New board books available on SALE!

Two posts ago, we wrote about the value of board books in developing children’s emergent literacy skills. And right on cue, we are happy to announce the arrival of three new board books for every family’s favorite bunso!

Masaya Ako! (illustrated by Yasmin Doctor) introduces the different feelings by naming them and showing colorful and funny illustrations of facial expressions; Mga Hayop sa Filipinas (illustrated by Iori Espiritu) shows the animals that are indigenous or native to the country, and also features the names given to them locally; while Pista Na! will teach kids the different elements of a Filipino fiesta, and show them how these elements and their adjectives through wonderful illustrations.

The board books will be available with a discount of 26% at the Back-to-School SALE, down to Php 70.00 each (regularly priced at Php 95.00).  The SALE will happen at our showroom from May 15 to June 15.

Books for babies and toddlers

A board book is a type of book made especially for infants and toddlers to help them start reading. Board books have sturdy pages, including both front and back covers, which are usually made of carton or paperboard. Below are the reasons why board books are perfect for emergent readers.

1. Board books are durable. Unlike picture books, board books are suitable for small children because the pages are sturdy and bound solidly. Because of this, board books can withstand infants and toddlers’ habits of chewing and throwing anything they can grab hold of.
2. Board books can be handled by small children. Unlike picture books, board books are smaller in size and appropriately made for infants and toddlers’ small hands. Board books, therefore, are a perfect book type to familiarize babies with books. As we teach them how to turn pages, we also improve their fine motor skills and grasping strength.
3. Book boards can serve as children’s access to the world of literature. Besides telling stories to children, board books can serve as an entry point for infants and toddlers to appreciate stories, poems and songs. Plus, board books are especially written according to the reading capacity of small children.
4. Board books can help small children learn basic concepts. A lot of board books are made specifically to teach infants and toddlers basic concepts. Topics usually include sounds, letters of the alphabets, shapes, and the counting numbers. There are also exceptional board books which integrate these concepts in stories, poems and songs.

Adarna House has developed the very first and only available board books for Filipino kids. These board books include the two versions of The World Around Me (Ang Aking Paligid) which introduce readers to things around them; concept books Kulay! and Ang Una Kong Alpabeto; and song books Sampung mga Daliri and Bahay Kubo.

The board books will be available with a discount of 26% at the Back-to-School SALE, down to Php 70.00 each (regularly priced at Php 95.00).  The SALE will happen at our showroom from May 15 to June 15.

Tips on choosing books for the little ones

Though it is good practice to let children choose which books to buy, it is inevitable that adults are the ones tasked to do it most of the time. Knowing how to choose books for your little ones is crucial in developing their love for reading. Assuming that one can freely select which ones to purchase, here are some tips to help you with book shopping for your kids:

1. Create a balance between books that children like and what adults think children like or should read. Determine which books children like by asking them about their favorites or observing their reading habits. On the other hand, online reviews by parents and teachers can be of great help to check which books pass adults’ tastes. (This tip entails preparation before going to the bookstore.)
2. Provide variety with the books you choose. Besides the ones that fulfill tip#1, purchase books that neither you, nor the child you are buying for, will purchase under normal circumstances. Trying something new and unexpected will provide children the opportunity to explore other topics or types of literature. It goes without saying that boxing them in with the same sets of books will limit their taste and knowledge.
3. Check the book cover for some clues. It is, of course, difficult to know what a book really contains given a limited shopping time (and most books are tightly sealed in plastic cases). It is best to read the front and book covers to get useful information to consider before purchasing. Usually placed at the back cover is a description about the book, but there are other ways to see whether the book you are holding will be great for the kids: One, look for the label which tells the age range for which the book is recommended. Bookstores also shelve books by age bracket recommendations. Two, some books put seals of awards, citations, and praises. These can, at least, guarantee you that some people like and recommend a book, and give you a hint as to why these people like the book.  
4. Browse book catalogues. Get a copy of book catalogues regularly released by publishers of children’s books. Most of these are available on the publishers’ websites. Book catalogues provide useful details about all their books in print – from age recommendations to awards, from themes topics to prices. Check out the online Adarna House book catalogue for a sample.

There are many other tips you can use whenever buying books for children, but the best thing to do is to read the books yourself. Your growing familiarity (and enjoyment) with this genre will give you a lot of information to consider next time you are tasked to buy books for kids.

Young Artist from Bulacan wins PBBY-Alcala

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People awards the 2013 PBBY-Alcala Prize to Dominic Agsaway, an illustrator from Bulacan and a member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK). This is Agsaway’s first time to win the contest.

This year’s PBBY-Alcala Prize called for entries based on the 2013 PBBY-Salanga Prize-winning story, “Ngumiti si Andoy” written by Michael Jude C. Tumamac, a story inspired by the life of Andres Bonifacio.

Honorable Mention in this year’s contest went to artists Sergio Bumatay III and Francin Cruz. Bumatay and Cruz are also members of Ang InK.

Agsaway shall receive Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos, a medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in a ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 16, 2013.

For inquiries about the contest, please contact the PBBY Secretariat at telephone number 352-6765 loc. 203 or e-mail pbby[at]adarna.com.ph.

Basahan ng tula ang mga bata!

Mainam ang pagbabasa ng mga tula sa mga bata, lalo na sa mga nagsisimula pa lamang matuto ng wika. Bukod sa nagbibigay ito ng panahon para sa interaksiyon sa pagitan ng anak at ng magulang o guro, narito ang ilan pang magandang dulot ng pagbabasa ng tula sa mga bata:

1. Ipinapakilala ng tula, lalo na iyong mayroong tugmaan, ang mga tunog ng isang wika, na mahalaga sa pagkatuto nila ng wika. Sa mga tinutugmang salita, halimbawa, makikilala nila ang kaibahan ng mga salitang may impit at wala o ang mga malalakas at mahihinang katinig.

2. Napapalawak din ng tula ang imahinasyon ng mga bata, lalo pa at sinusubukang tingnan ng tula ang mga bagay sa kanilang paligid sa iba pang paraan. Matuturuan ng tula kung paano naghahambing ng mga bagay at ang mga salitang ginagamit dito.

3. Marami ring mga tula ang tiyak na aaliw sa mga bata dahil sa mapaglarong tunog, inilalarawang imahen o inilahahad na salaysay. Ang pagkaaliw nila sa tula ay maaaring mag-engganyo sa kanila na magbasa pa ng ibang uri ng akda. Nakatutulong din sa malusog na paglaki ng mga bata ang pagkaaliw.

4. Nahahasa ng tula ang isipan ng mga bata, lalo na sa mga tulang nagpapahula sa inilalarawang imahen o iyong nagpapapuno sa kanila ng mga bagay na hindi binanggit sa tula.

5. Ang mga tula namang nagsasalaysay ay maaaring maging tulay sa pagbabasa ng mga bata ng tuluyan o mas mahahabang kuwento.

Upang mas maging kasiya-siya ang pagbabasa, bigyan din ang mga bata ng pagkakataon upang gumawa ng kanilang mga tula. Gawing padron ang mga nailimbag ng mga tula ng Adarna House, tulad ng The Moon is My Friend, Buwang, Buwang Bulawan, at iba pa.

March 6 is World Read Aloud Day!

Can you imagine what it would be like if you can’t read? Just think of all the experiences you’d miss; think of all the useful things you wouldn’t be able to understand; think of the billions and billions of cool and fun facts you won’t be able to learn.

Around the world, there are almost 800 million people who are unable to read. And on World Read Aloud Day, we can share our words with them — words that will show them a completely different world, words that will tell them that reading and writing is a basic human right.

So tomorrow, March 6, we encourage everyone not just to do storytelling sessions, but to contact your local lawmakers and let them know that you, their constituents, value literacy and education.

Feb 14 is International Book Giving Day!

Image from bookgivingday.com

In what better way can you express that you care about someone than by giving them a book that you love?

Yes, February 14 is a day of love, and a day of book-giving! International Book Giving Day is a volunteer-initiated celebration that aims to put a book in the hands of every child. It’s a great way to celebrate the joy of reading, and there are many ways to join the festivities, but bookgivingday.com swears by these gestures:

1) Give a book to a kid you care about. Give a copy of your favorite children’s book to your kid, neighbor, student, pamangkin, or inaanak!

2) Be a mystery book giver. Leave a book somewhere you know kids will be, hand over a book to a random kid you cross paths with, or give a stranger a book for their kid. Don’t forget to wish them a happy International Book Giving Day!

3) Contact your favorite literacy group to donate. Help out in the efforts of educational organizations such as Inquirer’s Read Along, Museo Pambata, Reading Association of the Philippines, Sambat Trust, and Teach for the Philippines.

Tomorrow is February 14. Make kids fall in love with books on International Book Giving Day!