Friday, May 9, 2025
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Back to Back Book Reviews: Agileon '55 and I Decided To Live as Me
A dear friend who has passed on once told me that I must keep three kinds of friends. One who is older than I am to assure me that everything is going to be alright after many failures and defeats. One who is my contemporary so that we can both laugh at our mistakes. And one who is younger than I am to remind me that heart breaks are essentially good to live a full life.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Joanna Que
Here is the blog interview of Ms. Joanna Que, author of Sayaw ng mga Kamay (2019) and illustrated by Fran Alvarez. Sayaw ng mga Kamay is one of the twenty books that Adarna House published under the Kuwentong Musmos Project of Room to Read.
Why are you writing for children?
I write for children because I want to ignite that innate sense of wonder in them through stories that they can hopefully enjoy, relate to, and be inspired by.
What is your Philippine Children’s Literature origin story? (How did you start writing for kids and getting published?)
It was in 2016 when I joined ‘Sipat/Sulat’, a Workshop on Seeing and Making Literature by Adarna House. Towards the end of the workshop, we were asked to submit 2 story ideas each. Among the ideas I pitched was a story about one who loves the day and one who loves the night, and how they learned to appreciate each other’s perspectives. After a couple of weeks, I got an email that they were interested in the story, so they asked me to write a manuscript. Thankfully, the story was accepted for publication. In 2018, ‘Sinag and Tala’ was published by Adarna House, with illustrations by Mickey Velarde.
Give three words or phrase to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience.
Grateful – for the opportunity to have been part of this wonderful project.
United – in the purpose of sharing stories to children, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Friendship and Camaraderie – that continued on even after the workshop.
Being a fairly new author, I may not be in the position to give advice. However, I would like to share some tips that I found useful in my process of writing for children:
Read as much books as you can.
Don’t be afraid to start.
Write from the heart.
Be observant.
Spend time with children.
Be open to suggestions.
Joanna is a writer who is fascinated by the beauty of nature. Most of her musings and jolts of inspirations come about while walking and exploring nature’s wonders. Apart from writing, she also loves making things with her hands.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Kristine Canon
Balik Kuwentong Musmos tayo sa pagpopost sa blog ngayong buwan ng Setyembre!
Naging abala tayo sa maraming bagay noong mga nakaraang buwan dahil sa COVID-19. Pero, tuloy ang ligaya at patuloy ang munting proyektong ito sa blog. Naway maitulay natin ang impormasyon at kuwento ng mga manunulat at ilustrador na naging bahagi ng Room to Read project sa mga school librarians, guro at magulang na naghahanap ng mga babasahin para sa mga bata at kabataan.
Sa pagbabalik ng Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview, ang Team Adarna naman ang naka-feature sa mga susunod na araw. Buena mano si Kristine "Teacher Tin" Canon sa pangatlong serye ng blog interviews na ito.
Teacher Tin wrote the story Noel! Noel! Leon! Leon! which was illustrated by Nina Patricia C. Martinez and published by Adarna House. Here is a little information about this tandem. Teacher Tin won the Salanga Prize back in 2001 for the story Bakit Matagal Ang Sundo Ko? While Nina won the PBBY Wordless Book Prize in 2019 for her work, Ang Mga Sikreto ng Langit at Dagat.
Teacher Tin with Nina Martinez |
I write for children because as a teacher, I work with them and know them well. I am passionate about teaching children, and find joy in seeing how they learn and grow.
2. How did you break out into the children's book industry?
I officially began writing for children in the year 2000. I was pregnant with my first child and had to go on bedrest, which means I couldn’t teach for a good number of weeks. I wrote Bakit Matagal ang Sundo Ko based on my niece’s “sumbong” about not being fetched on time by my sister and then I remembered my own preschool students who stay with me after school because they are fetched late. I chanced upon the Salanga Writer’s Prize ad in the newspaper and I decided to enter my story there without knowing anything about the writing and publishing world. Lo and behold, my story won! Then after that, I started to take writing for children seriously as I respected the award so much.
3. Give three words or phrase to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience?
Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience: nerve-racking, exciting, enlightening!
4. What is the book you wish you had written and why?
There are soooo many books I wish I had written, (some were even written in kuwentong musmos!) but my favorite would be Papel de Liha by Ompong Remigio and Beth Parrocha Doctolero. I absolutely love the sense of sweet and calm you feel in the mother and daughter’s relationship (totally the opposite of my life with 3 boys and 1 girl- na parang boy na rin!) and how it placed so much value in the mother’s role as a servant leader in keeping the home in order physically and psychologically.
5. What are your 5 tips for aspiring children's book writers?
What really helps me write is asking people I trust to read any attempts I have at writing a story. As for tips, keep reading children’s books and spend time with children (if you plan to write for kids).
Teacher Tin is a Founding Director for Creative Learning Paths School, a progressive preschool to Gr. 12 educational institution advocating for inclusion and peace education. She has more than 20 years teaching experience from preschool to college levels. She is currently a faculty member of the College of Education at De La Salle University. She a reading specialist as well as a children’s book writer having authored original Filipino children’s picture books for Adarna House, Anvil and Vibal. She is also a teacher-trainor and formator for Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, a non-profit and non-partisan organization. Aside from literacy, her advocacies include peace education and the inclusion of children with special needs. She is married and has four children, two of which are hearing impaired.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Masaya Maging Ako! Masaya Maging Tayo!
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Kuwentong Musmos: Palihan para sa Pagsusulat ng Kuwentong Pambata
Twenty Filipino writers from the country's leading publishing houses of children's books banded together. The result was forty manuscripts that tackled themes on identity, gender equality and inclusion written for beginning readers. It was hard work. And it was for a god cause. As Al Santos of RTR said, "Your stories will be read by a child who has never seen or opened a book before." How can I say no to this project? The little things I do as a librarian, teacher and author suddenly expands. I become a part of something bigger than the round hole I plug my square peg in ( yes, I don’t fit most of the time and it’s a miracle that things work out sometimes).
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Recommended Reads: Must Have Children's Books at the MIBF 2019 (1 of 4)
Here's hoping you have saved enough to buy books for your toddlers, your children and your teenagers. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a grandparent, an adult working for kids' welfare and well-being or a children's literature advocate and enthusiast, may you find this list of recommended books helpful when choosing and buying books for young readers.
For this first batch, I have identified ten titles plus one!
Adarna House
1. Tingnan Mo, O! Isinulat ni Noelle Pabiton at Iginuhit ni Gica Tam
2. Sirena Ba 'Yan? Is That A Mermaid? By Candy Gourlay Illustrated by Francesca Chessa Billungual Edition
3. Ang Taon ng Pusa Isinulat ni Jaume Copons at Iginuhit ni AgustÃn Comotto
Anvil Publishing
1. 1..2...3.. by Aaron Randy
2. Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay
The Bookmark Inc.
Common Courtesies Series by Didith T. Rodrigo
Hiyas / OMF Lit
Porcupine Pirate Plans the Perfect Day by Robert Magnuson
Lampara Books
Green / Luntian by Becky Bravo Illustrated by Beth Parrocha
Tahanan Books for Young Readers
1. Pitong Tsinelas Kuwento ni Divine Gil Reyes Guhit ni Benjor Catindig
2. Folk Songs Series: Kaisa-Isa Niyan (Alvarez and Prudente); Pakitong-Kitong (Monzon and Prudente); Ed-Edoy (Albano and Prudente)
Plus one - Karapatdapat: Bata alamin ang iyong karapatan (CANVAS and Ang INK)
Do come back and check the blog for three more batches of children's books to buy and acquire for your home library and school reading centers.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
When Books Bring People Together
I was touched, of course. I did not realize that another person would remember me in such ways. And to be given a book for free is a pleasant surprise, indeed!
Monday, March 4, 2019
Book Review: Sirena Ba 'Yan?
Is That A Mermaid?
By Candy Gourlay
Illustrated by Francesca Chessa
Billungual Edition
Adarna House, 2019
Sirena Ba 'Yan? (Is That A Mermaid?) is Candy Gourlay's new picture book. It is about a dugong (sea cow) claiming itself as a mermaid to the chagrin of two kids who met this gentle sea creature by the shore. Together they go on an adventure with the dugong consistently keeping its claim, I am a mermaid!
The book is both humorous and thought provoking. On the surface, the dugong sounds and looks silly but there is unwavering conviction each time it articulates its chosen identity. The children learned to accept this and allowed it to be. As gentle and tolerant as the dugong, they empathised and understood. What harm can a sea cow, who thinks it is a mermaid, do to them?
There are many layers to this playfully illustrated picture book that could lead to conversations about facts on sea creatures and marine animals, choices and self knowledge. What else could you expect from the award winning author of Tall Story (Anvil, 2012) but a tale of contradictions and opportunities to think and ask questions.
The book launching is on Saturday, March 16, 2019 2PM at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Isang Harding Papel A Martial Law Musical: Interview With Nanoy Rafael (2 of 2)
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Sa part 2 ng interbyu, ibinahagi ni Nanoy Rafael ang malikhaing proseso ng pagsasalin ng orihinal na materyal ni Augie Rivera. Nakakatuwa ring malaman na kasama ni Nanoy ang kanyang mga co-teachers at kanilang mga mag-aaral sa Raya School sa paglikha ng musical na ito.
3. May mga piling mag-aaral ng Raya ang nakasama ninyo sa paglikha. Kumusta naman sila katrabaho?
Si Nanoy Rafael ay isang manunulat, tagasalin, at guro. Nagwagi ang libro nila ni Serj Bumatay na "Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu!" ng Peter Pan Prize mula sa IBBY-Sweden. Ilan