36th National Children’s Book Day at the CCP

THE Philippine Board of Books for Young People ( PBBY) will officially recognize the best work by children’s book authors, illustrators and publishers at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on July 16 in celebration of the 36th National Children’s Book Day, which has“Mun dong Pay a pa par as a

KabataangMalaya” (A Peaceful World for Free Children) as its theme.

The celebration will begin at the CCP Little Theater( LT) Lobby at 9 a.m. with the awarding of the 2019 PBBY- Salanga Prize to Gabriela Lee for her creative nonfiction piece A Delicate Strength: The

Story and Art of Araceli Lim ca co Dans, which focuses on the young Dans’ first encounter with art and how it eventually helped her family and country in a time of war; the 2019 PBBY- Alcala Prize to graphic designer Adrian C. Panadero for his illustrations of Lee’s work; and the 2019 PBBY Wordless Book Prize to graphic artist and illustrator Nina Patricia C. Martinez for An gM ga Si kr et ongLangi ta t Dag at( The Secrets of the Sky and Sea).

The first prize is named after the late poet, fictionist and PBBY co-founder Alfrredo Navarro Salanga; and the second, after the late cartoonist and National Artist for Visual Arts Larry Alcala.

In addition to holding the awarding ceremony, the PBBY will formally open its brand new exhibit, also at the LT Lobby.

In the afternoon, the Mulat Sulat 2018 Group will unveil at the lobby five children’s books about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights — an event that features storytelling and reading of excerpts. Afterward, Pinoy Kids Read Pinoy Books will host its Pinoy Kids Celebration, which includes both storytelling and a musical performance, as well as various talks.

To cap the celebration, the CCP’s Audience Development Division will lead 20 children in a tour of the Cultural Center. It will have arts activities and talks, as well as show off the most important parts of the building and the various exhibits it hosts.

The PBBY celebrates National Children’s Book Day every third Tuesday of July to commemorate the publication of Dr. JoséRizal’ s The Monkey and the Turtle by Trubner’s Oriental Record in London. The board will celebrate that day this year in cooperation with the CCP, the National Library of the Philippines and the Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum).