Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

Here are the Philippines' best children's and young adult reads from 2010 and 2011. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2nd National Children's Book Awards! Ang Sampung Bukitkit By Eugene Y. Evasco and Ibarra C. Crisostomo LG&M Ay, Naku! By Reni Roxas and Serj Bumatay III Tahanan Books Doll Eyes By Eline Santos and Joy Mallari CANVAS The Great Duck and Crocodile Race By Robert Magnuson Hiyas/OMF Lit The Secret is in the Soil By Flor Gozon Tarriela, Gidget Roceles Jimenez , and Liza Flores Conquest for Christ Foundation I predicted this would win a National Children's Book Award when I attended its launch . =D Tall Story By Candy Gourlay (with illustrations by Yasmin S. Ong) Cacho Publishing House Also predicted this would win a National Children's Book Award. =D Click here to read the judges' citations for the books. And wow, you can see the entry number of each book in the pictures above!

Jeremy Lin: From the End of the Bench to Stardom by Bill Davis (Right Fit Reading, 2012) My thoughts: It would be interesting if there would be a book on Jeremy Lin written by an Asian American. . .

Been following him since his Harvard days! Jeremy Lin: Rising Star by James Buckley, Jr. (Scholastic Paperbacks, 1 April 2012)

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Awards! The Sydney Taylor Book Awards honor new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Pasadena, California in June. The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers: Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen with artwork by Robert Sabuda (Candlewick Press) The Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers: Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti with illustrations by Holly Meade (Candlewick Press) Around the World in One Shabbat: Jewish People Celebrate the Sabbath Together written and illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard (Jewish Lights Publishing) The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers: Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin (Charlesbridge Publishing) The Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Olde...

Congratulations for being named some of the Best Children's Books of 2011 ! Coral Reefs by Jason Chin (Flash Point) Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (HarperCollins) Drawing From Memory by Allen Say (Scholastic Press)

Want an example of "the book beautiful"? Check out The Secret is in the Soil: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Gardening (Conquest for Christ Foundation, 2010), written by Flor Gozon Tarriela and Gidget Roceles Jimenez . This book for ages 9 and up is unique and its subject matter much welcome. Plus, Liza Flores has really outdone herself in illustrating and designing the book! I was fortunate to attend the book's launch last Saturday night at the Manila Polo Club. There was a good turnout, and aside from the crowd, there were plenty of plants around of course. Below is a picture of Flor Gozon Tarriela signing books for the kids at the launch. And here are Gidget Roceles Jimenez and Liza Flores! Congratulations, Flor, Gidget, and Liza! Best wishes for The Secret is in the Soil ! [ The Secret is in the Soil is available at branches of ECHOstore .]

Let's continue getting to know the winners of the first Philippine National Children's Book Awards ! =D In my last post , I interviewed Gidget Roceles-Jimenez, the author of the excellent Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space ( Adarna House , 2009). Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Bru, the book's illustrator. Bru has brought along some illustrations from the book to share with us. Hi, Bru! And welcome! It's great to host you on my blog. What did you like most or find the most interesting about Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space ? The whole thing was fun. There was no one thing that stood out. It was a challenge actually, but I really enjoyed illustrating this book (except for the mechanical drawings of spaceships. It's like drawing cars. I am so not a gearhead). [Click on the image above to see a spread from the book. This image is courtesy of Adarna House. All rights reserved.] How would you describe your illustration style for Can We Live on...

Gidget Roceles-Jimenez is the author of the excellent Can We? science book series from Adarna House . The series includes Can We Live on Mars?: A Book about Space , which won a Philippine National Children's Book Award this year. Can We Live on Mars? makes astronomy interesting, accessible, and relevant to Filipino children. Today, I have the great pleasure of sharing an interview with the book's author! Gidget, welcome to Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind! Why do you write nonfiction for young readers? What is it about nonfiction that you find so appealing? In the 10 years I have been writing, I have been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to write poetry, creative non-fiction and non-fiction for young readers. I started off writing poetry because I used to love reading funny poems to my children at night. Our favorite poet was Shel Silverstein. Other times my kids would prefer we make up stories instead of read them. Since my husband loved adopting all sorts...