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Sari-Sari Storybooks

Travel the Philippines through children’s books

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Filipino tales of kindness, courage, and magic

About Sari-Sari Storybooks

Sari-Sari Storybooks publishes bilingual Filipino children’s books in Philippine mother tongues. These stories of kindness, courage, and magic celebrate the rich diversity of the Philippines with young readers in the motherland and diaspora.

The press was founded by Christina Newhard in 2012, with the first three titles published in 2017: Melo the Umang-Boy, Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik, and Amina and the City of Flowers. Sandangaw followed in 2018, and most recently, Jalal and the Lake in 2023. These books are bilingual in Ivatan, Cebuano, Chavacano, Waray, and Meranaw, with a board book now in production.

Since its founding, Sari-Sari Storybooks has reached thousands of readers with their quirky, beautiful, uniquely Filipino storytelling. We ❤️ Filipino stories.

Amina and the City of Flowers
A Chavacano Tale

Amina, a young Yakan weaver, is homesick for Basilan, but she finds inspiration for her loom in the diversity and color of her new home, Zamboanga City. “Amina” explores themes of creativity, diversity, bakwit/internally displaced peoples, and the matriarchal traditions of Philippine weaving.

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Jalal and the Lake
A Meranaw Tale

In Jalal’s small village, everyone celebrates the bounty and beauty of their vast lake. Everyone, that is, except Jalal. Jalal doesn’t notice the lake, its bounty, or his people’s wishes. His only desire is to own the magical, puffy clouds in the sky. When strange men come to the village and offer to grant his wish, Jalal finally learns what the lake means to his people.

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Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik
A Cebuano Tale

Daydreaming comes easily to Kalipay, but she doesn’t know how to make bullies leave her alone. One day, she makes an unusual new friend in Gamay, who tells the school bully, Juan, to stop teasing Kalipay. Other children are afraid of Gamay—her strange tongue, split body, and bat wings—but Kalipay is fascinated by the things that make her new friend different. Together they learn how friendship can overcome differences and create happiness for everyone.

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Sandangaw
A Waray Tale

Little Sandangaw might just be a handspan tall, but he wants to do all the things that bigger children do. If only his family weren’t so afraid he’d be blown away, dragged, or stepped on! When the village magic woman tells him to visit the Eagle of Mt. Danglay for help, Sandangaw learns what it takes to grow.

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Melo the Umang-Boy
An Ivatan Tale

Melo is a painfully shy little boy living with his grandmother and uncle. One day he visits a magical, busy city on the bottom of the ocean, filled with talking sea creatures. Disaster strikes the city, and he must overcome his shyness to help the sea creatures rebuild.

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Adapting Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik into a Musical

This collaboration with the Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston created something special. After four years of development, this story of friendship, bullying, and a tofu-loving aswang burst into song on stage this June in Boston.

Photo by Charlie Castro

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“Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik is an imaginative tale of friendship, with a delightful twist on fearsome Filipino mythical creatures. Readers will pick this one up again and again.”

Tracy Badua

Author of Freddie vs. the Family Curse

“Jalal and the Lake leaps from the page in the rich, royal colours of Meranaw culture. Hanna Usman has put a clever, modern sting to the magical tale of a boy who yearns for the clouds.”

Candy Gourlay

Author of Bone Talk and Wild Song

Kirkus Reviews Jalal and the Lake

“In Usman’s picture book debut, a boy trades the sanctity of the local lake for a chance to own the clouds … A short, sweet cautionary tale, brimming with character.” Kirkus’ verdict? Get it!

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Book a School Visit

Teach your students Filipino stories through reading and crafts

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Donate Books to Libraries!

Did you know you can donate our stories to libraries and schools in the U.S. + the Philippines? Contribute to the GoFundMe and we’ll give away more books.

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Leave us a Review!

As a tiny press, reviews go a loooong way in helping people find our stories. We are not on Amazon, but you can find us on Goodreads.

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