A Roof!

by Stephanie Ellen Sy, Daniel Tingcungco (illustrator)

A dazzling picture book debut about a young girl in the Philippines who returns a neighbor’s roof after a typhoon with the help of her community.

Typhoons are a regular part of Maya’s life in the Philippines, but after this storm, she finds something unusual in her backyard—a roof! There’s an address written on it, and Maya is determined to return it to its family. She’ll need help to make her way through the damage left behind by the typhoon. As she sets out with her tatay, Maya collaborates with a farmer and his carabao, a couple of fishers and their boat, a sapatero, a labandera, a kusinera, and more of her neighbors. Together, they sail around knotted tree roots, hauling, heaving, pushing, and dragging the roof until they find its family—and begin to rebuild their community.

Told by Stephanie Ellen Sy in a cumulative structure that begs to be read aloud, and paired with Daniel Tingcungco’s lush and cinematic illustrations, A Roof! is a story about community care that celebrates the Filipino spirit of bayanihan.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Asian Literature

Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Amanda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sy's beautiful and lyrical words are an ode to what can be accomplished when we come together to achieve and help others in our community. Tingcungco's textured illustrations bring a parallel to the many helpers it takes to rebuild. The author's note sheds light on the Filipino community spirit of bayanihan and expands upon the details of the story. Highly recommend!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, full-of-heart, story by Stephanie Ellen Sy, with enticing, colorful illustrations by Daniel Tingcungco. After a stormy night, young Maya looks out her window and sees a roof! The Philippines experience many storms, typhoons, and more. Their homes are easily torn apart, and most put their names and addresses on the roofs so they can be returned! Through this journey, Maya and her father take the rolled-up roof and go on a search for the owners. Along the way, Sy shows the obstacles, and readers see all the people who help them on the way, like a farmer with his carabao (a draft animal) helps clear a blocked path, and fishers take them across a raging river because the road has been swept away. The examples show the gathering of a Bayanihan, which means "being in a community." A note at the back shares this spirit "when ordinary Filipinos turn into a bayani, someone who does something courageous for their community." This is Maya and her father's story, but I imagine there are many like this in real life, perhaps recently in the wake of the recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina! With the note at the back, Tingcungco creates the line of people in this Bayanihan and names them with their English and Filipino names, like "Farmer (Magsasaka) and Shoemaker (Sapatero). I enjoyed it very much!

[Darcie Naslund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ROOF is a beautiful tale of compassion and helping others. When Mya finds a roof with a name written on it after a typhoon, she is determined to return it to its owners. This cumulative story is based on the Philippine tradition of Bayanihan when a community comes together to achieve one goal—rebuilding. Stephanie Ellen Sy’s luscious language and Daniel Tingcungco’s emotional illustrations immerse the readers into the story. The author weaves in the names of many community members including sapatero, labandera, sorbetero, the dream weaver and the kusinera. She later reveals who they are for those unfamiliar. I loved this addition, as everyone enjoys learning new words.

Community, compassion and culture make this book a must-have for all classrooms and libraries.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.
Unfortunately, the font size is microscopic. This has been a recent trend for books published under Penguin Young Readers imprints. Why are designers or editors leaning toward such small font sizes? It makes it nearly impossible for teachers or librarians to read aloud without leaning in to squint (disrupting the story flow) and it makes the decoding process more difficult for young readers.
If anyone can provide insight to why Penguin Young Readers continues to produce wonderful picture books that have such small print, I would be curious to learn more about why this is a trend. There is plenty of space in the illustrations to bump up the font just a few sizes. It may look better in design, but it makes it more difficult for readers. I hope this trend discontinues.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this lyrical story of compassion, readers grow their vocabulary and cultural understanding of the Philippines through words such as lumpia, anak and carabao, along with occupations like sorbetero and labandera. Evocative illustrations show unique perspectives of such scenes as a powerful storm, “ribbons of waterfalls” and life above and below the surface of a river.

A Roof! is an engaging tale of bayanihan (being in a community) in which the kindness of a girl and her diverse helpers overcome obstacles to bless a family in need.

Highly recommended!

[Kirsten Pendreigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously illustrated story of community and care, showing how even the youngest members of a community can help others. When a family's roof is blown off in a storm, a little girl finds it and sets off with her dad on an adventurous journey to return it. The excellent back matter explains how she knew whose roof it was! A lyrical and lovely tale of working together to make a better world, all from a child's perspective. Wonderful!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book interested me especially as a former resident of the Philippines.
A community comes together to help rebuild after a typhoon destroys a family's home and blows their roof away. The story is realistic and heart-warming.
Several Tagalog words are included--not all are defined in the back matter, although context makes them understandable. Pronunciation guides would be helpful for those unfamiliar with the language.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb idea for a story. I thought it was strange that it was clearly gearing up to be a sequence (tatay, the farmer, the fishermen, etc) and then all of a sudden they add 12 people to the sequence and finish it in one page? It seems like the concept got abandoned or changed during the writing process. I also agree with another review that the text is waaaaaaaaaaay too small. Other than that, very enjoyable.

[Rachell Abalos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Roof! is a beautiful book. The story is well-written, appropriate to read for every age. The pages are gorgeous and lush. My favorite spread is the one with the carabao. You can really see the emotions coming to life in that drawing. This story is more than just a determined little girl returning a roof. It’s about a community and resilience. A must-have in all libraries and classrooms.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the lyrical text to the beautiful illustrations...I love everything about this book!

A Roof! is about a little girl in the Philippines who brings her community together to return someone's roof. It features a determined little girl, a supportive father, and a caring and resourceful community. I loved learning the Filipino terms for different professions. Highly recommend!

[Mae Coyiuto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy a book like A Roof! exists! Set in the Philippines, A Roof! tells the story of a girl named Maya who's determined to return a roof that was blown away by a typhoon. With illustrations that feel as epic as Maya's journey, this is a great read to teach kids that family can really be found in one's community.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Roof! is full of immersive illustrations from beginning to end, evoking a gorgeous cinematographic eye for the Philippines. A perfect book to read outloud, my toddler and I loved everything about Maya’s story— from what typhoons are like to how communities come together to give rides, clear paths, return belongings, and rebuild with love. Brava on this debut!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Maya finds a roof blown into her backyard, she vows to return it to its owner. Storm debris impede her progress, but the whole community pitches in to reunite the roof with its family. Author note promotes the Philippine tradition of community, bayanihan. Bustling illustrations bring bayanihan to life.

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, uplifting story about a community coming together to help a family rebuild after a storm. It's so satisfying to see the cast of helpers grow as a young girl and her father set off to return the sheet metal roof they found in their yard. Wonderful back matter provides more information about bayanihan (community spirit in the Philippines). I highly recommend!

[Kane N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the progression of the story and the artwork for a young reader. The Images on the pages all flow in progression of a journey to find the owner of the lost roof. It really shows the close knit community and people coming together to help each other. A great story and message!

[Deborah Kerbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ROOF! is a heartwarming picture book about the power of courage, cooperation, perseverance, and kindness. Colourful illustrations are a perfect complement to the story about a community coming together and overcoming challenges. Highly recommended!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous book in every way, from language to illustrations to story, A ROOF! takes readers on young Maya's quest to return a roof to one of her neighbours after a terrible storm ripped it from their home. "The Filipino community spirit called bayanihan"—as the back matter of the book explains—is on full display as different groups of villagers assist Maya on her mission, which takes her under "ribbons of waterfalls," over "splintered trees, scattered like matchsticks," and through other vividly evoked scenes of disaster and, ultimately, triumph. An illuminating, hopeful and inspiring book. Highly recommend!

[Dazzle Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s awesome to see the traditional concept of bayanihan refreshed through the POV of a child. Something I grew up seeing in textbooks comes alive in this gorgeously written and illustrated story about the tenacity of love and goodness.

[Elizabeth E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very beginning—from the wordless first few pages to the thin metal roof rolled up with a message inside. I love how the community comes together, growing larger and stronger as the story continues, helping each other overcome challenges after a devastating storm.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a community coming together. A great read to teach kids about empathy. Includes additional info in the back about typhoons in the Philippines. Would have been nice of the font were bigger and more kid friendly for young readers.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The power found in the compassion of a little girl and her father as they struggle to return a roof to a home that they found after a typhoon. I loved how their act of service brought a whole community together. Sweet story.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful! Highly recommend.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful tribute to community. After a storm, a community comes together to return a Roof.

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A moving story that captures the spirit of bayanihan in the Philippines. I especially appreciate the Author's Note at the end of the book which helps flesh out the events of the story.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about a community coming together to help a family in need!

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bayanihan is a Tagalog word that sort of translates to community, a coming together to help one another. The example people like to use is when everyone helps out to literally move house. The concept of bayanihan is illustrated when Maya and her dad go off to return a roof that was displaced during a typhoon. Along the way, they encounter the effects of the natural disaster that threaten to prevent them from their mission. But it is also the people they encounter that shows them anything is possible when everyone comes together. An inspirational story that reminds me of the quote attributed to Mister Rogers: Look for the helpers.