3rd National Children’s Book Awards
Best Reads of 2012-2013
Adarna House, Publisher
Raissa Rivera Falgui, Writer
Fran Alvarez, Illustrator
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.—Daisy Jane C. Calado, NCBA Judge
Adarna House, Publisher
Xi Zuq, Writer
Dominic Agsaway, Illustrator
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.—Troy Lacsamana, NCBA Judge
Adarna House, Publisher
Felinda Bagas, Writer
Aldy Aguirre, Illustrator
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 sa 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. —Robert Alejandro, NCBA Judge
Adarna House, Publisher
Weng Cahiles, Writer
Isa Natividad, Illustrator
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.—Budjette Tan, NCBA Judge
SAVE THE CHILDREN AWARD
Adarna House, Publisher
Pergy Acuña, Illustrator
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.—Ryce Cortez, NCBA Judge
KID’S CHOICE AWARD
The Bookmark, Publisher
Gutch Gutierrez and Zig Marasigan, Writers
Gutch Gutierrez, Illustrator
