Wrap Up: The NCBD Fair 201

The weather did not cooperate at all last week. The wind blew off from the sea. A tropical storm passed through the southern side of the Philippines which made the whole day gray, gloomy and wet. But the bad weather didn't stop the PBBY to head on to Museo Pambata for the 31st celebration of the National Children's Book Day. The event was already postponed a week before due to another storm that struck Manila. There was no reason for another postponement.

PBBY with the Salanga and Alacala Prize winners

The NCBD Program was in full swing at 9AM that morning of July 22. Kids from different schools visited the various booths of book sellers and publishers. They had a blast with storytellers during the storytelling sessions at the Karapatan Hall. The librarians workshop had more than half of the expected number of attendees. In the afternoon, the awarding ceremonies of the Salanga and Alcala Prizes capped the whole day celebration of the NCBD.

Participants of the NCBD Librarians' Workshop

Bookmark's Booth at Museo Pambata

This year's NCBD celebration deviated from tradition. The PBBY board members wore t-shirst that has the new PBBY logo designed by Studio Dialogo. But some things remain: friends whom we all can count on to boost and enrich the industry; promising talents and artists we welcome to Philippine Children's Literature; and the presence of hundreds of Filipino kids, our inspiration to continue this advocacy for books and reading.

Touched base with author and friend, Becky Santos-Gerodias

The PBBY will rest for but a few days but we'll be back next month for the Alcala Retrospective, Gunita't Guhit at UP Diliman. And then there's the KABANATA Workshop that will take place in the next few months. Our work is never done. We continue. We move on. We have fun!

PBBY On-Air in DZUP LibRadio

If you listen to DZUP every Wednesday for the program, LibRadio Librarians sa Radio, you'll have your fill of PBBY board members campaigning for books and literacy development. It's July and on the 15th, we'll be celebrating the 31st National Children's Book Day (NCBD)!

I am the guest on July 9 and while I'll be talking about Bibliotherapy, it is inevitable to discuss the NCBD celebration in Museo Pambata on July 15, from 9AM to 2PM. In this year's NCBD, the PBBY worked with local publishers to set up a book fair where publishers can present and showcase new titles in Museo Pambata. This event is OPEN to ALL.

On July 16, PBBY Chairperson, Tarie Sabido and PBBY Secretary General, Ani Almario will be on air to share the good news on the KABANATA Workshop. Tune in to DZUP LibRadio 1602 to hear Ms. Sabido and Ms. Almario explain the details of the workshop.

As I write this blog post, Melanie Abad Ramirez of the National Library is on air being interviewed about Children's Library Services. Ms. Ramirez happens to be the representative of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) Director to the PBBY since NLP is an institutional member.

Thank you very much DZUP LibRadio for helping PBBY spread the word on the National Children's Book Day!

How Well Do You Know Your Children's Book Publishers?

In the FB page of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), I started an interactive post on Philippine Children's Book Publishers. It's fourteen more days to go till the 31st National Children's Book Day (NCBD) and with a book fair as the NCBD's highlight this year, we - parents, teachers, librarians and readers of all ages, should all know who publishes those children's books and young adult novels. So far, there are three featured publishers already. 

Here they are:

Publihser #1 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house? 

This publishing house publishes a series of illustrated story books on health and hygiene that touches on the values of self care, responsibility and discipline at the same time. Each title of a book in the series begins with an Interjection that catches the attention, and the eye, of the young reader. 

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Publisher #2 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house? 

This publishing house is the first to venture into publishing stories for kids way back in the 70s. Back then, it was known for its stories printed in newsprint books with comic like illustrations. I remember, as a grade schooler, book sellers of this publishing house would visit our school to do book talks of illustrated story books like Pilar Katterpillar and Ang Mayang Uhaw. It has now evolved into a publishing house that assists teachers and parents in raising young Filipino readers. 

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Publisher #3 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house?

Today's featured publisher/publishing house does not consider itself a publishing house, but it works with publishers to produce books for children anyway. In 2005, it launched a book about a man who planted trees, an eco-fable from France adapted and written by Augie Rivera and illustrated by Romeo Forbes. The book (guess the title) was the initiative for a yearly contest where in a visual artist's work is used as inspiration for a children's story. The winning manuscript is then illustrated, or painted, by the visual artist of the year. The winning stories can be read online for FREE.

In 2012, Doll Eyes, one of the winning stories of its yearly contest was included in the Best Reads National Children's Book Award of the PBBY and the NBDB.

Name this publisher/publishing house?

Can you make a guess? Can you guess them all? Answers will be posted with in this week!

Echo-Workshop on the IASL 42nd Annual Conference: The School Library as Venue for Life Skills Development

Mark your calendars!

On July 15, 2014, I'll be giving an echo-workshop session to school librarians on The 42nd IASL Conference held in Bali, Indonesia last August 27-31, 2013. This is in congruence to the celebration of the 31st National Chidlren's Book Day. The echo-session workshop will be at 9AM - 12 NN. Venue is in Museo Pambata.

There is a workshop fee of Php 500.00. For inquiries and registration detail, email pbby@adarna.ph The DepEd advisory and endorsement will follow.

Keep checking the blog or visit the PBBY website in the following weeks for updates.

The School Library as Venue for the Development of Life Skills: An Echo and Workshop Session of the 42nd IASL Conference in Bali, Indonesia held on August 27-31, 2013

The echo-workshop session will discuss life skills and well being indicators, and how librarians can use these skills and concepts in planning, implementing and evaluating programs and services for children and teenagers.  21st century trends in school library management and administration will also be presented as well as information on participation on professional learning networks, particularly in the International Association of School Libraries.