A ROOF!

The Filipino concept of bayanihan (“being in a community”) is beautifully embodied in this moving picture book.

In the wake of a terrible storm, young Maya and her father, Tatay , find a large piece of corrugated metal with the words “If found, please return to.” But who does it belong to? Maya and Tatay pick it up and go in search of its owner. A farmer, his cart pulled by a carabao, pipes up after they’re stopped by a blocked road: “We can help!” He and the animal give them a ride. As the narrative continues, so, too, does the pattern of bayanihan. At a raging river, several fishers let the group climb aboard their narrow boat (the carabao paddles alongside). And when at last they come across a pile of debris—a now-destroyed home—Maya realizes that the metal they found earlier is the family’s roof. Everyone pitches in to rebuild, “nail after nail, board after board, heart after heart.” Seamlessly incorporating Tagalog terms and Filipino traditions, Sy’s lyrical, methodically paced narrative pairs perfectly with Tingcungco’s lush, digitally rendered, collagelike artwork. The illustrator expertly blends textures and color to depict the rural setting, from a verdant forest to cascading waterfalls. Never verging on preachy, this tale will leave young readers fiercely resolved to follow Maya’s worthy example.

A bighearted tribute to a tradition rooted in love and community.