Encouraging young readers

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

READING is supposedly a physical affair. People are meant to touch, feel, smell, and highlight a book or a magazine. But thanks to smartphones and social media, humans, according to a Microsoft study, now have an attention span of eight seconds, which is one second shorter than that of a goldfish. Reading, whether online or in print, seemingly becomes very taxing.

“This is why every page should be a cliffhanger,” renowned children’s book author and Don Carlos Palanca awardee Augie Rivera, Jr. said at the launch of Children First Storybooks on Feb. 19.

With the aim of promoting reading, the importance of physical books, and encouraging imagination among kids, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched Children First Storybooks, a collection of six books written in English and Filipino which deal with children’s rights and dreams. Each book has colorful illustrations to go with it.

Mr. Rivera is the author of the bestseller classic Ang Alamat ng Ampalaya (The Legend of Bitter Gourd), which was adapted into a play last year. For the Children First Storybooks, UNICEF republished his 1997 book Ang Bata sa Basket, which tells the story of three frogs that find a baby in a basket along a river. Determined to find the child a parent, the frogs learn that good parenting requires more than just good intentions.

Reading a physical book promotes comprehension and empathy among bookworms, said experts. Among children, reading encourages them to be creative in language and expression by putting themselves in a character’s shoe.

“The first five to six years of children are important because these will shape the rest of their lives. Kids learn language quickly through hearing and singing songs and having stories told or read to them. Having a supportive environment in the formative years will help them get ready for school and toward life-long learning,” said UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander.

Besides Mr. Rivera’s classic tale, UNICEF republished four other children’s books: Ang Sabi ni Nanay, Ang Sabi ni Tatay (by Sacha Calagopi, with new illustrations by Jaime Bauza); Ang Dalawang Haring Siga (by Rene Villanueva, with new illustrations by Iori Espiritu); and Yaya Niya, Nanay Ko (by Ma. Corazon Remigio, with new illustrations by Nicole Lim).

Anchoring the collection is the new book, Anita, The Duckling Diva, which actress and UNICEF Celebrity Advocate for Children Anne Curtis wrote. UNICEF said they didn’t have to think twice when Ms. Curtis expressed her interest in writing a children’s book as her social media influence, according to Ms. Sylwander, can encourage young readers. Ms. Curtis has 4.5 million followers on Instagram and 8.31 million on Twitter.

“It’s a lot of me inside the book,” said Ms. Curtis, who made five drafts and five revisions before finishing her first book. Her writing mentor was Mr. Rivera.

Anita, the Duckling Diva highlights the struggles of a young duckling whose introversion conceals her hidden singing talent, and how she tries to gain confidence on stage and in life.

“I’m very happy to write my first every children’s book, which I hope can help children particularly with their self-confidence and self-esteem,” said the actress, who said she grew up insecure about her lips. But she eventually learned to accept, love, and highlight them. She hopes her readers learn to love themselves.

The entire collection of Children First Storybooks is available for a minimum donation of P500 at the locations listed below. Proceeds go to UNICEF kids.

Feb. 22-27
South Supermarket
– Filinvest

Feb. 22-28
Centrio Mall
Marquee Mall
Fairview Terraces
SM Bicutan
SM Marikina
Solenad 2
Shell — SLEx
Northbound Binan

Save the Date:
Bridal and Debut Fair,
SM Aura

Feb. 26-28
SM Jazz Mall