Exploring Philippine Book Festival's 'Kid Lit', A Zone For Children's Literature

The Philippine Book Festival 2024, an annual event organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), just kicked off at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last April 25.

Attendees can expect fun activities besides shopping for their next great read, as this year's festival features diverse talks, workshops, and more. Similar to the previous year, the Philippine Book Festival 2024 offers four main zones, which include Kid Lit, a section for books aimed at younger audiences; Komiks, a space dedicated to all things Filipino comic books; Booktopia, a section for fiction and non-fiction books, and Aral Aklat, where one can find educational reading materials and textbooks.

In addition to the four main areas, the event has designated spaces for specific activities. These include the Creator Lab, Main Stage, and Kids-at-Play, which hosts workshops and activities tailored to certain readers and genres.

There will also be special exhibits, such as the Rare Book Collection of the National Library of the Philippines, which showcases a new selection of manuscripts and facsimiles. Visitors can also check out the Book Bar, a mini-library stocked with award-winning books, and Guhit Pambata, an exposition featuring some of the best children's book illustrations.

In case you want to buy new books, tag your kid and bookmark our curated list of well-known publishing houses participating in Kid Lit that offer children's books:

Adarna House

The publishing house is offering 20% off on all their titles and giving away free stickers and bookmarks. On Saturday, April 27, there will be a book signing event for the picture book Feeding the Hungry Ghost, authored by Alanna Escudero and illustrated by Bru Sim, from 2:00-4:00 PM. Adarna House also organized a book talk titled Why We Need to Talk About War in Filipino Children's Books with Xi Zuq, happening at 5:30 PM.

Lampara Books

Selected storybooks and textbooks from Lampara are available at a discounted price. The publishing house's bestselling titles include Ako ay May Titi and Ako ay May Kiki by Glen Oris, which aims to educate Filipino children on the proper care of their private body parts. Lampara has also prepared scheduled activities for those who visit their booths, such as storytelling, postcard writing, self-portrait making, and book talks.

Abiva Publishing House

Abiva Publishing House offers textbooks that play a crucial role in every child's learning journey. These textbooks cover various subjects and grade levels. Moreover, if you need new educational materials like dictionaries and review books for children, make sure to drop by their booth.

READ ALSO: Manila International Book Fair 2023: Dates, Exhibitors, Activities

Vibal Group

The Vibal Group also provides an extensive range of textbooks that cover various subjects per grade level. You can check out their booth for your child's textbook needs.

Phoenix Publishing House

Check out Phoenix's booth for their DepEd-approved shortlist of Supplementary Learning Resources (SLRs), the National Reading Program (NRP) priority list of approved titles, and MATATAG-curriculum-compliant textbooks. They are offering big discounts and freebies, so make sure not to miss out!

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