These are some of them:
1. Estrellita The Little Wishing Star, written and illustrated by May M. Tobias – Just what does it take to become a wishing star? Recommended for children nine to 10 years old.
2. Nasaan Si Kuya Emil? by Germaine Yia and illustrated by Michael Adrao – Deals with a child’s coping with the changes in his older brother. Recommended for children eight 10 years old.
3. The Best Of Lola Basyang by Severino Reyes from the English Translation of Gilda Cordero-Fernando, illustrated by Albert Gamos – The back cover gives a little background on these popular stories originally written in Pilipino by Severino Reyes entitled Kwento ni Lola Basyang for Liwayway Magazine. Reyes was also the magazine’s founder and editor.He wrote more than 400 stories under the pen name Lola Basyang. Tahanan books gathered together a literary dream team to produce this landmark collection of 12 stories.
Poet and literary critic Bienvenido Lumbera sifted through hundreds of manuscripts to select the best of Reyes’ stories. Acclaimed author and publisher Gilda Cordero Fernando delivered the original translation and renowned children’s book illustrator Albert Gamos rendered over 30 unforgettable illustrations.
4. Ang Gintong Habihan, Mga Kwentong Premyado ng Palanca. Award-winning stories – I recommend this book for children and adults to read aloud. Improve your Filipino vocabulary and speech. Ten stories beautifully illustrated.
5. The Great Lives Series. Filipino Heroes: Gabriela Silang by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Juan Luna by Carlos Quirino, Benigno Aquino by Sylvia Mendez Ventura.
By the way, we are celebrating the 18th National Children’s Book Day this July 17 spearheaded by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY). Established in 1983, it has taken the lead in celebrating National Children’s Book Day every third Tuesday in July. The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the publication of Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal’s The Monkey and the Turtle in Trubner’s Oriental Record in London. The story is acknowledged to be the first story for children in Philippine Literature.
One of the many activities planned for this year’s celebration is the ongoing PBBY Children’s Book Festival at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Please try and bring your children there today to participate in the many wonderful reading and story telling activities.