This month, we are celebrating National Children’s Book Month. Here are possible activities you can do throughout July.
I was seven when I decided that someday, when it’s my turn to have a family, I will not have lots of kids. Paano, I found Lamberto Antonio’s Kung Dalawa Kami among the stack of books in our neighbor’s house. The story of a boy who believed their family’s struggles stemmed from his parents having more children than they could afford resonated with me, a young girl with three siblings who had two pesos for baon.
I was filled with guilt because although I adored my younger sister and brother, I also felt like our life would have been different – better – if there were just two of us. Now, no homily, lecture, or encouragement from family and colleagues can make me desire to have another child.
This is the power of children’s books. At the right time, the right book can change the life of a child.
And their influence doesn’t end when a person stops being a child. (Truly, when does one stop being a child?) Many stories for children transcend the test of time, remaining applicable to anyone at any age.
Read more:
- How to Celebrate National Literature Month
- Discover New Reading Adventures: Join the Philippine Book Festival!
- How Do You Like to Celebrate World Poetry Day 2023 on March 21?
- Storytellers Enriching the Lives of Children Online amidst COVID-19
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Share Scary Stories to Kids
One Book a Day Challenge
Every year, I include reading a set number of books in my New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not make reading more Filipino-authored books?
The good news is that children’s books are super short that you as an adult can finish reading one in a matter of minutes.
If you’re worried about the cost of buying books, just head on to the library near you! Most public libraries would have lots of children’s books for their storytelling sessions.
If you think children’s books are for little kids, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. You’d learn that today’s children’s books have evolved so much that they are applicable for readers of all ages. As for me, here are three of my all-time favorites:
- Mama’s House, Papa’s House (story by Jean Lee C. Patindol, illustrations by Mark Salvatus)
- Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin (story by Bernadette Villanueva Neri, illustrations by CJ de Silva)
- Isang Harding Papel (story by Augie Rivera, illustrations by Rommel Joson)
Buy Children’s Books from Filipino Authors
Support Filipino children’s book authors and illustrators by buying their books. Not only will you help the book industry flourish, you will also encourage their creators to continue bringing their stories to the world.
Here’s where you can shop for children’s books online:
- Adarna House – Average Price: PhP 99.00
- Lampara Books – Average Price: PhP 200.00
- OMF Literature – Average Price: PhP 150.00
- Tahanan – Average Price: PhP 120.00
- Vibal Group – Average Price: PhP 85.00
Read more: The Perfect Tree – Children’s book talks about the environment for kids!
Volunteer as a Storyteller at the Nearest Daycare Center
Storytelling is a great tool to inspire young children to read and enjoy books. If you have the skills to make stories come alive in front of kids, whether through puppets, using costumes and props, or simply using your voice, head on to the daycare center near you. Not only will the teacher appreciate guests taking over the class of super makukulit kids. You will surely love the energy of children when you ask them questions.
Not keen on doing the storytelling yourself? You can ask your friends to do it with you! I’m sure there’s lots of people who would love to share their storytelling talents. You just need to open the window of opportunity.
Ask Your Elders to Tell Their Childhood Stories
When I was in grade school and living with my Lola Dalen, she would tell me about the hilarious adventures of two mothers: Baket Ung-ungit (masungit) and Baket An-anus (mabait). To summarize, Bakit An-anus reaps the benefits of her goodness and gentle nature, while Bakit Ung-ungit’s envy and callousness yield horrible results.
My guts still remember my reactions to that story. I’m not sure if those are real folktales from where my lola came from, but I’m sure I loved them and the memories they bring.
This month, ask your parents and grandparents about stories from their childhood. You might find a truly unique story that would inspire you to write your own!
Write Your Children’s Story
Everyone has a story to tell. If you have a knack for storytelling, now is the perfect time to start crafting children’s stories. If you haven’t tried it before, writing stories could be a rewarding experience. Aside from fostering a love for reading, they have the power to catch the imagination of its readers – children and adults alike – transport them to different worlds, meet different kinds of characters, and inspire them to dream.
Through your stories, you can also teach important life values, such as empathy, as well as help them explore their creativity. Creating stories for children is a creative and wonderful way for you to make a change in the world of one child.
If, however, you lean more on giving life to stories through your illustrations, this is also a great time to sharpen your pencils. Illustrations in storybooks are half the magic, and young readers enjoy flipping through books that have pictures in them.
If you would like to write or illustrate but are not sure where to start, you might want to check out the activities of the Philippine Board for Books for Young People on their Facebook page. They’ve hosted writing and illustration webinars for the past years to help seasoned and budding writers and illustrators hone their craft.
