10 Best Short Storybooks for Kids in the Philippines 2023 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Pediatrician

This book bundle includes four board books featuring the stories of Jonah and the Whale, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Noah's Ark, and Jesus. With their colorful and eye-catching illustrations, these stories are the perfect way to introduce the Bible to your kids. 

Published by Learning is Fun, this board book set has a carry case, which makes it suitable for traveling or for just carrying it around the house – something that most kids enjoy doing as soon as they've mastered how to walk.

This Bible book set is also a nice gift idea for a baptism or dedication. It's never too early to familiarize kids with inspirational books of courage and faith that offer them moral lessons in an entertaining way. 

The all-time favorite Guess How Much I Love You children's book now comes with an adorable hare finger puppet and peek-a-boo holes on every page. This soft and silky Little Nutbrown Hare puppet is perfect for little hands and is attached to the board book, so it won't get lost during your reading time.

In the story, Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare play a game of hide-and-seek. While doing so, both of them express how much they love each other using larger and larger measures.

Guess How Much I Love You was written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. It was published in 1994 and since then has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. It has been recreated in different formats, including an audiobook and an animated TV series.

Who doesn't know the very hungry caterpillar? This tiny creature has been a fixture in many homes and classrooms for its charm and appeal to toddlers and kids of all ages. Even parents and teachers enjoy reading this book!

Through Eric Carle's simple yet ingenious storytelling and distinctive artistic style, children all over the world have flipped through the pages of this book with much enthusiasm.  This is a wonderful tool for teaching numbers, one-to-one correspondences, and the days of the week. 

Not only that, but kids also get to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly as they watch the caterpillar munch through different kinds of food, take a break inside his cocoon, and emerge as a colorful butterfly. With all of these concepts packed into a single book, it's no wonder this is a hit with young audiences worldwide.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine with the help of this timeless classic. There's a reason why this book has stood the test of time—not only does it introduce new words to your child, but it also has a tone that is perfect for winding down and getting ready for bed. 

Cuddle up with the little bunny as he says goodnight to each of the toys and objects in his room and to the moon and stars as well. With its rhythmic and repetitive speech patterns, this simple story nudges the brain into hushing down and lulling off to sleep. Aside from that, it instills a sense of safety and teaches children about stability and consistency. 

The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears has been told and re-told many times, and for good reason. It is a time-tested vehicle for teaching kids about respect and the consequences of selfishness. For sure, this is one story you already know and can share with your child even with your eyes closed. 

This book from Learning Is Fun presents this age-old story in a colorful and delightful way. The illustrations wonderfully depict the adventures of Goldilocks inside the Three Bears' home. When you read this to your child, don't forget to do the different voices to make it even more engaging! 

Storybooks that teach diversity to young children are few and far between, so this book is definitely a welcome addition. It tells the story of a unique friendship between a little girl and a sorbetero named Kuya Berto. What makes their friendship special is that Kuya Berto is deaf, while the little girl is not. 

Join her as she learns sign language in an effort to connect with Kuya Berto and form a lasting friendship. The book includes common sign language greetings and a chart of the Filipino Sign Language alphabet. You can practice spelling out your child's name with him or her using this chart. 

But more than the introduction to a special language, the book teaches young readers to see deaf individuals as people worth connecting with. Written by Och Gonzalez and illustrated by CJ Reynaldo, this book is a useful vehicle for teaching acceptance, diversity, and friendship. It definitely deserves a spot on your bookshelf!

This book tells the story of siblings, a young ant, and a kuya (older brother ant). The story starts out with the kuya ant trying to trick the younger ant into getting a bigger share of the food they've collected, but by the end, it's clear that the story imparts the value of fairness and sharing between siblings.

The book also showcases different Filipino snacks and delicacies with beautiful illustrations done by Fran Alvarez. Written by Raissa Rivera Falgui, this children's book has received the 2014 Best Read for Kids award in the 3rd National Children's Book Awards. 

This book is a heartwarming story that won First Prize in the 1995 Carlos Palanca Awards. It certainly deserves the top spot for showing how important hard work is, especially when done out of love. It is written from the viewpoint of a curious child and is very relatable for many children.

The story begins with a little girl wondering why her mother's hands were so rough. By the end of the book, she realizes it is because of everything her mother does for the family - cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her when she's sick. 

Written by Ompong Remigio and illustrated by Beth Parrocha, this story is definitely one that tugs at the heartstrings. This book's beautiful writing is a great way to teach kids about poetic language and rhythm. It also teaches kids to show appreciation for their parents.   

Adarna House is a well-loved publishing firm known for its award-winning titles, both locally and internationally. It has received the most number of National Children's Book Awards in the country. This book, named First Runner-Up Winner in the Gintong Aklat Awards in 2004, is yet another proof of their high standards in children's book publishing.  

This story will spark your little ones' imagination as they join Titoy on his adventures! With his magic chair, Titoy overcomes his physical condition and travels to many wondrous places – a rock 'n' roll party, an under-the-water kingdom, and a palace in the rice fields. 

This storybook shows that a child's creativity is boundless – that even an ordinary chair can transform into a car, a plane, a submarine, and even a spaceship! Written in Filipino by Russell Molina, this storybook also has an English translation. Its charming illustrations are done by Marcus Nada. 

Who says the alamat is dead? This book from Adarna House certainly proves that wrong. Using the old-school way of sharing stories, Augie Rivera pens a wonderful tale on the origins of the ampalaya or bitter gourd. The bilingual format also helps to expand children's vocabulary in both Filipino and English.

At its core, the story warns against the consequences of envy and greed. It's a funny take on how the ampalaya lost its vibrant color and turned instead into a wrinkly and bitter-tasting vegetable due to the ugly emotion of envy. Illustrated by Kora Dandan-Albano, this book is a great way to tackle more complex themes with kids as they grow up.