A WORDLESS picture book by a Thomasian has made the 2021 White Ravens catalogue of best children’s books from around the world.
Pagkatapos ng Unos (After the Storm), illustrated by Harry Monzon, will appear in the annual catalogue published by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.
“The White Raven came in like a warm pat on the back that reminds me that what I’m trying to pursue is going in the good direction,” Monzon said in an interview with Varsitarian.
Wordless picture books are told entirely through illustrations and encourage readers to participate in the storytelling.
Set during the aftermath of a storm, Unos is about how much people are willing to sacrifice to help others. It follows a man who rides a boat filled with his possessions after his house becomes flooded.
Monzon said he was inspired by his family’s own experience of when Typhoon Ondoy devastated the country back in September 2009.
“When the flood seized the things I found comfort with … that made me ponder about our position in the world and the things that really matter,” he said.
He is working on a book about climate change.
Unos previously won the first Wordless Book Prize from the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) in 2018. It was later published by PBBY in 2020.
It is the only Filipino title in this year’s White Ravens catalogue, which includes 200 titles from 54 countries. The selected titles will be displayed at the 2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Monzon obtained his bachelor’s degree in literature at UST in 2011. Alexandra L. Mangasar
