Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

The (Philippine) National Children's Book Day Fair has been postponed due to Typhoon Glenda. I will share the new fair date soon!

July 15, 2014 is the Philippines' 31st National Children's Book Day! The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is celebrating by organizing a children's book fair at Museo Pambata , Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila. The following publishers and organizations are participating in the fair: Adarna House Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK) Anvil Publishing Inc. The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS)  Dream Big Books Hiyas Lampara Books LG&M Chikiting Books Save the Children Philippines Tahanan Books  At a stage area, publishers will present their latest children's books through different kinds of performances, games, and even cooking demonstrations! Booths at the fair will sell children's books, children's magazines, and art for children. There will be discounts, giveaways, face painting, a drawing/coloring corner, storytelling sessions, and book signings and meet & greets with authors a...

The 2014 PBBY-Alcala Prize was won by freelance artist Aaron Paul Asis. Asis based his winning entry on one of the 2014 PBBY-Salanga honorable mention awardees, “Gaano Ba Kalayo Patungong Paaralan?” by Genaro Gojo Cruz. According to this year’s judges, Asis’ illustrations “depict the intimacy between two brothers, but their visual closeness does not prevent the viewer from imagining the expanse of the outside world and feeling the anticipation for tomorrow’s journey to school.” Garnering honorable mention this year are artists Jericho Angelo Moral and Jason Gabriel Sto. Domingo. Click here to see Moral's and Sto. Domingo's illustrations. All three artists are members of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK) , a professional organization for children’s book artists. Asis shall receive twenty-five thousand pesos, a medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded during the National Children’s Book Day ceremonies on July 15, 2014. ...

Don't you know that your country/culture/race isn't the only one with good children's and young adult literature?

Welcome to the Janus Silang blog tour! Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon is a new Filipino young adult novel written by Edgar Calabia Samar and published by Adarna House . We're kicking off the blog tour with a cover reveal and first chapter preview. Check out the cover below! Here is a blurb about the novel: Sa tournament ng TALA Online sa bayan ng Balanga, namatay ang lahat ng manlalaro maliban kay Janus. Sunod-sunod pa ang naging kaso ng pagkamatay ng mga kabataan sa computer shops sai ba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Kinontak si Janus ng nagpakilalang Joey, isa rin umano sa mga nakaligtas sa paglalaro ng TALA na gaya niya. Hindi inasahan ni Janus ang mga matutuklasan niya mula rito na mag-uugnay sa kanya sa misteryo ng kinahuhumalingan niyang RPG—at sa alamat ng Tiyanak mula sa Tábon! And ohohoho you can read the first chapter here or below! Edgar Calabia Samar will be at National Book Store SM North on May 10 at 3 p.m. Please join us for the book...

The Philippine Boardon Books for Young People (PBBY) formally launches the KABANATA Young Adult Writer’s Workshop with a call for fellowship applications. Slated to begin in October 2014 in Quezon City, KABANATA aims to provide a venue and support system to writers who share in PBBY’s commitment to the promotion of a culture of r eading among Filipino youth by providing this growing population with books that recognize their culture, aspirations, and sense of maturity. For a period of at least six months, fellows accepted to KABANATA will meet monthly for learning sessions with industry experts, and progress discussions with their co-fellows. Upon novel completion, PBBY will help fellows with publication by inviting publishers to bid on the finished works. With this, KABANATA hopes to produce chapter books and young adult novels that will set the bar for similar endeavors to aspire to, and be the growth spurt of what will hopefully become a thriving, diverse, and quality Fi...