Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children's Story

by Norma Olizon-Chikiamco, Mark Ramsel N. Salvatus III (Illustrator)

Spend a school day with a young Filipino girl as she acknowledges the social diversity of her classmates.

A heart-warming story of a young Filipino girl who builds self-confidence after spending a day with her classmates, Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children's Story is an award-winning inspiring tale for young children everywhere. It's the story of a young girl named Pan de Sal who lives in the Philippines and thinks she's the unluckiest girl in the whole world. Aside from not liking her own name and finding her appearance strange, she doesn't have all the fancy things her classmates have. She can't even muster the courage to try out for the Glee Club, even though she has a beautiful voice.

Things change suddenly when an unexpected event forces her into the limelight. With her innate talent and resourcefulness, Pan de Sal wins admiration of her classmates and finds the confidence she needs to fulfill her dreams.

For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or experienced adversity, Pan de Sal Saves the Day teaches children to see the unique qualities in everything and everyone, even themselves.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Asia

26 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2009

About the author

Norma Olizon-Chikiamco is an award-winning Filipino author, journalist, and food writer. She is known for her children's books, including the Palanca Award-winning Pan de Sal Saves the Day, as well as numerous cookbooks.

Chikiamco has written for various publications in the Philippines and received an Outstanding Journalism Award from the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.

Reviews

[JADE · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter typically despises reading but she was immersed in this book. She loves “Pan de Sal” and how unique of a character she is. This book teaches you how to embrace your culture and that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. ♥️ Be proud of who you are.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful! This book reinforces self-hatred and shame for Filipino culture. Its overarching lesson is “your culture is ok when it can be validated by white people!” Takes place in the imaginary land where the main character lives in a nipa hut in the Philippines but goes to school with a bunch of European pastry-named white students??? Main character is literally named Pan de Sal, a bread with *Spanish* origin! Has an annoying, cliché lunch box moment where she is ashamed of bringing fish to school when her French classmate literally eats escargot! The Italian student brings fettuccini Alfredo to school for lunch lmao! Pan de Sal is jealous of her classmates’ Jollibee-esque menu of “superior white cuisine???” Girl, that’s fried chicken and spaghetti! Message is terrible, writing is awful and way too long for a children’s picture book, don’t understand how this girl is so ashamed of being so “dark” when the illustrator made her essentially the same color as her white classmates. 0/5 don’t read this to your children.

[Christine Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was too exaggerated for me. Pan de Sal is so kawawa. There's truth in here and shared experiences, but the way it's written makes her sooo kawawa. It's also like-do other Asian kids not exist in this school?? All these kids named after pastries, and SHE's the weird one because she's Filipino? Idk. It's a strange story. Where even is this supposed to be set? Why is Pan de Sal living in a nipa hut and everybody else lives in chalets, cottages, and ranch houses? "Besides, whoever heard of a girl being named Pan de Sal anyway?"

[Shar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wordy and weird.

Looking for books focusing on Filipino heritage for young ones. Was disappointed by this book. First, way more text than I expected for a picture book. Second, kinda weird - wasn't a fan of all the characters being named after bread? But clearly being human? Third, this book introduces ideas of self/culture shame. Not a fan.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny with all the bread names.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story & it's written in both English & Tagalog.

[Kenneth G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb! Awesome! Fun!

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An English/Filipino bilingual picture book about a girl who learns to appreciate being herself. Set in a school in the Philippines, all the kids are named after different types of breads and pastries. The tale is kind of like a mix between Chrysanthemum and Yoko.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

everyone is named after bread w h a t

[Rushel Agagas-Bugayong]

So nice story.