About the NCBA Kids' Choice Award

Around mid-August, I received some questions from Ms. Neni Sta. Romana Cruz on the awarding of the Kids Choice Awards last July. Here is our brief exchange on the awards. If anything there is plenty to talk about the KCA which I hope to do with our school library people soon!

Why is it important to have a Kids' Choice? 

For children to be able to make choices on books and reading materials is an act of freedom. It is empowering to exercise this choice. When kids read the book of their choice, they have agency. Of course, the selections come from an industry who love children and whose passion for books and reading is genuine. As a literacy coach and teacher, I have observed how engaged my students are in learning challenging comprehension skills when they read a text of their choice.

How were the child judges chosen? 

This year, PBBY and NBDB partnered with Teach for the Philippines in choosing kid judges. 

What are their ages?  

They are children in the elementary grades. The first criterion in selecting kid judges is that they must be readers.

Don't their titles coincide with Best Reads?

No. And I am glad :-) So much to learn from children!