Maria’s Colorful Banca or Ang Makulay na Bangka ni Maria is a book written in two languages (English and Filipino) by Ella Louise Francis and Minnie Francisco-Francia.
We got this book years ago together with Run, Dad, Run! book.
This book is about Maria who lives on a little island. They lost everything to a storm – including their house and their banca. The banca allows them to fish and tend to their seaweed farm
This is when some “heroes” came. A family with young children donates a colorful banca for Maria and her family to rebuild their livelihood.
The story was based on the typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons the world has ever seen, that hit the Philippines. It was a fundraiser for the super typhoon’s survivors, particularly in Bantayan Island in Cebu where the story was inspired.
This became one of the many books we read-aloud. This is a good book to teach about kindness and helping those around them.
As it is a bilingual books, reading it with kids will help them learn common Filipino words like bangka (boat), isda (fish), Tatay (father), Nanay (mother), bahay kubo (the traditional Philippine house) and more.
You can check Maria’s Colorful Banca in facebook if you want to learn how to get a copy of the book.
