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My First Book of Tagalog Words: An ABC Rhyming Book of Filipino Language and Culture
"U is for umaga, the end of the night--when Mama kisses me good morning, and dark becomes light."My First Book of Tagalog introduces preschool children to the Tagalog language--also known as Filipino--the national language of the Philippines, which has been influenced by both Spanish and English. Important everyday words in Filipino culture are presented in a playful and approachable ABC structure that makes learning fun and easy. Studies have shown that kids this age are developing language skills at a rapid rate--learning new words is a snap for them! The catchy rhymes in this book reinforce learning, and children will be delighted by the charming Filipino kids they meet on each and every page. An introduction to the sounds of Tagalog along with notes on the Filipino language and culture provide a positive learning experience for both youngsters and parents.An introduction to the sounds of Tagalog words, along with kid-friendly notes on linguistics and culture throughout, makes learning to speak Tagalog a positive experience.
41 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 7, 2019
One of my best friends in high school was Filipino, and she often spoke Tagalog at home with her family, switching effortlessly back and forth between that and English. I wasn't familiar with Tagalog at all before I met her, never even having heard of it. When I went looking for foreign-language e-picture books at the library, this was the only one that popped up. (I'm kind of appalled that a Canadian public library has zero French e-picture books, but I digress.)
This is a nice little introduction to some Tagalog words, done in the format of a rhyming alphabet book. While it's supposed to be aimed at preschoolers, I question that due to some of the vocabulary in English: approval, miniature, comforts, snugly, overlooking, monument, therefore, timepiece, schedule, grateful, renowned, tenderness. I'm all for teaching kids new words, but some of those are going to be difficult to explain to preschoolers! (I'm not sure if I could even explain in words what "therefore" means.)
The main issue with this book is that it really needs to be read more than once. Because of the limitation of using an alphabet format, some of the words are out of sequence. (For example, the little sister is playing with her toy unicorn a page before she's born and her brother gives it to her as a gift. In another instance, the word yaya is mentioned with no explanation; you don't find out what it means until you get to the Y page.) If you're going to be reading this book to kids multiple times, these things won't be a problem. But if you are reading the book aloud, you're going to run into another issue: the pages for X and Z have words that are pronounced similarly to (or the same as) the English versions but spelled differently... so the child will only see there's a difference if they're actually looking at the words.
Overall, this is a good idea for a children's book. I kind of wish there was a whole series of these featuring different languages.
Quotable moment:
This is a nice little introduction to some Tagalog words, done in the format of a rhyming alphabet book. While it's supposed to be aimed at preschoolers, I question that due to some of the vocabulary in English: approval, miniature, comforts, snugly, overlooking, monument, therefore, timepiece, schedule, grateful, renowned, tenderness. I'm all for teaching kids new words, but some of those are going to be difficult to explain to preschoolers! (I'm not sure if I could even explain in words what "therefore" means.)
The main issue with this book is that it really needs to be read more than once. Because of the limitation of using an alphabet format, some of the words are out of sequence. (For example, the little sister is playing with her toy unicorn a page before she's born and her brother gives it to her as a gift. In another instance, the word yaya is mentioned with no explanation; you don't find out what it means until you get to the Y page.) If you're going to be reading this book to kids multiple times, these things won't be a problem. But if you are reading the book aloud, you're going to run into another issue: the pages for X and Z have words that are pronounced similarly to (or the same as) the English versions but spelled differently... so the child will only see there's a difference if they're actually looking at the words.
Overall, this is a good idea for a children's book. I kind of wish there was a whole series of these featuring different languages.
Quotable moment:
N is for naku!
Just like "oh, no!" you'd exclaim
if you broke something precious
or lost in a game.
November 21, 2017
Fun book! Great rhymes and teaches a little Pinoy culture while at it! I bought this for my 6 month old daughter as her father grew up in the phillipines. She loved it. Wonderful colors and pictures.
August 5, 2024
How clever, using traditional Filipino Rhymes and Verses to teach important words of Tagalog!
Goals of this book are many:
* To introduce children to the sounds of the Tagalog language
* To awaken interest in the structure of the Tagalog language
* To sample core elements of Filipino culture
* To help native speakers of languages that are NOT Tagalog... To open their eyes and ears to differences: Some of the ways in which languages differ in their use of everyday sounds
* And to show how cultural importation can allow some words to be shared between languages.
Doing all this is a tall order for sharing with very small readers, but I think the authors make good on all of these goals.
THESE RHYMES AND VERSES ARE ALSO ORIGINAL
Clever too. For instance:
On Page 14, big brother is standing in a position that shows both annoyance and incredulity.
In front of him sits this clueless little sister sister, who just broke a cute toy shaped like a unicorn.
Which verse was created by author Liana Romulo for this occasion?
N IS FOR NAKU!
Just like "oh no!" you'd exclaim
if you broke something precious
or lost in a game.
Sometimes the authors of books for children pour their hearts and souls into delivering a book of impeccable quality. Such is this FIVE STAR BOOK.
Goals of this book are many:
* To introduce children to the sounds of the Tagalog language
* To awaken interest in the structure of the Tagalog language
* To sample core elements of Filipino culture
* To help native speakers of languages that are NOT Tagalog... To open their eyes and ears to differences: Some of the ways in which languages differ in their use of everyday sounds
* And to show how cultural importation can allow some words to be shared between languages.
Doing all this is a tall order for sharing with very small readers, but I think the authors make good on all of these goals.
THESE RHYMES AND VERSES ARE ALSO ORIGINAL
Clever too. For instance:
On Page 14, big brother is standing in a position that shows both annoyance and incredulity.
In front of him sits this clueless little sister sister, who just broke a cute toy shaped like a unicorn.
Which verse was created by author Liana Romulo for this occasion?
N IS FOR NAKU!
Just like "oh no!" you'd exclaim
if you broke something precious
or lost in a game.
Sometimes the authors of books for children pour their hearts and souls into delivering a book of impeccable quality. Such is this FIVE STAR BOOK.
February 4, 2019
We read this as a bedtime book. My child enjoyed learning how to pronounce new and familiar words, following along with the colorful illustrations. He was excited to see “A is for anak,” my pet name for him. Anak is a term of endearment, meaning my child. Then, we got to L, and he said “oh L is for Lola!” (for grandmother).
For those of us in the States, many of the words may seem more associated with life in the Philippines. For example, B is for butiki, which is a small “house” lizard commonly found around homes in the Philippines. I still remember little butiki scampering about from my visits as a child.
Native speakers may also take note that the author takes some liberty with letters of the alphabet. She includes 26 letters A-Z, as in the Latin alphabet. The modern Filipino alphabet has 28 letters, to include Ng and N, w/tilda. (I previously thought the alphabet only had 20 letters, from the older Tagalog “abakada.”) If any native speakers have more history and information to offer, please share!
We’ll continue to look for more Tagalog alphabet books. We’re glad to have found at least one in our local library!
For those of us in the States, many of the words may seem more associated with life in the Philippines. For example, B is for butiki, which is a small “house” lizard commonly found around homes in the Philippines. I still remember little butiki scampering about from my visits as a child.
Native speakers may also take note that the author takes some liberty with letters of the alphabet. She includes 26 letters A-Z, as in the Latin alphabet. The modern Filipino alphabet has 28 letters, to include Ng and N, w/tilda. (I previously thought the alphabet only had 20 letters, from the older Tagalog “abakada.”) If any native speakers have more history and information to offer, please share!
We’ll continue to look for more Tagalog alphabet books. We’re glad to have found at least one in our local library!
June 13, 2020
Liana Romulo writes a collection of rhymes, arranged alphabetically by keyword, about common words in Tagalog, with illustrations by Jaime Laurel. The target audience is native English-speaking children who are familiar with cultures of the Philippines. Each page introduces a Tagalog word, followed by a rhyming couplet (ABCB) which defines the term. While some readers might prefer a book which includes representations of other regional groups of the Philippines or representations of people with different physical abilities or skin tones, other readers seeking pleasing images and generalizable Tagalog group identity markers should find this work to be affirmative and supportive for young readers.
August 17, 2018
I would've chosen different words for some of the letters, but for the most part, the words and pictures are great. Au loves this book. I think her favorite words are Butiki and Lola (which she actually repeats!).
December 23, 2024
I would've chosen different words for some of the letters, but for the most part, the words and pictures are great. Au loves this book. I think her favorite words are Butiki and Lola (which she actually repeats!).
December 2, 2020
Provides good context
It’s fun. I like the rhymes. Provides good context with other related items or history. And even context for words that are the same with English
It’s fun. I like the rhymes. Provides good context with other related items or history. And even context for words that are the same with English
August 17, 2022
some of the rhythms are kinda weird or don't rhythm at all 😟
November 9, 2016
An introduction to Filipino vocabulary and culture through 26 everyday words kids would use.
Picked this up because the similar Japanese book from this publisher was excellent. This one isn't quite as good. Some of the definitions of the new vocabulary are still a bit muddy and I wish there were a Tagalog-English dictionary in the back. Also, there were no pronunciation helps, so even though I know what the word looks like, I'm not sure how to say it correctly. The rhymes didn't always work well, either. It seems a bit rushed in production, and I've come to expect better from this publisher. At the same time, books introducing Tagolog vocab are not exactly lining up to be put in our library, so we'll take what we can get.
Picked this up because the similar Japanese book from this publisher was excellent. This one isn't quite as good. Some of the definitions of the new vocabulary are still a bit muddy and I wish there were a Tagalog-English dictionary in the back. Also, there were no pronunciation helps, so even though I know what the word looks like, I'm not sure how to say it correctly. The rhymes didn't always work well, either. It seems a bit rushed in production, and I've come to expect better from this publisher. At the same time, books introducing Tagolog vocab are not exactly lining up to be put in our library, so we'll take what we can get.
November 16, 2009
Read this very quickly at Barnes & Noble. The display of Filipino cookbooks caught my eye first, and this book was at the bottom of the display. David and I decided to flip through it, and I was mildly surprised by how many of the words I did not know. But eh, so it goes. My family is a prime example of assimilation, thus I barely know any Tagalog.
I found it funny that the family featured in the book hardly look Filipino to me.
I found it funny that the family featured in the book hardly look Filipino to me.
June 28, 2016
Kids are introduced to some Tagalog words through rhyming text (which at times are awkward) with occasional glimpses into Filipino culture. As stated by the author, some liberties were made to incorporate all the letters of the English alphabet since the Filipino alphabet features less letters and some extra ones not included here.
December 6, 2015
As a Filipina-American, I appreciate this book for my kids. A much needed alphabet book. The rhyme and meter were off in quite a few places so it made reading a bit clumsy. A good attempt at an ABC book considering that the Philippine alphabet doesn't include the letters C, F, X, Z, Q, V, and J.
August 10, 2008
I was greatly disappointed in this book. While is it stylized in the A is for Apple form, the authors could've done more.
January 1, 2009
This book is so cute. Read it to the kids and they are having a lot of fun learning all of the words!
April 12, 2011
Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students would enjoy learning words from a different language while also working on recognizing rhyming words.
November 4, 2012
I didn't like the choices of Filipino words used in this book. It could have been better if focused in one topic.
October 26, 2015
Very good first book
Great first book to learn one word per letter in the alphabet. A little history and culture are added. Thank you
Great first book to learn one word per letter in the alphabet. A little history and culture are added. Thank you
October 31, 2015
Great book for my kids to learn about their filipino heritage. I recommend to other 2nd & 3rd generation filipinos who want to share their roots with their children!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews