CENTRAL Books is part of Phoenix Publishing, for which I wrote a literature textbook more than 30 years ago. Central is well-known for its series of well-curated law books. Upon the initiative of their president, Mr. Jose Paolo Sibal, Central Books has now expanded its reach to include titles by respected Filipino authors.

They published my two latest books — “How to Read and Write Better” and “Green Roses: Gay Stories.” We had a book signing event at the Mindanao Book Fair last weekend, which was held at SM Downtown in Cagayan de Oro City. I also gave a talk on writing and reading to 30 teachers, students and booksellers. It’s always a happy occasion to meet people who are interested in books and learning.

I was also glad to buy several new titles from the line of children’s books published by Central, which were done in both English and Filipino. One of the most impressive is the story “Sepulturero ang Tatay Ko!” (My Father is a Gravedigger) by Mariel Balacuit and Jeron Tanglaw.

Balacuit is a prizewinning author from Butuan City; she writes clear and accessible prose. On the other hand, Tanglaw amazes us with his fine art work and his color palette of mostly gray and blue. The book goes: “It’s almost the Day of the Dead. Dad must be really busy. Come, let’s join him in a place filled with names carved in stone, candles whispering different prayers and flowers with unique stories.”

Our child main character has turned the cemetery into his playground. It’s a story about the dignity of labor and the affection between a father and a child. The latter muses: “I love reading the names on the tombstones. Some were long, some were short, and some even have the same name as me! ‘Each of them has a story of their own,’ Dad said.”

The colors brighten, turn yellow like the sun, as the child helps the father in his work. “Little by little, the entire cemetery was covered in color.”

Balacuit’s other book is “Ang Kuwagong Hindi Makatanggi” (The Owl Who Couldn’t Say No), illustrated by Kevin Banal. This is a story of a helpful owl who can’t say no. She’s always willing to help everyone, until she learned that it isn’t bad to put herself first.

Since the owl is a night creature, blue and black dominate the pages of this wonderful book. The cheerful owl helps everyone: the rabbit who’s afraid of the dark and the eagle with a broken nest. She also helps the hen find her missing chicks and the goat untie the ropes knotted around his brothers.

Even the ants came, soaked by the rain, asking the owl’s help for a place to stay. The owl did, so the whole day long, even if her feathers already got soaked with the rain. More animals came, and the owl tried to help, but her wings were already heavy.

She was worn out, and the insight arrived to her, like a bolt of lightning from the blue. Now, “the owl still helps others. But she knows how to say, ‘Not right now.’”

Jeron Tanglaw returns with his textured illustrations for the story “Tabi-Tabi Po!” (Excuse Me, Please), from the pen of Neil Omar B. Gamos, who is a master teacher from Malolos, Bulacan. Gamos also exhibited 18 other titles at the bookfair!

In this story, Badet wonders who Grandpa Tantan is talking to every time he says, “Excuse me, please!” Grandpa would say this every time they pass a mound in the backyard, or as he swept the leaves in front of the balete tree. He tells Badet with a smile: “There are elements that, even though we can’t see them, we still have to respect them.” Moreover, he gives Badet another lesson: “Respect is not just for the elderly or those with high positions in society.”

Badet learns to respect other things, like conflicting ideas in the classroom. She now knows the value of respecting other people’s physical space and their different quirks. “Excuse me, please! I always say this so as not to hurt others’ feelings.”

“Gaya-Gaya, Puto Maya” (Copycat, Puto Maya) is a story that works along the same vein. It’s written by Patrick Opena, a math teacher who now lives in the US, and illustrated by K-Mark Velaquio, a multigrade teacher at a last-mile school (very rural) in Capiz.

Opena writes in the didactic mode, and there’s nothing wrong with that, since children’s books are supposed to teach lessons in life. On the other hand, Velaquio is most impressive with his beautiful and whimsical art.

Puto Maya loves to copy the things she sees — jumping, clapping, sweeping and even reading with her family. Being a copycat is fun, especially when everyone is laughing and playing together. But one day, something happened, and it changed all of them.

She begins to copy even the bad behavior of her classmates — saying an inappropriate word and pushing someone. She realizes her mistake and learns to say sorry. She has become a copycat of good action. Moreover, she has learned the value of discernment, how to decide on what Confucius called “the public good.”

Opena’s didactic streak continues in the book “Ang Sampung Misyon ni Bibo” (Bibo’s Ten Missions), illustrated by Alvin Alejandro, with his bright and happy colors.

Bibo is a cheerful boy who loves to play and laugh. One day, his father gives him a special challenge — the Ten Missions to become a Safe Child. In each mission, Bibo learns how to take care of himself, listen to the adults around him and make good choices every day.

It’s a painless lesson in good manners and right conduct. It’s also aligned with Opena’s earlier mantra of doing “the public good.” Alejandro lightens the rather heavy hand with his lovely illustrations.

Finally, we have the book “Ang Hiling ni Ading” (Ading’s Wish), written by the multiple Palanca Prize winner Genaro Gojo Cruz and drawn by Alejandro’s fine hand.

The two young brothers’ make-believe war is a mirror for the secret war being waged by their parents, who eventually separate. Thorny issues like toxic relationships should be the subject matter of children’s stories, too. We should not shield them from the realities of everyday life.

The thing to do is to teach them how to face life’s lessons with hope and grace. This book is plotted well and has a memorable ending. It’s a book for the ages.

All the books are available at the website of Central Books; and at the Central Books platform in Shopee and Lazada.