Adarna House bags 5 National Children’s Book Awards

At the 3rd National Children’s Book Awards, 4 Adarna House books were named Best Reads for Kids and 1 bagged the Save the Children Award. The Kids’ Choice Award Top 10 picks also included 2 Adarna titles.

Held every 2 years and organized by the National Book Development Board and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, the National Children’s Book Awards give honor to the best publications for children and young adults. This year’s ceremonies were held on July 27, 2014 at the GT-Toyota Center in UP Diliman. There, the following books received the corresponding awards and citations:

Bahay Kubo, Save the Children Award
Illustrated by Pergylene Acuña

This well-loved Filipino song has been put to print a number of times over the past years. What makes this particular edition unique is that it is made especially for young children – the format and the method in which it is illustrated appeals to the very audience that the song is taught to.

Bahay Kubo by Adarna House is the kind of book that can grow with a child.  Its whimsical illustrations invite young readers to explore every page and, through each line and phrase,  helps plant the seeds of our culture in the young minds of today.

Citation written by Ryce Cortez

Hating Kapatid, Best Read for Kids
Written by Raissa Falgui, illustrated by Fran Alvarez

Ants are marvelous creatures! They communicate well with one another, cooperate and divide their work, and solve complex problems.   Thus, using ant siblings as main characters for “Hating Kapatid” is such a wonderful idea as it clarifies the issues of fairness and sharing. It begins with a young ant’s curiosity on what “hating kapatid” means. His older brother then tries to trick him with wrong ideas about equality.  The story successfully settles for the reader what it means to be fair.

The book delights, amuses, and instructs in gentle ways. It’s beautifully illustrated as Filipino storybooks should be. It walks readers through sweet and delicious Filipino snacks to know and enjoy them as ants would do.

This book has won the hearts of all the judges because of its wit and its ability to teach an important value without trying too hard.

Citation written by  Daisy Jane C. Calado

Ngumiti si Andoy, Best Read for Kids
Written by Xi Zuq, illustrated by Domz Agsaway

Sa panahon ngayon na kung saan ang kasaysayan ay paksang napakahalaga o walang buhay naman sa iba, paano ba natin ito maituturo o maibabahagi sa mga bata?

Sa librong ‘Ngumiti si Andoy,’ nagawang maitaas ang level ng imahinasyon ng batang mambabasa. Malikhain ang pamamaraang naisip ng may akda, gawing buhay na karakter sa kuwento ang bayani. Mabisa din ang palitan ng diyalogo ng bata at ni Andoy. Simple at angkop din ang mga drowing. Naipakita na si Andoy ay namuhay ng simple at tulad din ng iba pang mga karaniwang tao: may mga magulang, mga kapatid, asawa at simpleng pangarap.

Sa tingin ko dahil sa ‘koneksyong’ ito ay mas maiintindihan ng mga bata ang kuwento ni Andoy o ni Andres Bonifacio. Lalo ding maeenganyo ang mga bata na  pag-aralang mabuti ang mga iba pang bayani ng ating kasaysayan.

Citation written by Troy Lacsamana

The Little Girl in a Box, Best Read for Kids
Written by Felinda V. Bagas, illustrated by Aldy Aguirre

Sobra akong na impress una kong nakita ang librong “The Little Girl in a Box”. Ang ganda ng printing, ang papel, ang illustrations. Pati ang storya, napakaganda.

Sa sobrang ganda, naisipan ko, baka naman masyadong sophisticated para as mga bata.

Pero iyon nga ang ikinigaganda ng “The Little Girl in a Box” at iyon ang rason kung bakit unanimous ang decision na isali ang “The Little Girl in a Box” sa best children’s book list. – dapat nga tayo gumawa pa ng mga magagandang libro na sophisticated para sa mga bata.

Congratulations sa bumuo ng napakandang librong “The Little Girl in a Box”!

Citation written by  Robert Alejandro

What Kids Should Know About Andres and the Katipunan, Best Read for Kids
Written by Weng Cahiles, illustrated by Isa Natividad

Why can’t all history books be written like this – exciting, intriguing, interactive. Even though the blurb in the back says this book is for 10 years old and above, it’s the sort book that a high school student would enjoy and learn more compared to reading their black-and-white, badly printed history book with blurry pictures.

Despite the child-like depictions of Andres Bonifacio and his fellow members of the Katipunan, the personal history of the Supremo and the secret rituals and codes of the Katipuneros have been presented in a truly engaging manner that would delight history buffs and children discovering our country’s history.

Citation written by  Budjette Tan

The Little Girl in a Box, Top 10 Pick/Finalist for Kids’ Choice Award
Written by Felinda V. Bagas, illustrated by Aldy Aguirre

(Citations for “Pintong Maraming Silid” and “The Little Girl in a Box”)
A pleasant afternoon to everyone. First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone as a sign of my gratitude for this once in a lifetime privilege that you had given me. Being a part of this event was an extreme honor for a student like me. I hope that this event will be successful and I also hope that we judges, did our job well enough.

One of the two books that I had chosen was the “Pintong Maraming Silid”. One of the reasons why I had chosen this book was because of its simplicity. I loved the story line and how the story was stated. I also liked the illustrations and most of all, I loved the story because I easily understood it.

The other book that I had chosen was entitled “The Little Girl in a Box”. One of the reasons why I had chosen this book was because of its really good storyline. I loved how the story flows. It was precisely stated and it was very simple yet it was still good. I really, really enjoyed it.

Citation written by Jay Harold Odon

May Darating na Trak Bukas, Top 10 Pick/Finalist for Kids’ Choice Award
Written by Rio Alma, illustrated by Sergio Bumatay III

May trak na darating bukas. Ano kaya ang kakaibang mga gamit na dala nito? Hindi basura kundi mga sorpresa at milagro. Sa tambak ng basurang ito ang luma ay ginagawang bago.

Ang May Darating na Trak Bukas ay tungkol sa kung anong magagawa mo gamit ang iyong imahinasyon. Sa mata ng isang bata sa kwento, ang tambak ng basura ay may pakinabang. Nakakalikha siya ng isang kaharian, isang sasakyang panlakbay at isang aklatan. Imahinasyon lang ang kaniyang kailangan.

Bukod sa magandang tula na isinulat, puno rin nang makulay at nakakatuwang mga guhit ang libro. Nakakaaliw siyang tingnan at basahin paulit-ulit. Hindi ka talaga masasawa.

Citation written by Miranda Villanueva