NCBD Book Fair 2016 and PBBY Workshops

NCBD Blog Tour: My Dream Date with a Filipino Author

We are on the second week of the NCBD Blog Tour. Last week, it rained children's books and young adult novels in many a Filipino readers' blog. This week, we are to write about our dream date.

If you could spend a day/night with a writer or illustrator, who would it be?

The writer or illustrator, living or deceased, should have works for Filipino children and young adults. There are no restrictions on the number of answers, genre, etc.

So, who is my dream date?

Nick Joaquin.

It is more of a dream interview, really.

We would be in a cafe somewhere in Quezon City, Cubao perhaps or a hole in the wall cafe in the Morato area. Manila isn't that bad too. Though I could not think of an artsy cafe in the Ermita-Malate. But anywhere where beer and coffee is served is fine.

 He would be drinking beer and I would be satisfied with cups and cups of brewed coffee. I would ask him questions about his series, Pop Stories for Groovy Kids. How the project was conceptualized. What was the reception of readers at the time? Because, in this day and age, if a library has a copy of his series, it is a gem. In my dream, he would reply something intellectual and I would be so impressed because it will take me days to unravel it.

Another question I wish to ask him is his belief on writing for kids and teens. How does he see writing for children and teens compared to adults? I read an essay he wrote for when he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, saying in the essay that there really shouldn't be any divide between journalism and fiction writing. Or something to that effect.

Going back to reality, I have only his books, letters, essays and journals to read that are kept in select libraries. And to access these is not going to be easy since I am not a full scholar of his works nor do I have the time to visit such repositories. But I remain a fan who will read and reread his works.

This coming NCBD 2015, who is the author you are looking forward to meet?

Umuulan ng Libro! The 32nd National Children’s Books Day will be celebrated through two events. The Philippine Children’s Book Summit on July 21 at Elements Centris, EDSA, and the Children’s Book Fair on July 25 at Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila University.

The Librarian’s Workshop: Creative Reading Programs for School Libraries Servicing K-12 Learners will also be held on July 25. For more information about any of the above events, please email pbby@adarna.com.ph or visit Philippine Board On Books For Young People Page on Facebook.

Children's Literature Talk and Librarians Workshop in the NCBD 2015

On July 21, we celebrate National Children's Book Day (NCBD). It is now on its 32nd year and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), the lead agency of the NCBD celebration has partnered with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila University for two events. One is the Philippine Children's Book Summit at the Elements in Centris, Quezon City on July 21 and the second is the NCBD Book Fair in the Rizal Library on July 25. This year's theme is Umuulan ng Libro (It's Raining Books!)

Both have an Event page in FB. The links are:

Umuulan ng Libro: NCBD Book Fair
 Umuulan ng Libro: Philippine Children's Book Summit

Visit the Event pages to know the activities lined up for you and the kids and teens you can bring along.

In the Book Summit, I am scheduled to talk about Children's Literature. Nothing heavy or serious. It is a session where we will simply talk about children's books and young adult novels. We will brush up on the important roles we play as school librarians in light of the children's books and young adult novels we like, we don't like and those we keep in our library shelves. It is only a one hour session, so I hope to inspire you to think of ways on how you, as a school librarian, continuously develop ways to love books that your students in the library read about or are not aware of that it exist.

Moving on,  July 25 at the NCBD Book Fair is where my workshop on Creative Reading Programs is scheduled at 9AM-12NN, 4th Floor, Reading Area of the Rizal Library. In the workshop, I will present prerequisites for planning and designing reading programs suitable for school libraries. Basic concepts on reading as developmental skill, its cognitive and social aspects will be presented. Then, we move to draft a school library reading program for a specific age group or grade level.

For inquiries on the Book Summit, get in touch via email to pbby@adarna.com.ph. For registration to the Librarians Workshop, email cpd4schoollibrarians@gmail.com or send a text message via 09399346521.

Invitation to the NCBD Book Fair 2015

02 from Zarah Gagatiga

Blog Tour: NCBD Book Fair 2015

Magandang araw!

Inaanyayahan namin kayong makilahok sa isang BLOG TOUR mula Hulyo 7 –25, 2015. Ang BLOG TOUR ay bahagi ng isang buwang pagdiriwang ng National Children’s Book Day (NCBD), na papatak ngayong July 21, 2015.

Ipinagdidiriwang ang NCBD tuwing ikatlong Martes ng Hulyo bílang paggunita sa pagkakalimbag ng “The Monkey and the Turtle” ni Jose Rizal sa Trubner’s Oriental Record sa London. Nangunguna ang
Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) sa pagdiriwang nito. Para sa impormasyon tungkol iba pang mga gawain ngayong buwan, bisitahin ang PBBY sa Facebook.

Bawat linggo, magpo-post ang mga lalahok sa BLOG TOUR ng sagot (sa anumang wikang ginagamit nila) sa mga tanong na may kinalaman sa mga Pilipinong aklat pambata at pangkabataan. Kailangang mai-post ito bago mag-6:00 NG dahil ibabahagi ito ng PBBY sa kanilang Facebook page nang mga 7:00 NG. Maaari namang gamitin ang mga hashtag na #UmuulanNgLibro #NCBDBookfair2015 at #NCBD2015 sa pagbabahagi sa social media.

Narito ang mga tanong sa bawat linggo:

        Hulyo 7 – 13: Paboritong Aklat

Ano ang paborito mong aklat pambata at pangkabataan? (Kailangang isinulat o iginuhit ito ng isang Pilipino. Maaari namang maglista nang higit sa isa pa.)

        Hulyo 14 – 19: Dream Date

Sinong manunulat o ilustrador ang nais mong makasama sa isang araw/gabí? (Kailangang mga aklat pambata at pangkabataan ang nililikha niya. Maaari ring maglista nang higit sa isa pa.)

        Hulyo 20 – 25: Wish List

Anong Pilipinong aklat pambata o pangkabataan ang gusto mong mailimbag? (Maaaring paksa, uri ng aklat, o ng isang manunulat o ilustrador. Maaaring maglista nang higit sa isa pa.)

Kung nais ninyong makilahok sa BLOG TOUR at tumulong sa pag-aanunsiyo ng mga gawain ng PBBY sa buwang ito, pakibigay ang sumusunod na impormasyon:
•       Pangalan (na gagamitin ng PBBY sa mga post nito)
•       Blog (pangalan ng blog at url)
•       Deskripsiyon (pagpapakilala sa isang pangungusap)
•       Mga Petsa ng Paglahok (isang araw bawat linggo, maliban sa Hulyo 21)
•       Tutulong sa mga Anunsiyo? (oo/hindi)

Umaasa kami sa inyong positibong tugon!


Sumasainyo,

Zarah Gagatiga
School Librarian in Action
(lovealibrarian.blogspot.com)

Xi Zuq (MJ)
Xi Zuq’s Nook
(xizuqsnook.com)

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!

Bibliotherapy on DZUP LibRadio

I will be guesting on air tomorrow over at DZUP LibRadio 1602. The radio show begins at 12NN. There is online streaming at the DZUP website. 

It is my third in the radio show and it has always been a lovely experience every time I am with the librarian DJs of UP Diliman. They give a different spin to the word "librarian". It only goes to show how flexible and adaptable modern librarians are!

I will be talking about Bibliotherapy tomorrow. Before the program ends, I will definitely be promoting the 31st National Children's Book Day activities. Thinking about it, DZUP LibRadio has been very supportive of the NCBD since last year. In behalf of PBBY, I thank you for this support.

Now here are the talking points:

Definition of Bibliotherapy
 Foundations of Bibliotherapy

 Bibliotherapy in the Philippines
 How does it help?
 How can a librarian use this to help users?
 Self-help possible?

 Research tips and tricks
 Scope and limitations of Bibliotherapy?
 How do you become a Bibliotherapist?

 Traits of an effective Bibliotherapist?

For those who won't be able to tune in, I will post the answers to the questions and the replies to the points for discussion on the topic soon.

How Well Do You Know Your Children's Book Publishers: Answers

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!

Answer #1: OMF - Hiyas

Apart from the Tito Dok series, Hiyas carries the Oh Mateo Series by Grace D. Chong. Another favorite author of mine who writes for Hiyas is Robert Magnuson, author of The Great Duck and Crocodile Race. This picture book for children was among the Best Reads National Children's Book Award winners of 2012.

Answer #2: Adarna House

Adatna House continues to stretch its wings for the young Filipino Reader. It has ventured into digital publication of its award winning picture books, Ang Araw sa Palengke and But That Won't Wake Me Up in iTunes. Early this year, Adarna House launched a young adult novel, Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon written by Edgar Samar.

Answer #3: CANVAS
As a non-profit organization, CANVAS has a literacy campaign supporting books and reading development. Check their website and find out more about 1 Million Books for 1 Million Filipino Children Initiative that aims to promote literacy and encourage the love of reading (as well as an awareness and appreciation for Philippine art) to various groups of underprivileged children.