It’s been a long time since I last wrote the first book in the Mimi Codes series. And what a better way to start the next journey by reviewing other published children’s book here in the Philippines, right? Each author has their own unique writing style and with certainty, I will learn something from them! In this post, I summarized all the seven book reviews. They might be your kid’s cup of tea too!
Ginto't Pilak
A strong woman not only in weightlifting but also in spirit – that’s who Hidilyn Diaz (@hidilyndiaz) is. They say tough life often produces strong individuals, which must be true. Life is not easy for Hidilyn, but she focused and listened more to the people who believed in her. Her cousin is one of the first ones who did. He opened the weightlifting world to her and eventually became her first coach.
Weightlifting did not come easily for Hidilyn as well. Gender roles, stereotyping, and change in coaches came her way. Bullying on how she looks and casting her out became her welcome.
But Hidilyn is simply unshakeable and continued her journey until she became a full-fledged athlete representing our country.
I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! This motto is what I repeat to myself as I go through life. And this is also what our Olympian Hidilyn must have felt. Dreams can get heavy, and one will inevitably feel isolated and lonely. On top of this, she also followed a very strict diet and lifestyle. She pushed through until she finally claimed the golden prize.
With strong faith, hard work, and belief in the ones who believe in you, you can do anything.
This book not only showcased the strength of a woman but also included a woman’s faith in God. As a reader, I feel Hidilyn’s success became a way for her to influence kids. She not only built an open gym for them in her province but also shared her story through this book – A true inspiration.
Si Lin-lin Ang Mahiyaing Balintong
In this book, the author and illustrator are the same. The illustration is one of the most western-looking I’ve seen so far. Also, the writer took the time to illustrate and narrate simple facts about a Pangolin, which I loooved. (The last page also includes bonus fun facts about Pangolin!)
Bowing of head, curling up, and rolling under are some of the abilities of a Pangolin which could translate as being shy. In the story, Lin-lin is the incredibly shy protagonist. When you’re shy, making friends at school and playing can be difficult. But in Lin-lin’s case, her classmates wonderfully observed her abilities, and her coach noticed her great potential in sports.
This story showed that even if shyness consumed Lin-lin, her untapped potential still emerged. She was surrounded by good classmates and a coach who believed and supported her. The story also highlighted Linlin’s responsibility to teach others her valuable talents.
Maya at Laya
Breathing deeply in and out, singing, and dancing together – are great ways to ease tension and subside a looming fight between two people.
This story portrayed how sisters, Laya and Maya, could not be more different even if they grew up in the same environment. It also beautifully showed how these minor differences are nothing compared to their immense love.
I won’t lie; After reading the book, I tried breathing in deeply and then letting it all out with a laugh. Although I feel silly doing it, it really lifts your mood! (Even if you fake laugh!) Personally, I’m a fan of Pangilinan Family. When I first saw Maya at Laya, I felt encouraged to start the children’s book series I’d been delaying.
Knowing @mommymaricel ’s educational background in Family Life and Child Development, the book stayed true to her legacy. The story is not only an excellent example of a sibling hiccup but also a great source of knowledge on ways to get along better with your siblings, friends, and even peers. Basahin ito ay kay sarap sa pakiramdam!
Keyk Paakyat Ng Langit
The unique experience the book brings is the way of reading from the bottom up! A bit similar to when we flip Japanese books from “back” to “front.”
The inspiration behind this heart-moving book is the ( @noricochua_book ) author’s sons. Reading the synopsis, I already remembered all the old people in my hometown who are now in heaven. And instead of eating cake, we ate together some palitaw, pilipit, and buchi as merienda.
The boy in the book sets a goal to bake a cake so high that it reaches his grandmother in heaven. This story captured the reality of a young boy navigating his life with his grandmother still in his essence as guidance. At first, I expected the story to be light and heartwarming, but the meaning and sense of loss and gain was amplified by the way the story was told.
‘Namingaw ako sa iyo.’ – This is my favortire line from the book. It translates to missing someone for a very, very long time. A mix of longing for someone and eagerness to finally be with them. Like the boy in the story, namimingaw pa rin ako sa inyo mga lolo at lola ko. Araw-araw!
Cely's Crocodile
Undaunted – this is one of the most remarkable characteristics Cely possessed. Cely is the girl who appreciated and drew the mighty and majestic crocodile that was once at their pool. Along with being undaunted, Cely is also great at drawing and showed her artistic desires early on. If there’s anything that this book brought me, it’s that there’s an artist behind every art. An artist’s life journey could change the purpose of their craft, but the art style or uniqueness will always stem from their soul. Cely grew up to be a respectable adult whose art became a tool for coping, fighting, and thriving.
Lola Cheloy’s (Cely’s) story undoubtedly inspires the young generation to find a sense of purpose in this sometimes cruel world.
Aside from the story, I appreciated how the illustrations came out. The story stood during the 1940s or WW2. I felt the frightening past that Cely went through, not only in words but also in the drawings.
‘She saw that even the simplest objects could be drawn, that there was value in the everyday things that surround them.’ – is my favorite line from the book. Like Lola Cheloy’s view of life, it’s true there certainly is beauty in things around us and in the things we get to do every moment we’re alive.
Si Tasha, ang Mamag na maikli ang pasensya
The author-illustrator of this book is the same in ‘Lin-lin, the Shy Pangolin.’ The depiction of simple facts about the animal in the story is consistent. ‘Mamag’ or Tarsier’s natural habitat and the type of food they eat are shown. The last page also includes bonus fun facts!
In the story, Tasha is the impatient protagonist. She got used to having what she wanted. I cannot help but be amused and relate to Tasha as I read the story. Being an adult doesn’t mean you don’t get annoyed or impatient anymore.
But in this story, Tasha’s impatience is not tolerated by her parents. She learned simple tips from her beloved mother on how to deal with her bad urges.
Breathe deeply.
Count.
Think of what makes you happy.
The story is light, heartwarming, and a bit similar to Maya at Laya. When Tasha found herself being impatient again, she remembered her mom. Think of what makes you happy = Mom! Like most of us, this indicates that Tasha is glad she has her mom in her life.
The Golden Loom - Chun
The Golden Loom is a story collection of ten Palanca Prize Winners for Children. All stories portray aspects of our rich Filipino Culture. One post wouldn’t be enough to review each and every story thoroughly, so I decided to pick just one.
The story I would like to feature is entitled “Chun.” This story is from the first-person point of view. It tells the story of the narrator’s childhood neighbor Chun. Who they deemed “different,” therefore outcasting him in their clique. Like other kids in the block, the narrator is Filipino, while the outcasted Chun is Chinese. Chun’s physical characteristics didn’t help, as it became obvious that Chun was different from them. They teased his looks and even teased his parents’ lifestyle as well.
What I liked most about this story was the evident character development of the narrator. He felt and recalled his past with Chun without any bias. The message of regret and realizations came across effectively because the narrator is involved. He committed the mistake of taking part in pointless racism, admitted that they were the ones who were a coward instead of Chun, and witnessed how these differences were not important anymore in the current culture in the Philippines.
This story is an excellent reminder to us all that it’s never too late to reflect on our past mistakes and make sure never to pass them on to the next generation.
[THE OTHER NINE STORIES INSIDE]
The Dream Weavers • The Daughter of the Wind • The Man who hated birds • The Blanket • The Gem • Little Bird, Little Fish, and the Two Elephants • What is Serendipity? • Pan de Sal Saves the Day • Pure Magic