10 Filipino Folk Tales

It’s interesting how few Filipino children’s books are available in the United States, despite being 1.1% of the population, numbering 4 million. Filipinos are the second largest self-reported Asian ancestry group after Chinese Americans according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

I have a list of Filipino picture books created by illustrator Mika Song to complement this list of Filipino Folk Tales. Am I missing any? Thanks for your help!

Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for their generous giveaway of these six Filipino books! We are giving away two packages of wonderful Filipino books for kids! Please use the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

p.s. More folk tales:

24 Wonderful Chinese Folk Tales for Kids

15 Great Korean Folk Tales for Kids

Native American Folklore and Creation Stories by Native Americans

21 Wonderful Japanese Folk Tales for Kids

Hawaiian Folk Tales and Children’s Books

Filipino Folk Tales

Rockabye Crocodile: A Folktale from the Philippines by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey

This is a very sweet story of the importance of kindness and the rewards that it brings. Two boars are neighbors. Anabel is kind and cheerful. Nettie is mean and selfish. When Anabel encounters a crocodile, her kindness is rewarded by an abundance of fish that the crocodile supplies in return for taking care of its crying baby. Nettie wants the same reward, but because she goes about it in a selfish way, her payment is quite different. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Tuko and the Birds: A Tale from the Philippines by Shirley Climo, illustrated by Francisco X. Mora

According to Filipino legend, a giant once hurled a huge rock into the sky. It fell like a space boulder into the Pacific Ocean and broke into bits. Some pieces sank beneath the waves, but 7,083 of them floated and became the Philippine Islands.

Notes to the story:

• The tokay gecko is called a tuko in the Philippines.
• The Philippine eagle is the largest bird found there today.
• Bahala na means “whatever happens, happens.”

A tokay gecko comes to a village where its song is not welcomed by the birds in the area. Though they try to discourage it from staying, the tuko feels happy here. It’s up to the eagle to come up with an idea to get the gecko to move to swamps. He uses the sap of a gum tree to trick the tuko. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella adapted by Myrna J. de la Paz, illustrated by Youshang Tang

This is a different take on other Asian Cinderella stories about a fish and its bones that have magical powers. In this story, it’s a chicken, and the feet, when planted, grow an enchanted tree with treasures including gowns and jewelry. When a prince sees the tree, he makes an offering and takes a ring from the tree. The ring squeezes his finger painfully and can not be removed. The prince dreams of a girl who is able to remove the ring. His father immediately announces that any girl who can remove the ring will become his son’s bride. Even in her ragged clothes, Abadeha is able to remove the ring and they have their fairy tale ending. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Filipino Children’s Favorite Stories retold by Liana Romulo, illustrated by Joanne de Leon

For a comprehensive book about Filipino myths, folktales, and stories, this is the book to read! It includes thirteen stories accompanied by whimsical watercolor illustrations. [short story compendium, ages 8 and up]

Filipino Folk Tale Publisher

These Filipino Folk Tales were not available through my library system, so I wasn’t able to review them. I include them for anyone who wants to purchase them through Amazon.

Tala, child of Mutya: Adapted from a Philippine Folktale by Bernadette Solina-Wolf 

Tala would have dreams of her long-lost mother, Mutya. This makes Isko, her father, worry about how to cope with Tala’s impending knowledge of her own special beginnings. Somehow, he had to find and talk to Mutya about his predicament. He finds Mutya, who appears to him as a
butterfly, and their story unfolds. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filippino Folk Stories by Dianne de Las Casas  and  Zarah C. Gagatiga 

This book includes stories, traditions, songs, crafts, and recipes from the many different regions of the country. [folk story anthology, ages 6 and up]

Why The Piña Has A Hundred Eyes and Other Classic Philippine Folk Tales About Fruits by  Neni Sta. Romana- Cruz

The Carabao-Turtle Race and Other Classic Philippine Animal Folk Tales by Sylvia Mendez Ventura

The Girl Who Turned Into A Fish and Other Classic Philippine Water Tales by Maria Elena Paterno

The Termite Queen and Other Classic Philippine Earth Tales by Sylvia Mendez Ventura

6 Book Filipino GIVEAWAY!

Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for their generous giveaway of these six Filipino books! We are giving away two packages! We can only mail to U.S. addresses due to the high cost of mailing. Please indicate which is your first and second choice in the comments below.

Book Giveaway One:

Let’s Learn Tagalog: 64 Basic Tagalog Words and Their Uses by Imelda Fines Gasmen

Let’s Learn Tagalog Kit is a complete language learning tool specially designed to introduce young children to the basic Tagalog sounds, words, and phrases in a fun and interactive way.

All About the Philippines: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids by Gidget Roceles Jimenez, illustrated by Corazon Dandan-Albano

**Winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Gold Medal for Activity Book — Education, Science, History**

This family-friendly Philippines children’s book is packed with fun facts about Filipino culture, history, and daily life!

Filipino Friends by Liana Romulo

 Filipino Friends, perfect for Filipino-Americans or those just interested in the culture, is indispensable in bridging the gap between the two cultures.

Book Giveaway Two:

My First Book of Tagalog Words: Filipino Rhymes and Verses by Liana Romulo

My First Book of Tagalog Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young children to Filipino language and culture through everyday words.

Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals by Liana Romulo

This multicultural children’s book is full of Filipino holidays, culture, language and stories!

Pan de Sal Saves the Day by Norma Olizon-Chikiamco

**Winner of the Carlos Palance Memorial Award for Literature**

This colorfully illustrated multicultural children’s book presents an entertaining story from the Philippines in both English and Tagalog.

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My books:

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• • • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
    • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
    • Starred review from School Library Journal
    • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
    • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
    • Green Earth Book Award longlist
    • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me