Kuwentuhan Series: My Daddy! My One and Only!

Read Alouod of My Daddy! My One and Only! by Police Captain Jhonn Alacon

Learning Filipino Through Play and Toy Making

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Isang post na ibinahagi ni Zarah Gagatiga (@zarah815)

Celebrate Father's Day! Read and Play with My Daddy! My One and Only + Plushie

 

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Isang post na ibinahagi ni Zarah Gagatiga (@zarah815)

Rave Reviews for My Daddy! My One And Only

It is Fathet’s Day tomorrow, June 18, 2018 and My Daddy! My One and Only! (Gagatiga and Tejido, Lampara House 2013) has topped the list of favourite daddy books!

Reviewed and recommended by Alexine Parreno in Smart Parenting, this is what she said of our book.

“The text is simple and illustrations are adorable. This book has so much love to share, making it perfect for reading together as a family,”

Read the full review by following this link:

https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parenting/real-parenting/top-children-s-books-dad-bida-daddy-kid-cuddle-time-a1597-20180614-lfrm

You will also find out the daddy books that made it to the top 7 list!

Over at Instagram, @pumplepiebooks recommends My Daddy! My One and Only as a good read to celebrate the wonderful ways fathers show their love. Check it out here:

https://instagram.com/p/BkC0e-Zn45W/

Lastly, enjoy this Father’s Day banner by Jomike Tejido.

Oh Joy! Feedback From A Reader!

Imagine my surprise to find this message from Elaine Aliga Ricafort. She sent this through Messenger. In a time when social media is tainted with fake news and smeared by propaganda, using it wisely and responsibly can garner good results.

Hi, Zarah! 🙂 Sorry, you do not know me. But you happened to comment after me on Cris Tanjutco's status, and I was wondering why your name was so familiar. Then I realized I just read your book "My Daddy! My One and Only!" with my 6-year-old son yesterday. 🙂 

So I just wanted to tell you that it's a great book. And it perfectly describes my son's relationship with his dad, who is also an architect. 😛 So thank you! And I'll be on the lookout for more of your books. 🙂

My Daddy My One and Only (Gagatiga and Tejido, 2013) is published by Lampara Books.

Thank you, Teacher Jaron!

Oh joy! This message came from Teacher Jaron.

Hi Ms. Zarah  

I just want to share how my students, Nissi and Lesli Anastacio loved the story (My Daddy! My One and Only!). They asked me if they could borrow it so they can read it at home Thank you for this story! I personally loved it too Regards to Nico as well.

I actually told them the origin of the story that you told us at the Lampara Books Seminar. They really love their Daddy Lester who comes home late at night and they want to show their dad the story and to say thank you for being there for them.

I was teaching them a lesson about parents going to work despite of stormy days. Then I remembered the story when they were sharing stories of their parents.

Jaron Adapon Natividad is a preschool teacher in Precious Vessels Christian Academy. 

Thank you, Teacher Jaron for sharing our book to your students. How generous you are for allowing your students to bring home the book with them to show it to their father. Continue to create bridges between young readers and books written especially for them.

Book News: 2nd Printing and New Bookmarks

My Daddy, My One and Only has been reprinted! I learned about this good news from my publisher via Facebook (where else do you get "breaking news" these days but in social media, right?). I have one copy of the first print and, yes, I am getting myself a copy of the second reprint!

And since Jomike Tejido and I finished another book, here's a look at our promotional bookmark. Super thanks to Mennie Ruth Viray for the design and layout.

My Books in the 2016 IASL Tokyo Conference

Pilar Francisco, Filipino Librarian

For a good and valid reason, I skipped the 2016 International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Tokyo Conference this year. Despite its tempting venue, I couldn't be there in this time of my life. Thanks to friends who posted on Facebook. I was able to relive the experience of the fun and the academic excitement of attending the IASL Conference through their postings of photos and videos.

I also have Veronica Silagpo and Pilar Francisco to thank for.

Pilar, a librarian friend I met at the 2013 IASL Conference in Bali asked if she can get copies of my books for donation to the Books for Children campaign of IASL. Books gathered from this campaign will be forwarded to the winning applicant of the Books for Children Award. Veronica is a librarian friend from the International School Manila who attended the conference there. So, when Pilar sent me the PM of her need, I requested Veron to deliver my books.

Veron and Pilar met at the conference and they took photos.

Books for Children

What a joy to see my books, Dear Nanay and Big Sister, spread out on the display table. Double the joy! My books will reach children from another country. My books are written in English, but there is a Filipino translation for all. I am hoping a Filipino child, or a Filipino parent gets to read it too.

Apart from these good news, Katy Massingil Manck is the new IASL President! Congratulations, dear friend! I also sent Katy a copy of Big Sister and My Daddy, My One and Only through the kindness of Veron.

The next IASL Conference is going to be in Long Beach, California. You know what that means. It's time to write. It's time to save up!

Veron and Katy at the IASL Conference in Tokyo

Backstories of Dear Nanay and My Daddy! My One and Only!

Because it is Mother's Day, and Father's Day is next month, I am sharing this short interview of Iyra Buenrostro, from two years ago, about my writing life. Though brief, you'll get a glimpse of where I get inspiration in writing stories.

Ano po yung inspiration ninyo for writing your books?  (What is your inspiration for writing your books?)

My inspiration to write is my family, primarily, my kids. My Daddy! My One and Only! is the story of my son and husband. 

Dear Nanay is a personal story of mine. My father worked abroad in the early 80s. Nangulila ako sa tatay ng dalawang taon. Nung 2002, na-inspire ako magsulat ng tula tungkol sa isang anak na namimiss ang nanay nya na Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). Naisulat ko ang kwento pauwi from Singapore. Galing akong congress noon on storytelling. Ang daming OFW na Pinay sa plane puro pasalubong ang dala!

Do you have a specific advocacy as regards Philippine children's literature? 

Produce quality books; fair royalties and professional fees to writers. Mas malaki palagi sa publisher ang share.

Dear Nanay is illustrated by Liza Flowers. My Daddy! My One and Only! is illustrated by Jomike Tejido. Both books are published by Lampara Books.

Let's Talk About Books! And Reading.

Book talk@greenspine from Zarah Gagatiga

The 36th MIBF Moments and Highlights

Photo with Luis Gatmaitan MD has become an MIBF tradition.

We came. We bought books. We had fun!

That is what book fairs are all about. There were good discounts on books in the Anvil and National Bookstore booths. For my library purchases, I had 20% off from Adarna House and Anvil Publishing. Even my books at the Lampara House booth were at a discounted price. Apart from this, the MIBF was a time to touch base with friends in the industry.

Augie Rivera's Alamat ng Ampalaya turns 20 this year and its bitter taste is as strong as ever. He also has a Martial Law story book, Isang Harding Papel, sold during the fair. Your library must definitely acquire it! Mailin Paterno and Ompong Remigio are both back from a long hiatus. Paterno's Mang Andoy's Signs is creating quite a stir from writer friends, earning good reviews from peers and friends in Philippine Children's Literature. Remigio's Bruhaha-Bruhihi is still a best seller after all these years. Meeting her in person was for me, a moment indeed! She was bold and large! As bold and as large as the stories she has written. I have told Bruhaha-Bruhihi many times in read aloud sessions and storytelling time and once, I put up a shadow puppet play of the book to preschoolers. Her stories are a lot of fun!

Bagay na bagay itong planner na ito sa akin!

I also managed to snag Tahanan's Chorva Planner. Rhandee Garlitos' finger prints are all over! These are perfect Christmas give-aways to friends and colleagues at work. How could you go wrong with your plans for the week with the opening Araw-arawin ang Ariba!? And you end your week with this: Rarampa na lola moh! Gay lingo may be an invention to hide meaning at the same time, assert gay pride, but its witty and humorous play on language makes it accessible to everyone.

My books, excluding the 12 stories in the STARS Kinder package

My comic book and graphic novel purchases included Russel Molina's and Ian Sta. Maria's Sixty Six and Piko, an anthology by enthusiastic and prolific comic book creators in the country today headed by Manix Abrera. Sixty Six is amazing! When is part two coming out?! Speaking of sequels, I am excited to read the next adventures of Momoy Lulumboy and Janus Silang. Soon. Very soon!

Lastly, I had my moment as an author in the MIBF when two of our books, My Daddy! My One and Only (Jomike Tejido, illustrator) and Dear Nanay (Liza Flores, illustrator) were sold out! The sales team of Lampara had to collect copies from nearby branches of Precious Pages Bookstore outside SMX to replenish. On Saturday, I was signing for Tale of Two Dreams (Bernadette Solina Wolf, illustrator) and Big Sister, our new book with Ruben "Totet" De Jesus as illustrator. It was a great experience collaborating with these talented artists of Ang INK!

This inspires me to write! More!

Bonding Moments Through Books and Reading Part 2 of 2

Matthew's favorite book is My Daddy! My One and Only!

Chris Matthew Isada is growing up reading!
 
His mom, Mel, started him early by introducing age appropriate books even before he started school. Now in kindergarten, Matthew enjoys school and shows confidence in speaking and socially relating to his classmates. Indeed, when kids grow up with books and parents are there to support literacy learning, they are more able to face new challenges with in the family and in their communities.

In this short interview, Matthew tells us his responses to My Daddy! My One and Only! (Lampara Books, 2013) and his favorite things to do with his parents.

What is your favorite part in the book, My Daddy! My One and Only!?
 
I like this one! (Pointing to the page where the elephants are in the classroom.) Maybe because he already goes to school as kindergarten. 

What name did you give the little elephant?
 
The elephant's name is Matthew, mommy! (smiling) 

What activities do you like to do with Mom and Dad?

I like to go out on weekends, like going to Papa Jesus house (church). I like eating, playing, singing, going to a relative's house, watching tv/shows, taking pictures, sharing stories and silly jokes.

Surrounded by love! Surrounded with books!

Taking Stock: My Published Books for Chidren and the Young at Heart

My Daddy My One and Only from Zarah Gagatiga

Bookwatch #2 and A Good Review

These wonderful news made my Monday!

The article I wrote for Bookwatch about the PBBY Salanga and Alcala Prizes can be read in Issue no. 2. Copies of Bookwatch are available at the National Book Development Board's office in Ortigas. Some copies will be distributed in the Philippine Children's Book Summit too. That's tomorrow!

So, if you are going to the Summit, get a copy for your library!

And then, My Daddy! My One and Only (illustrated by Jomike Tejido, Lampara Books) is featured in Smart Parenting as one of the seven books that encourage father and child bonding.

Oh, let this be a forecast of good things to come this week!

Storytelling: My Daddy! My One and Only!

Teacher Dyali Justo reads aloud my book, My Daddy! My One and Only! during the NBDB Booklatan in Laog City. Here is a snippet of her storytelling.

This is the first time I witnessed my story read aloud by a storyteller. Teacher Dyali had all the right adlibs and embellishments that amplified the story's theme. By focusing on the little son's fascination and hero worship for his father, Teacher Dyali brought out the simple acts of kindness a parent can do for his or her child.

She is an amazing storyteller!

My Workshops at the 2014 MIBF

Back in Preschool: Storytelling at the CSC Miriam College

I was the guest storyteller in Miriam College's Child Study Center (CSC) yesterday. The library of CSC has a new librarian. He is young and a fresh graduate from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He is none other than Mr. Nino Angelo Fernandez. In the CSC, he is fondly called as Teacher Gelo by students and teachers.

Teacher Gelo took over the CSC library last year and he continues on the tradition of early literacy development through library services and programs at the CSC. When he sent the invitation for me to tell stories to the Nursery classes, I immediately remembered the warm reception of CSC's faculty and staff in years past when I was their visiting storyteller. Despite my busy schedule, I said yes to the invitation  because I know I will be rekindling ties with old friends in CSC. Besides, Teacher Gelo is a PCScian like myself. The ties that bind are pretty tight.

With Teacher Gelo
holding a library copy
of My Daddy! My One and Only (Lampara Books)

As expected, I enjoyed my whole day storytelling with the Nursery students. The children loved listening to the stories I told! One student frankly said, "Ms. Zarah, you are funny!" My heart soared.

I started out with a read aloud of my book, My Daddy! My One and Only! As a pre-reading activity, I introduced the song Hi-ho Library-oh!

The song can be sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell

The author writes the book (2x)
Hi-ho Library-oh! The author writes the book

The illustrator draws (2x)
Hi-ho Library-oh! The illustrator draws

The publisher puts it together (2x)\
Hi-ho Library-oh! The publisher puts it together

After the read aloud, I reminded the Nursery students that books are available in the library. I moved on to a draw-and-tell story of Bingo the Dog. As a goodbye story, I ended with a cut-and-tell story of Mama Bird Laid an Egg. The students took home baby bird hats/sun visors as their souvenir.

But, before each class left the activity center, Teacher Gelo had a five minute library tour with each class. How practical of Teacher Gelo to introduce three basic library rules for the preschoolers.

Keep it simple and sweet!

I sure would like to visit the CSC of Miriam College again. I am inspired to spin new stories for their preschoolers. I started out as a preschool teacher and moved on to Xavier School as the librarian for its preschool department. I am now a High School librarian concentrating on Young Adult library services. But preschool education beckons to me like magic, once in a while. I submit myself to its enchanting spell.

International Book Giving Day 2014: Books Given Away

This is Sam. He is a grade 2 student at San Beda College Alabang. I gave him a copy of my book, My Daddy! My One and Only during International Book Giving Day 2014. He looked thrilled to get a free book!

International Book Giving Day 2014

Who will get these books?