Book Awards for Best Children/Youth Book. (Part two of The Invisible Wings is under production at St. Paul’s Publishing.)

“That’s the same book that I sent to Pope Francis,” disclosed Rita who, incidentally, is currently helping promote the Voice Male’s eponymous album. “I write two songs for the album, Hanggang Dito na Lang and Hanggang Huli. Music for both is by Paulo Zarate. Hanggang Dito na Lang was inspired by my angel son. It turned into a love song about acceptance and hope. It’s the album’s carrier single.”

As Rita narrated, she and Paulo “met by grace,” introduced to each other by the pediatrician of Rita’s son.

“Paulo gave life to my poetry,” said Rita. “The song was first sung by OJ Mariano. Then, I met Voice Male through Paulo and Paulo arranged the music for the two songs. And guess what, Paulo’s mom-in-law lies beside the crypt of my son Elia Jesu at the Christ The King Columbary. That’s why I said that Paulo and I met by grace.”

Incidentally, the three star-writers have another thing in common. They all write for The STAR. Rita writes feature articles occasionally while Tintin runs a column called ParenTIN in the Entertainment Section. Maricel writes a column about health and family for the Life Section every Tuesday.

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