Save the Children holds meet on children’s book publishing

MANILA, Philippines - Do Filipino children read? What books are appropriate for them? Do they have access to reading materials that are recommended for their age?

Tomorrow, Dec. 6 at the UP-Ayala Technohub in Quezon City, in partnership with the National Book Development Board, Save the Children shall gather book publishing experts, early childhood care and development specialists, and educators, for a half-day conference that focuses on the publication of age-appropriate and culturally specific books for Filipino children in their early years.

Save the Children UK’s Education Adviser Joseph O’Reilly shall open the conference with a lecture on Save the Children’s global efforts to promote reading among children across the world. Scholastic Asia’s Director Selina Lee shall talk about publishing and effectively marketing Asian-inspired stories for children.

Department of Education Undersecretary Dina Ocampo-Cristobal will give a talk on the importance of coming up with more stories inspired by the experience of children.  The conference also features National Book Development Board Chairperson Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Summer Institute of Linguistics Philippines Director Jason Griffiths, and Early Childhood Care and Development Council Director Teresita Inciong.

“Based on Save the Children’s review of children’s books published in the local market, most do not qualify to the unique needs of the Filipino children 0 – 4 years old. Most of the books are either too advanced for kids who have not yet entered school or depict concepts that are foreign or Western especially for underprivileged children,” explains Save the Children Philippines Deputy Country Director Ned Olney. “The conference will try to address these by providing our local publishers, authors, and educators, with useful data on what reading materials should be developed for younger Filipino children.”

On the same day after the conference, Save the Children shall also launch their 2013 books for children in their early years: Ang Espesyalna Araw written by Eugene Evasco and illustrated by Jonathan Ranola, Beybisa Banig written by Will Ortiz and illustrated by Ghani Madueno, and three booklets of traditional children’s games from the Tboli, Blaan, and Tagakaulo ethnic groups of Mindanao.

The event is free and open to the public. To reserve a slot, call Digna Tayag at 5706298 local 804.

Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981. In 2012, it directly reached more than 560,000 boys and girls across the country. We provide both humanitarian and long-term support, working closely with partners across the country.

Save the Children addresses key issues of children in the country by implementing programmes in child protection, education, health and nutrition, child rights governance and also supports in times of humanitarian crises.