Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

Watch Tanghalang Pilipino's musical adaptation of the children's book Sandosenang Sapatos by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan! Sandosenang Sapatos, the Musical runs from July 13 to 21 at Tanghalang Huseng Batute in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Regular tickets are Php600 and student tickets are Php300. There is a 20% discount on the regular ticket price for senior citizens, government employees, military employees, and PWDs. Tickets are available at all TicketWorld outlets. For inquiries, you may contact Enzo of Tanghalang Pilipino: 0999-8843821.

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...

The Children's Literature Association of the Philippines, Inc. (CLAPI) invites you to "Reading Beyond Borders," a forum on: * building proficiency in language through reading, * creating awarenss of the K to 12 reading program, and * adopting and applying appropriate reading strategies to instill the love for books and reading. "Reading Beyond Borders" will be on Tuesday July 16, in the P. Gomez Elementary School auditorium, Sta. Cruz Manila, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The registration fee is only PhP300.

Click on the picture below to read an invitation! On July 20, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) will be in Cebu City to give a FREE seminar. PBBY Chair and representative for librarians Zarah Gagatiga will be speaking about library activities, and as the PBBY representative for book reviewers I will be speaking about book reviewing. I really hope to meet many of the children's books supporters in Cebu City! Again, please click on the picture above for more details. :o)

On July 6, join Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING) , the organization for children's book writers in the Philippines!

Visit "A Curious Buffet"! Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang I.N.K.) , the organization for children's book illustrators in the Philippines, presents art inspired by the kitchen at Post (formerly Pablo), Cubao X. This group exhibit runs until July 13. Update: "A Curious Buffet" has been extended to July 20. And here is a video from the exhibit's opening! A CURIOUS BUFFET: Ang I.N.K. Group Exhibit from Teters Enrique on Vimeo .

In the video below, Candy Gourlay shares pictures and books from the recent Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) in Singapore and the National Book Development Board Little Lit Fest in Manila! And in this blog post "Meems" reflects on attending the AFCC as a Malaysian writer. YES, I AM TRYING TO MAKE YOU JEALOUS. But only because I want to hang out with you at next year's AFCC and Little Lit Fest. ~^o^~