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Filipino Children Books
43
items There are thousands of Filipino children’s titles, so here is a curated list of titles and collections I would actually consider worthwhile.
Sections
12
Filipino classics
Filipino folklore and mythology
Filipino animals and nature
Family, grandparents, and childhood
Books about school, learning, and growing up
Filipino history through children's stories
Filipino classics
Filipino Classics every child should encounter
It introduces children to Filipino literary heritage without immediately throwing them into the full complexity of the original text. The magical bird, three princes, journeys, betrayal, healing, and adventure make it genuinely entertaining.
It is pa...
Ibong Adarna by Virgilio S. Almario
Rice is so deeply embedded in Filipino life that children should know stories surrounding it. It also gives you an opportunity to talk about agriculture, food, community, gratitude, and Filipino mythology.
Ang Alamat ng Palay
Children immediately understand the conflict, but adults can use it to discuss greed, fairness, cleverness, consequences, and why “being smart” is not the same thing as being wise.
Si Pagong at Si Matsing
This is exactly the sort of historical concept that can be difficult to teach through a textbook but much easier to introduce through a story.
It gives children a more concrete picture of Filipino communities before colonial history becomes the focus...
Ang Unang Barangay
These stories give children Filipino fantasy before they become completely accustomed to dragons, princesses, and magical worlds imported from somewhere else. You get enchanted kingdoms, talking creatures, curses, strange creatures, morality, humor, ...
Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang ni Severino Reyes Series
Filipino folklore and mythology
This is probably my favorite section for building a child's imagination.
Children deserve monsters that actually belong to their cultural environment. Instead of only knowing vampires, werewolves and Western fairies, they can encounter creatures from Philippine folklore.
And yes, you can absolutely make a bedtime reading ...
Ang Tikbalang Kung Kabilugan ng Buwan
Based on Filipino mythology and the legendary figure Sinukuan. Why I recommend it: it introduces children to indigenous Philippine mythological traditions while giving them a story rather than a dry list of “Philippine gods and goddesses.”
Ang Hukuman Ni Mariang Sinukuan | PDF
A Filipino folk story adapted for children. Why I recommend it: it exposes children to stories outside the Manila-centric Filipino cultural experience. That's important. Philippine children's literature should not make “Filipino” synonymous with one ...
Manik Buangsi | PDF
A children's adaptation connected to the Ilocano epic tradition. Why I recommend it: Lam-ang gives children access to an indigenous Philippine epic tradition. It is also a good way to explain that the Philippines has multiple literary and cultural tr...
The Love of Lam-Ang
Filipino animals and nature
Filipino books about animals and nature
Why I recommend it: Filipino children should be able to recognize Philippine animals and understand that biodiversity exists right outside their communities. A child who knows about pandas but cannot identify a Philippine eagle is missing something. ...
Mga Hayop sa Filipinas
Why I recommend it: the carabao is one of the most recognizable symbols of rural Philippine life, yet modern urban children can grow up knowing it primarily as a picture in textbooks. Stories make cultural symbols tangible.
Ang Mabait Na Kalabaw Ni Mang Kardo | PDF
Why I recommend it: this is a wonderfully ordinary Filipino-world story compared with mythology and epics. Children benefit from seeing familiar food, environments, personalities, and everyday experiences reflected in literature.
Ang Kamatis Ni Peles | PDF
Why I recommend it: animal stories are excellent for younger children because they provide emotional distance. A child can talk about a “shy chicken” without feeling like you're directly analyzing their own shyness.
Ang Mahiyaing Manok | PDF
Why I recommend it: good for introducing children to animals, environmental thinking, imagination, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Paradise of the Animals:
Family, grandparents, and childhood
Filipino Stories about family, grandparents, and childhood
One of the standout Filipino children's books. It won the National Book Awards' Best Children's Book recognition, and Adarna identifies it among its award-winning classics. Why I recommend it: grandparents are an enormous part of Filipino family cult...
ANG PAMBIHIRANG BUHOK NI LOLA (Lola's Extraordinary Hair ...
Why I recommend it: it provides another opportunity to discuss identity, individuality, appearance, and self-acceptance without turning the book into a lecture.
FILIPINO BOOK: ANG PAMBIHIRANG BUHOK NI RAQUEL ni Dr. Luis ...
Why I recommend it: affectionate relationships between children and grandparents deserve representation in children's books. It is particularly useful for conversations about family bonds and intergenerational relationships.
Ang mga Lambing ni Lolo Ding by Michael Coroza: A Book Review
An award-winning title from Adarna's early catalogue.
Why I recommend it: children experience complicated family structures too. Children's literature becomes much more valuable when it acknowledges that families do not all look the same.
Papa's House, Mama's House
Books about school, learning, and growing up
Why I recommend it: education becomes much more meaningful when children encounter characters who actually want to learn despite obstacles.
It also gives you an opportunity to talk about why education matters rather than simply telling children, “St...
Gustong Mag-aral ni Sula - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: school stories allow children to process their own experiences through fictional characters. Teachers, classmates, rules, friendships and fears suddenly become things they can discuss.
Ang Paaralan ni Fuwan Picture Book
Why I recommend it: introducing children to professions through imaginative stories is considerably more memorable than simply giving them a list of occupations.
And yes, a children's book about an ambitious stethoscope is exactly the kind of weird ...
Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop - Picture Book
Filipino history through children's stories
This is an area I think parents should deliberately build into a Filipino child's bookshelf.
Why I recommend it: World War II can be extremely abstract to a child. A story centered around a child makes history emotionally comprehensible.
Adarna currently includes it among its award-winning titles.
Si Pitong, Noong Panahon ng mga Hapon Picture Book
Why I recommend it: this is particularly valuable because Philippine history should not begin with Spanish arrival.
Children should first encounter the idea that Filipino communities already existed, with their own systems, cultures, beliefs and way...
Si Diwayen, Noong Bago Dumating ang mga Espanyol Picture Book
Why I recommend it: historical figures become much more accessible when children encounter them as people rather than portraits accompanied by dates.
It can also lead into conversations about Apolinario Mabini's ideas and role in Philippine history.
Ang Kaibigan Kong Si Mabini Picture Book
Why I recommend it: Emilio Aguinaldo and the revolutionary period can be introduced through a narrative framework rather than memorization.
The title is currently part of Adarna's children's catalogue.
Ang Maraming Ngalan ni Emilio Picture Book
Why I recommend it: this is another way to make Philippine historical personalities approachable to younger readers.
Ang Lakambini at Ako - Picture Book
Science and curiosity
Filipino children's books do not have to be exclusively about “values.” Children also need books that make them ask, “Why?” Adarna's current catalogue has dedicated categories for science, mathematics, the human body, plants and health.
Why I recommend it: animals are a natural gateway into scientific curiosity. A child doesn't need a textbook first. They need something that makes them wonder what an owl can see, hear, eat and do.
Ang Sekreto Ng Kuwago - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: plants are an excellent entry point for younger children's science education because they can immediately connect the story with the plants around them.
May Mga Bulaklak (Ikalawang Edisyon) - Picture Book
This is an especially interesting one because it won the Gintong Aklat Award for Children's Literature.
Why I recommend it: imaginative premises encourage children to ask “what if?” That kind of imaginative reasoning is useful far beyond reading.
Ang Madyik Silya ni Titoy - Picture Book
Books about values
Children's books that are basically disguised lectures, but don't feel like lectures.
An award-winning children's title that received both the Palanca First Prize for Maikling Kuwentong Pambata and the National Book Award for Best Children's Book.
Why I recommend it: greed is an enormously useful concept for children to explore throu...
The Greediest of Rajahs and the Whitest of Clouds
An award-winning title that received the PBBY-Salanga and PBBY-Alcala Grand Prize.
Why I recommend it: financial hardship is part of real Filipino childhood. Children's books that acknowledge scarcity can help children understand empathy, resourcefu...
Tight Times - Picture Book
Another major award-winning Filipino children's book.
Why I recommend it: individuality and seemingly insignificant things can become meaningful themes for children.
The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: anything that makes children think about difference, identity and cooperation is useful. It also received a PBBY-Salanga Honorable Mention.
Ako si Kaliwa, Ako si Kanan - Picture Book
Humor and absurdity
Please do not underestimate funny books. A child who laughs while reading is learning that books are entertainment.
Why I recommend it: the premise itself is playful, and children respond extremely well to anthropomorphized objects.
It also gives you a Filipino setting rather than yet another generic Western town.
Ang Barumbadong Bus - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: whimsical objects and exaggerated situations encourage imagination and make read-aloud sessions more interactive.
Ang Pambihirang Sombrero - Picture Book
Books about diversity and inclusion
Adarna's current catalogue has a dedicated Diversity & Inclusion category.
Why I recommend it: children benefit from encountering people whose backgrounds differ from their own. Representation shouldn't only appear when a child personally belongs to that group.
A Boy Named Ibrahim - Picture Book
This is particularly notable because it was included in the IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities list.
Why I recommend it: children need stories about disability that don't reduce disabled characters to “inspirational lessons.” ...
Xilef - Picture Book
Philippine Culture and Identity
Why I recommend it: Filipino identity is heavily connected to community and collective family life. A book that explores the idea of a home filled with different voices can create excellent conversations about what “home” actually means.
Bahay ng Marami't Masasayang Tinig - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: ordinary Filipino life deserves to be documented in children's literature. Sundays, family routines, food, church, errands, relatives and neighborhood life are cultural artifacts too.
Kung Linggo - Picture Book
Why I recommend it: this is particularly useful for younger children learning Filipino vocabulary while simultaneously seeing Filipino cultural references.
It is currently part of the Rio Alma children's collection.
Alpabetong Filipino - Picture Book
Filipino Childhood
An old Adarna classic.
Why I recommend it: dogs, friendship and adventure are universally accessible, but the Filipino literary context makes it feel different from the endless stream of imported children's books.
Adarna identifies it as one of its...
Tiktaktok at Pikpakbum - Picture Book
An award-winning classic that received the PBBY-Salanga Grand Prize and was included on the IBBY Honour List.
Why I recommend it: sibling relationships are one of the richest sources of humor, conflict and affection in children's lives. Kids don't n...
Sandosenang Kuya - Picture Book
Another award-winning title, including a Palanca First Prize and National Book Award recognition.
Why I recommend it: imaginative stories are important because children need permission to invent ridiculous possibilities.
The Cat Painter - Picture Book