Why We Read the Mabuhay Stories Aloud
Stories are invitations into community.
Stories have always traveled farther on voices than they ever have on paper.
Long before books filled libraries, stories gathered families around campfires, kitchen tables, front porches, classrooms, and village squares.
The Mabuhay Stories continue this tradition.
Our social media read-alouds are not advertisements for books.
They are invitations into community.
Every reading is a unique performance of a Canonical Story Score—a faithful telling of the story that leaves room for every listener to imagine, illustrate, laugh, wonder, and discover something new.
No two readings will ever be exactly alike.
And as more storytellers join us—and as co-authors begin sharing these tales in many languages—our storytelling will become ever more culturally diverse.
That is one of the purposes of these stories.
We hope these recordings encourage families to read together, grandparents to share favorite tales with grandchildren, teachers and librarians to gather young listeners, and communities everywhere to discover the simple joy of telling stories aloud.
Our social media read-alouds are not intended to become the primary place where these stories are shared.
Rather, they are offered as an invitation—and as an example—to help you begin your own family and community storytelling traditions with the books you choose to make your own, and with the illuminations you create and share with those you love.
If you own a copy of one of our books, we hope you’ll make it your own.
Illustrate it.
Illuminate it.
Read it aloud.
Pause for questions.
Share laughter.
Wonder together.
Create memories that no printed page could ever fully contain.
If our stories encourage you to gather with others—even for a few quiet minutes—then they have already begun becoming what they were always meant to be.
And together, we have already begun becoming the Kadayawan Valley Arts Community we were always meant to become.
Because stories are invitations into community.
And communities grow stronger whenever people gather to tell them…
Right on the streets where we live.
Mabuhay!