Started as an online community group in 2017, Pinoy Kids Read Pinoy Books (PKRPB) aims to increase the number of Filipino kids who read Filipino books.
In the beginning, parents were the main target of the group to encourage kids to read children's stories written by Filipino writers.
PKRPB spearheaded various activities on social media, such as the #BuwanNgPanitikanChallenge, to encourage parents to post the books that their children read.
"Nagiging daan ang mga online activity na ito para maitampok ang mga kwentong pambata at magagandang karanasan ng mga pamilya sa pagbabasa ng mga kwentong Pinoy (These online activities make it easier to feature children's stories and showcase good experiences of families reading Filipino stories)," PKRPB founder Nadia de Leon told the Manila Bulletin.
In 2019, with the help of Philippine children's literature advocates and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Intertextual Division led by renowned author Beverly Siy, PKRPB launched a series of storytelling sessions at the CCP.
"Ngayong pandemya, nagpapatuloy ang mga storytelling sessions sa PKRPB sa programang Storytelling Sundays na mapapanood sa Facebook page . Tampok ang mga Pinoy Kid Storyteller, nagsasalaysay sila ng mga kwentong pambata para sa mga manonood (This pandemic, PKRPB's storytelling sessions continue with the Storytelling Sundays program that can be watched on our Facebook page. Featured are Pinoy Kid Storytellers that read stories to our viewers)," de Leon said.
Online storytelling sessions are followed by discussions with children story writers, parents, or reading advocates.
How PKRPB encourages kids to read
According to de Leon, simple, yet fun and creative activities keep kids interested and help them remember the stories they read.
"Halimbawa, pagkatapos ng aming storytelling session ng kwentong "Salamat po" ni Russell Molina, sama-sama kaming gumawa ng mga "Salamat po!" jars kung saan dito maaaring ilagay ng mga bata ang iba't ibang bagay, tao o pangyayaring kanilang ipinagpapasalamat (For example, after out storytelling session of Russell Molina's Thank You, we made Thank You! jars where children could place different objects, people, or events they are grateful for)," she shared.
One of their methods, de Leon added, is discussions with authors so children would have the opportunity to learn the story behind the story they read.
"Nagbibigay din ang mga manunulat ng mga tip sa pagsusulat para sa mga bata o kahit mga matatandang nais magsulat ng kanilang sariling mga kwentong pambata (The writers also give writing tips to kids or even adults who want to write their own children's stories)," de Leon said.
"Sinisikap din naming mismong mga bata o Pinoy Kid Storyteller ang magsalaysay ng kwento. Buo ang aming tiwala sa kakayahan ng batang Pinoy at naniniwala rin kaming mas mahihikayat ang mga batang magbasa kung katulad din nilang mga bata ang nagsasagawa ng storytelling (We are are trying to encourage kids or Pinoy Kid Storyteller to be the one who will read stories. We have full confidence in their ability and we believe that children will be more encouraged to read if the ones who are reading them stories are also kids)."
How reading helps kids during the pandemic
At a time when children have to stay at home because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, reading stories takes children to different places.
"Nang binasa namin ang kwentong Papa Teyo na isinulat ni Mia Baquiran, parang nakapunta na rin ang mga bata sa Cagayan. Gayundin nang binasa namin ang kwentong Si Laleng at ang Lakbay-Paaralan ni Jose Monfred Sy, nakapunta naman ang mga bata sa mga paaralan ng mga batang Lumad sa Mindanao (When we read the story Papa Teyo of Mia Baquira, it seemed like the children traveled to Cagayan. Also when we read the story Si Laleng and the Lakbay-Paaralan of Jose Monfred Sy, it was as if like the children were able to visit Lumad schools in Mindanao)," de Leon said.
"Malaki ang naitutulong ng pagbabasa lalo na ang sama-samang pagbabasa ng mga pamilya para mapagaan ang mga dinadala ng bawat isa dulot ng pandemya. Nagkakaroon ng panahon ang mga pamilyang magsama-sama kahit saglit, magkwentuhan at magsagawa ng iba't ibang mga aktibidad (Reading, especially family reading, helps a lot to alleviate the burden of pandemic. It brings family together to talk and to bond)," she added.
To commemorate the National Literature Month, PKRPB is planning to join Book Reading for Cordillera Day.
National Literature Month is observed every April by virtue of Proclamation No. 968 signed on Feb 10, 2015 by then President Benigno Aquino III.
The proclamation also commemorates Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar Day and the birth and death anniversaries of literary pillars like Emilio Jacinto, Paciano Rizal, Nick Joaquin, Edith Tiempo, and Bienvenido Lumbera.