NLP Children's Library

WRAD 2026: Celebrate Learning at the NLP Children’s Library 📚✨

Under the theme "Celebrate Learning," this year’s World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) marks a historic turning point for the National Library of the Philippines (NLP). We are no longer just sharing stories across screens; we are now inviting the next generation of Filipino thinkers to step into a physical sanctuary, a safe space for them to cultivate their love for reading, learning, and curiosity.

This annual celebration, observed every first week of February, affirms the vital role of storytelling in children's growth and development. Whether read aloud in classrooms, shared beneath shaded trees, heard by the warmth of a campfire, or accessed through digital spaces, stories carry a quiet magic. Beyond entertainment, they inspire, nurture imagination, and empower young minds to envision a better future.

The celebration was made more meaningful through the participation of Ms. Rio Brigino-Lim, representative of IBBY-Philippines, and Ms. Myra Hulleza-Sepe, representative of Room to Read, together with the parents and children from the Barangay 666 Manila Child Development Center. The featured read-aloud story, Ang Laro nina Rona at Powa, delighted young listeners with its message of imagination and resilience. An online version of the story is available through Literacy Cloud at: https://literacycloud.org/sto.../6962-game-of-rona-and-powa/

By hosting this year’s World Read Aloud Day within the newly established NLP Children’s Library 📚, we create a lasting home for these stories, a permanent hearth where imagination is encouraged to flourish 🌼. Within this dedicated space, the National Library of the Philippines’ partnerships with stakeholders extend beyond literacy advocacy 📖. It stands as a sanctuary 💫 where every Filipino child 👦👧 is welcomed 🤍, represented 🌈, and encouraged to see themselves as the hero 🦸‍♀️ of their own story 📘✨.