Picture Books in Filipino

It saddens me whenever I see a Philippine-based mom posting in mommy groups in Facebook asking for tips or interventions she can do so her child will become better in Filipino and other subjects usually taught using the Filipino language. Most of the time, the problem lies with the child's inability to read, understand, speak and write using the language. These kids were usually raised being spoken only in English. So it's no wonder, they have difficulty in understanding Filipino. 

For the record, I don't have anything against parents who chose to make English as their child's primary language. Being proficient in the English language whether in writing or speaking is a very important skill especially in today's world of interconnectivity. It does open up a lot of opportunities for someone. I, myself, speak English when talking to my little Queen B. But I also speak Filipino and she's also exposed to other dialects like Ilonggo and Bisaya. 

Yes, there are disadvantages in exposing a young child to different languages. It took our little Queen B a while to say her first actual word and her vocabulary grew at a very slow rate. But we are now reaping the rewards of our conscious decision, George can both understand and speak English and Filipino. 

Of course, the best way for a child to understand and speak the Filipino language is by being talked to with it. But another tool to make them enjoy learning the Filipino language and in connection the Philippine history and our country's unique traditions and culture is by reading well-written, highly entertaining, and beautifully illustrated books in the Filipino language. 

November is National Reading Month as declared by the Department of Education and this year's theme is A Celebration of Arts and Culture through Reading. Honestly, I didn't enjoy my Filipino subjects in school either except when we're reading stories and poems written by Filipino authors. Actually, reading Filipino romance pocketbooks was what first got me hooked on the activity of reading for pleasure. So in celebration of the National Reading Month, let me share with you our collection of 

Kulay and Bahay Kubo

These books by Adarna House are great first Filipino books for babies and toddlers. They are board books so they can withstand your babies and toddlers' manipulation of them. Kulay is a bilingual book that teaches our little ones the names of various colors. Do you know that orange is kahel in Filipino while green is lungtian? While Bahay Kubo is based on a popular Filipino nursery rhyme that teaches our kids the names of common vegetables. 

Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa as retold by Christine S. Bellen and Abi Goy

Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa is a story of how a commoner solved the mystery of why the 12 princesses' shoes are always dirty and worn out in the morning even though they are not allowed to go out of the castle. This witty book from Anvil Publishing is from the Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang ni Severino Reyes collection. Severino Reyes, known as the Ama ng Sarsuwelang Tagalog, was inspired to write this collection of stories when his family was invited to a dinner at the home of the Zamora Family. After dinner, all the children gathered around Gervasia Guzman de Zamora, also known as Tandang Basiang, to listen to her wonderful stories. 

Alpabeto sa Bayong by Genaro R. Gojo-Cruz and Katherine Garcia-Flores

What's inside mom's basket? Find out in this book every Filipino child can relate to. It's also a good book to introduce the letters of the alphabet. 

Chenelyn! Chenelyn! by Rhandee Garlitos and Liza Flores

 

A winner of the Gintong Aklat Award in 2000 and an Honorable Mention in the Pbby-Salanga Prize in 1997, this multi-awarded book tells the story of Chenelyn, a maid, and how the family she works for realized her importance. This is a great book to teach our children to value the hard work of maids. 

Ang Alamat ng Palay as retold by Virgilio S. Almario and Conrad A. Raquel

Rice is the Philippines staple food and this book tells us its tale. This book is a good starting point to teach our children not to waste rice. 

Anita the Duckling Diva by Anne Curtis-Smith and James Abalos 

We, Filipinos, are famous for our love of singing. This book tells the story of Anita and how she overcame her shyness in singing. If your kid is a shy one like my little Queen B, this book is perfect for her. 

Ang Sabi Ni Nanay, Ang Sabi ni Tatay by Sacha Calagopi and Jamie Bauza

Francis wants to be a cook while Rosalie wants to be a traffic enforcer. This book tells our children that they should not feel bound by their gender when setting dreams and ambitions. 

Ang Dalawang Haring Siga by Rene O. Villanueva and Iori Espiritu 

Peace and love are the keys to a harmonious relationship - this is the main lesson of this story about two kings who fought a disastrous war before their grandkids taught them the value of peace and love. 

Yaya Niya, Nanay Ko by Ma. Corazon Remigio and Nicole Lim

An all-time favorite of my little Queen B, Yaya Niya Nanay ko shows us the point of view of a child whose mother works as a nanny and takes care of another child. As I have mentioned before, this book reminds me to never take for granted the blessing of being able to take care of my child full-time. I know that this is a choice I will never regret. 

Bilangan sa Karagatan by Raissa Rivera Falgui and Jeca Martinez

My little Queen B loves counting and this book is a great book to make her practice her counting skills. Aside from counting, she also gets to be familiar with common sea creatures. 

Our collection of Picture Books in Filipino is very small in comparison with our books in English but it's something I'm working on. In my defense, English books in Booksale are cheaper while Filipino books, though not really expensive, are usually can only be bought brand new. So I do take advantage of book fairs like September's Manila International Book Fair to score picture books in Filipino at a lower price. I intend to acquire at least one book in Filipino a month. 

But aside from books in Filipino or Tagalog, I would like to also note the presence of picture books in other dialects such as Sari-Sari Storybook's Si Kalipay Ug Ang Kinagamyang Tiktik (Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik) which is in Cebuano. I'm on the lookout for picture books in Ilonggo and Ilocano so our little Queen B will be well-acquainted with her parents' roots. I hope more authors will write books in these dialects. 

Our country is so rich in history, culture, language, and traditions and I believe that by exposing our children to books like these, they will grow to love their native language and enjoy learning with it. 

As Katherine Patterson said, "It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations-something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own." 

Yours, 

Lady