July 17 is National Children’s Book Day.
Celebrated every third Tuesday of July, this is in honor of the publication of the Filipino folk tale, “The Monkey and the Turtle” by Dr. Jose Rizal, in the July 1889 edition of the Trubner’s Oriental Record in London. This being the first acknowledged published literary work for children written by a Filipino.
The Philippine Board on Books for Young People will spearhead the National Children’s Book Day opening celebrations this year at the Museo Pambata, with the theme, "Masayang Magbasa sa Sariling Wika." Local publishers will be presenting their latest crop of titles during the event and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People will award the winners of the 2012 PBBY-Salanga and the PBBY-Alcala Prizes.