Three Filipino children’s books were recognized at the 39th International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) International Congress, held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 in Trieste, Italy.
The event saw representatives from IBBY sections worldwide gather to celebrate the recipients of the 2024 IBBY Honour List Awards. Among the honorees were Filipino works: Si Cielo at Ang Asong Si Stella by Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo and Eugene Evasco (for writing), Agawan Base by Jericho Moral (for illustration), and Bum Tiyaya Bum by Rene O. Villanueva, translated by Angela Narciso Torres.
Si Cielo at Ang Asong Si Stella, a reimagined short story about a young girl’s journey with her pet, was among 68 titles recognized in the writing category. The book, published by Chikiting Books, was illustrated by Tokwa Peñaflorida.
Jericho Moral’s Agawan Base, honored for illustration, is a whimsical tale about birds and insects written by Jez Martin de Veyra and published by the Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development (CANVAS). It was one of 55 titles awarded in the illustration category.
For translation, Angela Narciso Torres was honored for her work on Bum Tiyaya Bum, a collection of Filipino nursery rhymes, published by Tahanan Books for Young Readers. The translator’s category included 61 honorees.
The IBBY Honour List is a biennial selection of outstanding recently published books, recognizing writers, illustrators, and translators from IBBY member countries. This year, the Honour List catalog included 184 books in 52 languages from 59 countries.
IBBY Philippines president Kristine Mandigma expressed pride in the Filipino awardees. “We are incredibly proud of our talented authors, illustrators, and translators. It is time for the world to discover the stories and books produced by Filipinos,” she said in a statement.
IBBY Philippines supports literacy initiatives and promotes children’s books in schools and communities across the country.
