Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

  Welcome to the second day of the Ngumiti si Andoy blog tour ! Ngumiti si Andoy , written by Xi Zuq ( /Shee Zuk/) and illustrated by Dominic Agsaway , is the winner of the 2013 PBBY Salanga and Alcala Prizes and the latest bilingual (Filipino and English) picture book from Adarna House .   In Ngumiti si Andoy , a boy named Andrew is drawing the statues in his school's heroes park when the statue of Andres "Andoy" Bonifacio , the Father of the Philippine Revolution, comes to life. Andrew and Andoy have a conversation about Andoy's parents, siblings, and wife. The book has great educational value - t eachers and parents can use it to introduce children to the hero or complement formal history lessons - but it is not overtly didactic.      For the Ngumiti si Andoy blog tour, I am interviewing both the book's author and illustrator, as well as sharing some of the illustrator's initial sketches for the book. Let's start with the...

National Children's Book Month is the perfect time to read or reread Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! by Nanoy Rafael and Sergio Bumatay III (Adarna House, 2008). The book is a product of the silver anniversary Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) Salanga and Alcala prizes, and is one of my favorite Filipino children's books. Recently the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Sweden awarded Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! the Peter Pan Prize , an annual prize for a foreign children's or young adult book of high quality published in Sweden. ( Bokförlaget Trasten is Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! 's publisher in Sweden.) CONGRATULATIONS! Here is IBBY Sweden’s citation for the book: "The Filipino picture book Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! represents a part of the world not often seen in Swedish publishing for children. The theme, however, is universal: A child getting a younger sibling. The boy Isko’s anxiety about the changes he suspects will take place in his famil...

I can't believe I didn't discover this YouTube series earlier! In the first video, author/illustrator Grace Lin shares a bit about how her artistic style developed. In the second video, she shares a couple of heartbreaking stories =( that really illustrate the need for multicultural children's books.

With Holly Meade , winner of a Sydney Taylor Honor in the Younger Readers Category. =D

I am in love. With these board books: You Are My Cupcake by Joyce Wan (Cartwheel Books, 2011) A quote from the book: "You are my. . . Chubby little pumpkin" Detail shots of the interior: We Belong Together by Joyce Wan (Cartwheel Books, 2011) A quote from the book: "We belong together. . . Like bacon and eggs every day" Detail shots of the interior: Can you see how my eyes are sparkling from reading these board books? They are good enough to eat! I shared them with my family and students and everyone just melted. Awww. Author/illustrator Joyce Wan is here today to share about the books and Wanart, her greeting card and gift company. She's also going to give us a little tour of her studio! Tarie: What is a typical day like at Wanart? Joyce: There is no typical day at Wanart. I could be working on new card designs to working on new book ideas. It's different every day, and every hour even, but that's the way I like it! I always have coffee in the morn...

I. Am. Giddy. Filipino artist, designer, and illustrator Isabel Roxas is in the house, ladies and gentlemen! There aren't enough positive adjectives (charming, adorable, delightful. . .) or enough positive descriptions (they draw you in, they warm your heart, they tickle you, they make you happy. . .) for Isabel's children's book illustrations. Check out her website to see for yourself. =D Isabel has very kindly answered questions about her work below! What motivates you to illustrate children's books? I really enjoy drawing raucous/goofy scenes, obscure animals, little kids playing under the moonlight—experiences that I lived through, or wish I did. I draw for MY own enjoyment, and fortunately for me, the pictures I like to create are suited to the task of creating a children’s book. I was a voracious reader growing up (and still am), so I am happy to have a hand in encouraging young people to have that wonderful experience of being deeply and fully engrossed in a st...

It's time for another illustrator interview! Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to. . . Jason Moss, winner of a Philippine National Children's Book Award for his bright, cheerful, and humorous illustrations in Just Add Dirt , a picture book about a boy who grows vegetables all over his body because he doesn't take a bath, written by Becky Bravo and published by Adarna House in 2009! Welcome, Jason. What motivates you to illustrate for children? What is the very best thing about illustrating children's books? The fact that I'm going to be part of their growing up years as an illustrator. What motivates me is that I'm participating in lending them a dream and further molding their imagination. I say this because I myself, growing up on children's books (both local and foreign titles), said that one day I'll be illustrating myself. The best thing about illustrating children's books is hearing stories that these kids look at my work over and ...