SLIA's Reply on Recommended Books for Bibliotherapy

Here's my reply to Ann Grace Bansig's query.

My recommendations for bibliotherapy: 

Choose stories that kids can mirror themselves as characters in the story. What qualities or values then do you wish to emphasize? Hope? Endurance? Cooperation? Resourcefulness? Decide on this early on. Once you have decided, it would be easy to choose stories.

If I were to tell stories, I would use the fable of grasshopper and ant, but ant would end up helping grasshopper. I would also use Joseph's Overcoat to drive on creativity and imagination. 

You can also share personal stories pod survival and tenacity. Do not forget to use pre, during and post reading questions or activities!

          Good luck!

SLIA's Dear Librarian: Books for Bibliotherapy

Last month, librarian friend, Ann Grace Bansig left for Samar to do storytelling with kids who survived typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. She sent me this eamil:

I will be leaving for Guian, Samar next week. This will be a bibliotherapy experience for me.

If you're not too busy, can you please recommend stories for the children affected by Yolanda?

I will post my book recommendations to her next week.

A Time to Be Together: Storytelling @ DSWD Fabella Center

Teachers Chinky and Tin; Darrel, LIS student Thel Suliva, and Mennie

Last November 23, 2013, I headed out to Manila with friends from the teaching and school librarianship profession. There were five of us: Teacher Tin and Teacher Chinky of CLP Create School in Merville, Paranaque, school librarians Darrel Marco and Mennie Ruth Viray, and myself. We volunteered to a storytelling session at the DSWD Fabella Center in Mandaluyong for the Visayas kids who were displaced due to typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Apart from the storytelling session, we had books, crayons and coloring books for the kids. These are little gifts we hope to offer as bit of a relief to these children who had to leave their homes.

 

 Riding on Diksyunario Atbp., a NGO headed by Lia Manalac Del Castillo, we had a humbling experience as volunteers. Yes, we had fun and enjoyed each others' company (It was Darrel's and Mennie's first time to meet Teachers Tin and Chnky!) but being with the Visayas kids was our simple way of helping out. The smiles and responses of the kids were enough to convince us that the long road to recovery is possible.

 When disaster and tragedy strikes, people can come together or it can break them apart. I see a lot of people coming and working together. PBBY, Kuting and Ang INK concluded a very successful garage sale. The ALA echoed the PLAI's call for help. Artists and civic groups are banding together to help out. NGOs met last week at Museo Pambata to identify pathways to recovery. This coming Family Day in our Marriage Encounter Community, members are encouraged to bring in more donations. What happened to me and my friends last November 23 was proof. Many donations, in cash and kind, have been given. But, I feel that being one towards rebuilding the lives of many Visayan family requires vission, self-discipline and political will.

I am but one in a sea of frustrated voices. I am but one among many Filipinos who won't give up for the Philippines.

Philippine Children's Lit Community Gives Back

SOS to the World: Infographics on Relief Operations