Makapangyarihan ang aklat na ito—kaya nitong buksan ang pusong sarado sa pang-unawa sa iba. Kung hindi man, guguluhin nito ang isip ng status quo. Sumakses ito sa layunin nito.
5 Bookmarks para sa 2 aklat
From the very first pages, I can already connect its contents to BTS songs. Here are quotes I copied from the book.
• “No one can tell us what lessons to learn in life; the journey is ours to take.” This reminds me of Persona—Namjoon’s introspective exploration of identity.
"Who we are means honoring the integrity of our human selves. That sometimes includes those dark parts of our beings that we often try to hide. We think sometimes we're only drawn to the good, but we're actually drawn to the authentic. We like people who are real more than those who hide their true selves under layers of artificial niceties."
Cue in Magic Shop!
I am the featured author of the Pamana Children's Library in Chicago, Illinois!
“For the month of March, we are also honored to feature Zarah Gagatiga, the author of Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories, now available in the Pamana Children’s Library. In her heartfelt article, “Writing, Roots, and Resilience”, Zarah reflects on the personal journey that led to the creation of this treasured collection of Filipino folk tales. She shares how this project, born from a deep connection to heritage, became a source of strength and healing during a time of personal challenges. Zarah also pays tribute to her late collaborator, Dianne de Las Casas, whose dream of preserving Filipino stories lives on through their joint work. Join us in celebrating the enduring power of storytelling and its ability to foster resilience, connection, and remembrance.”
Dianne has since passed on in 2018, and the artist who created the book’s cover, Bernadette Solina-Wolf, has also crossed this realm unto the next. In my imagination, they are together, creating stories and beautiful art in a place where everything is at peace. Their stories live on here on Earth, and while I miss them so much, our friendship continues through the book we lovingly collaborated on.
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Now, in this final part, Ms. Roxas shares her top tips for aspiring writers, a sneak peek into her upcoming projects, and her personal reading habits—because even the best storytellers are lifelong readers. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a book lover, or simply curious about the mind behind Pretty Peach, this interview is packed with wisdom and inspiration.
Let’s dive in one last time with Reni Roxas as she talks about the power of storytelling, the books she cherishes, and what’s next on her literary horizon!
7. Advice: What advice would you give aspiring
authors who want to write meaningful children’s literature?
If there is a story you are burning to tell, COMMIT it to
paper (or a keyboard). And practice, PRACTICE the art of telling a story. The
best way to do this is to READ, read lots of children’s books. Immerse yourself
in the genre that you wish to write—whether that is science fiction or graphic
comics…
…And EAVESDROP!
Listen to how children talk to each other. How do they talk to grown-ups? This
will help keep your dialogue sounding genuine.
READ
YOUR STORY OUT LOUD. Children’s books are meant to be heard as well as read.
Your ear will pick up superfluous language or errant words that are best weeded
out of the story.
Understand
that CONFLICT is at the heart of a good story. Even in children’s books. The
main character must want something. Why can’t she have it? What is standing in
her way? If she falls into a hole, how will she climb out of it?
And here’s an insider tip from someone working in the business: Know that as the writer, you are engaged in a collaboration with the artist. If there’s something in the text that can easily be illustrated (i.e. he was wearing a green T-shirt), you don’t need to put that in the text. The illustrator will work it in.
8. Future Projects: Are there any upcoming books
or stories you’re working on? What can your readers look forward to?
I am a slow writer. I’ve
been working a number of years on a collection of animal tales inspired by
Zen-like fables. It wants so much to be a book someday.
And there’s a children’s book I’m co-writing with a
friend about a feisty young girl who goes out into the world to rescue her lolo
from the forces of evil. It’s quintessentially the Hero’s Quest in a picture
book.
Abangan!
9. Reading Habits: What books or authors have inspired your writing journey, particularly in children’s literature?
When I was young my
father gave me a copy of A.A. Milne’s When We Were Six, a collection of
poems about Christopher Robin and his bear Winnie-the-Pooh. I adored that book.
My mother also gifted me with a collection of Greek myths. I do not recall
having many books in our house growing up, which is why these two books stand
out in my memory. In my tweens and teens I inhaled Nancy Drew and Agatha
Christie books and later on, after falling under the spell of the
ground-breaking novel A Hundred Years of Solitude, I tried to read
everything Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote.
During the 1980s I worked for a number of children’s book
publishing houses in New York City. At Dial Books for Young Readers, I loved
the Frog & Toad series, and the work of Rosemary Wells, Mildred Taylor,
Tony Ross, and James Marshall. I just loved John D. Fitzgerald’s The Great
Brain series, something my son would later love and enjoy as well. I also
edited a lot of nonfiction children’s books—books ranging from the animal
kingdom to the American Civil War to teen suicide.
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| Reni with the Women Writing Team |
However, when my former husband and I started Tahanan Books, our focus naturally pivoted from Western to Asian lit. We set our sights on producing Filipiniana folk tales that Filipinos would be proud to call their own, as well as science books on Philippine flowers, fruits, trees, birds, butterflies, and fishes. We published biographies of Filipino heroes with our Great Lives series; and we reissued José Rizal’s The Monkey and the Turtle, which is actually a retelling of a Southeast Asian folk tale. Everything we did and still do at Tahanan is linked to Philippine culture. In that regard, Pretty Peach is a departure from the norm. It is the story of a butterfly of no particular ethnicity or gender, and yet whose desire to find true love is a universal quest.
Now go get your copy of Pretty Peach Today! 🍑✨
Retailing for only P295, Pretty Peach is available at Fully Booked and selected National Bookstore branches.
📍 Special Feature! This February, visit Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street and check out our dedicated Pretty Peach table—the perfect Valentine’s month treat! 💕
Prefer to shop online? Order now through Tahanan’s official website:
🔗 https://tahananbooks.ph/products/pretty-peach
Grab your copy and fall in love with Pretty Peach! 🍑💖
#PrettyPeach #TahananBooks #ValentineReads
@titazeeh7 A new hobby unlocked! #terrarium #ecosystems ♬ Little Things - Adrián Berenguer
Here is a dog rescue story I have not shared before.
A Rescue at Dusk
The sky was painted in shades of gold and lavender when Ouie first heard the whimper. It was faint, nearly drowned out by the hum of traffic and the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze. We had just finished our art activity, our hands still smudged with paint, when he stopped suddenly, his gaze fixed on the gutter near the curb.
A dog, its ribs visible beneath a patchy coat, its eyes a mix of fear and longing.
Ouie crouched down slowly, his heart already deciding before his mind could catch up. “Hey, little one,” he whispered, stretching out his hand, fingers grazing the air between them. The dog flinched but did not run. It only watched him, weighing its options, as if knowing this was a moment that could change everything.
I rummaged through my bag, finding a leftover sandwich from earlier. Breaking off a piece, I placed it on the pavement. The dog sniffed, inched forward, then took the smallest bite. A step closer. A breath held. A bond forming.
We found an old watercolor bowl from our art kit and filled it with water, placing it gently beside the dog. As we watched it lap up the water and finish the food we had given, we both let out quiet sighs of relief. Then, Ouie touched and caressed the dog gently on its head. I saw something shift in his eyes—a quiet kind of joy, the kind that comes from knowing you’ve done something good, something right.
We named him Lucky that night.
And in a way, perhaps, he rescued us too.
For more wonderful stories in poetry about dogs being rescued, pick up Barbara Barth's new book, Sleeping With Dogs.
Barbara Barth started adopting dogs after the loss of her husband in 2008. From larger dogs to downsizing to Chihuahuas there are always five to six dogs at home. Barth has captured the essence of each dog's personality in short free verse poems. Known as Writer With Dogs, Barth has written two memoirs and a variety of novels. Dogs are always present in her stories. This is her first collection of poems.A chapbook of second chances.
ISBN-13: 979-8988575061
ASIN: B0DNMFXP46
Print Length: 37 pages
Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.
Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after the loss of her husband in 2008. Known as Writer With Dogs over the years, she now calls herself Chihuahua Mama and lives with six demanding Chihuahuas in a charming small town forty miles from Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair on the Board of her local art center. Inspired by the many talented artists she meets Barth started painting. Her whimsical style embraces ladies, gardens, critters, and of course cats and dogs.
Find her online at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarabarthstudio/
Blog: https://barbarabarthartandwords.blogspot.com/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbaraBarthStudio
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So it turns out that Ms. Reni Roxas' interview deserves a three-part feature instead of just two. In this second installment, she shares cherished memories that surfaced while writing Pretty Peach. Additionally, the story behind her collaboration with illustrator Adrian Panadero is rich in creativity and meaning that we’ll need more time to fully digest and savor each morsel of insight.
4. Award and Recognition: How did winning first prize
in the Palanca Awards influence your journey as a writer and the book’s
development?
As publisher of Tahanan, and before that as a children’s book editor in the US, I have served as a midwife to over 200 books in my lifetime. Winning that Palanca first prize in the “Best Short Story for Children” category in 2019 affirmed my desire to write stories of my own. It took about five years to turn that short story into a picture book.
5. Character Creation: How did you develop the
character of Pretty Peach? Does she reflect someone or something in your life?
At first, I named her
simply “Peach.” It was my son who suggested we call her “Pretty Peach,” and the
name stuck. I knew my character’s parents would be Ma White and Pa Orange.
Peach’s initial forays in the book reminded me of the time when I was nearing
my twenties. An aunt we had told us, that if someone was meant for you, you
could be hiding under a bed and he would still find you. I believed her. When I
got a bit older I realized my aunt was
wrong. To find the love of your life, you have to leave the house! Ganoon pala…
Thus I made Pretty Peach a seeker and a dreamer. Her
discernment of suitors grows hand in hand with her understanding of the world
around her. The book also shines a spotlight on progeny…in the back of the book
is a family tree showing Peach and Aqua’s children and descendants. At a
glance you see genetics at work! Pretty cool.
I consider myself super
blessed to have had Adrian as a creative partner for this project. Working with
him was a wonderful experience. It was Adrian who chose to make Peach’s
character gender-fluid. And it was he who encouraged me to think about
subverting long-held beliefs. And so he made Peach’s mother tall and angular,
and the father short and plump. Stereotypes still played a role in the plot,
however—Gray is a dreary, sad suitor…and Red is loud and bombastic.
Adrian is very intentional and deliberate when it comes
to the Work. He is a clean and clear thinker and is thorough with his
deliverables. For an artist so young (he is in his late twenties), he is very
sophisticated and mature. When deciding on what to put in the backmatter, it
was Adrian who created the whole double-page spread about the Color Wheel and
how complementary colors work. Adrian can write as well as illustrate. That’s
how talented he is.
I believe all the world would probably want to work with
Adrian Panadero, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work with him.
Part 3, the last installment of Ms. Roxas' interview will be posted next week -- a fitting close to the month of hearts!
Now, go get your copy of Pretty Peach Today! 🍑✨
Retailing for only P295, Pretty Peach is available at Fully Booked and selected National Bookstore branches.
📍 Special Feature! This February, visit Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street and check out our dedicated Pretty Peach table—the perfect Valentine’s month treat! 💕
Prefer to shop online? Order now through Tahanan’s official website:
🔗 https://tahananbooks.ph/products/pretty-peach
Grab your copy and fall in love with Pretty Peach! 🍑💖
#PrettyPeach #TahananBooks #ValentineReads
