lecture presented by Luis P. Gatmaitan, M.D., at PAARL Academy’s 2-day Modular Training Program on Bibliotherapy Services through Book Prescription Shops in Libraries & Information Centers, held on 19-20 May 2011, at the Librarians’Center of the National Bookstore Superbranch, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines

1. BIBLIOTHER
APY:
PRESCRIPTION
S FOR M.D.
LUIS P. GATMAITAN,
DELIGHT

2. HEALING THROUGH
STORIES & STORYTELLING

3. Coping with cancer; low self-esteem

4. “Raquel”: One of the 25 Best-Loved
Pinoy Storybook Characters, PBBY

5. “There is
something about
that story....”

6. BIBLIOTHERAPY IS...
the use of books to help children
experiencing difficult times.
the process of using books to help children
think about, understand, and work through
social and emotional concerns.

7. BIBLIOTHERAPY IS...
• the use of literature to help people cope
with emotional problems and tough
situations.
• also used to help in personality growth and
development.
In other words, it is the use of books for
therapeutic purposes.

8. WHAT IS BIBLIOTHERAPY?
• first used by S. M. Crothers in 1916 to
describe the use of books to help patients
understand their health problems and
symptoms
• Briggs and Pehrsson (2008) reported that
librarians in the 1930s compiled lists of
books to assist clients with concerns
similar to the bibliotherapy lists used today

9. 1930s
when librarians began compiling lists of
books that helped mould individual
thoughts and feelings.
The librarians, together with counselors
and physicians, began to prescribe
specific books that would help clients
facing problems.

10. Thibault (2004) emphasizes that
the key to bibliotherapy is using
the story as a way to begin a
discussion of issues and should
be used as a substitute for
dealing with problems.

11. FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIBLIOTHERAPY:
the child first needs to identify
with the characters in the story
who are coping with similar issues
(Gregory and Vessey, 2004, Thibault, 2004)

12. FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIBLIOTHERAPY:
The reader then must become
emotionally involved in the story
and finally have insight or a
realization that the characters in
the book worked through
solutions to their problems.

13. FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIBLIOTHERAPY:
The child then may begin to
understand that his or her issues
can be solved using a similar
solution.
(Gregory & Vessey; Thibault, 2004, Tu, 1999)

14. FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIBLIOTHERAPY:
Books need to be carefully matched
to the child's various problems and
developmental level so the child can
identify with the fictional character
and follow the events of the storyline
(Kurkjian & Livingston, 2005)

15. CHILDREN’S BOOK AS A
BIBLIOTHERAPEUTIC TOOL:
Gregory and Vessey (2004) explored the use of
children's books as a successful intervention
strategy for school nurses to help students with
bullying. They found that through the use of
bibliotherapy, children began to communicate
their own experience with bullying and have
been able to develop coping strategies to deal
with teasing and harassment.

16. CHILDREN’S BOOK AS A
BIBLIOTHERAPEUTIC TOOL:
The use of literature as a medium for
children to cope with their problems
helps them recognize that they are
not alone as they relate to the story
discussion.
(Tu, 1999)

17. CHILDREN’S BOOK AS A
BIBLIOTHERAPEUTIC TOOL
• Children's books about adoption and foster care
• Children's books about alcoholism and drug abuse
• Children's books about bullying
• Children's books about death and dying
• Children's books about disabilities and handicaps
• Children's books about divorce, separation and
stepfamilies
• Children's books about domestic violence
• Children's books about nutrition and healthy eating
• Teen books about eating disorders

18. On physical
disability;
ridicule;
bullying

20. SANDOSENANG SAPATOS:
2005 IBBY Outstanding Book

21. Respect for
Elderly;
Coping with
Alzheimer’s
Disease

22. On Vaccination; Coping with
the fear of Injection

23. On Dengue H-Fever; Control of
Flood and Mosquitoes

24. Dealing with one’s arrogance;
bullying

25. On Coping with the Fear of
Blood

26. “MGA KUWENTO NI
TITO DOK” Book Series
Published by HIYAS BOOKS, an imprint of OMF
LITERATURE, INC.
Who is TITO DOK?
• A doctor who cares for kids
• A health advocate
• Loves to read and teach
• Bespectacled
• Age between 30-40s

27. COPING WITH THE
FEAR OF
VISITING A DENTIST

28. On Wounds
and
Wound Healing

29. On the coming of
a new baby
in the family

30. On the stigma
of having
a sore eye

31. On coping
with an illness
(common colds)

32. On coping
with a fracture

33. On the stigma
of having
head lice

34. On Intestinal
Parasitism;
De-worming;
Getting on the habit
of handwashing and
wearing of slippers

35. On improper
handling of food

36. On managing
dog bite;
fear of rabies

37. On overcoming
poor
sleeping habits

38. On overcoming
the fear of
swallowing big
tablet/capsule

39. On coping with a
communicable illness
(chicken pox);
On low self-esteem;
Disfigurement

40. Understanding
how our
tonsils work

41. On coping with a
chronic disease
(brochial asthma)

42. Understanding
how allergies
work

43. Coping with
Discrimination
and Rejection;
Bullying;
Physical
Disability

44. Bas Bayabas Story
• A springboard for discussion among 17
adult HIV-Positive individuals.
• A storyteller read the children’s book
• After which the facilitator started to ask
questions
• Participants shared their own stories
• There was crying, laughter
• Synthesis followed

45. On being
envious
of others;
Discontentment

46. OTHER TITLES
• FOR UNICEF
• FOR WHO
• FOR WORLD VISION INTL
• FOR GAWAD KALINGA

47. UNICEF: On the issue of neglect
as a form of Domestic Violence

48. UNICEF: On Personal Hygiene

49. UNICEF: On Environment/ Respect for
migratory birds and its sanctuary

50. MUSEO PAMBATA: On the importance
of keeping a good eyesight

51. WHO: On the Bad Effects of
Smoking

52. WORLD VISION INT’L
“MGA KUTITAP NG PAG-ASA”
GLIMMERS OF HOPE
1. “Mahigpit ang Bantay ni Lola Elang”
(on TB-DOTS treatment)
2. “Ang Prinsesang Matang-Manok”
(on Vitamin A Deficiency)

53. TRANSLATION
and
PUBLICATION IN
OTHER COUNTRIES

54. JAPANESE EDITION
Hikumano Publishing House, Japan

55. INDONESIAN Edition
Metalexia Publishing, Jakarta, Indonesia

56. THAI Edition
Kanok Bannasan, Bangkok, Thailand

57. THAI Edition
Kanok Bannasan, Bangkok, Thailand

58. CHINESE Edition
Chinese Literature Council Ltd, Kowloon, HK

59. ADAPTATIONS TO OTHER
FORMS OF MEDIA
FROM BOOKS TO FILM (animation)
FROM BOOKS TO MUSICAL PLAYS
FROM BOOKS TO OPERA

60. MUSICAL ADAPTATION

61. MUSICAL ADAPTATION

62. FILM: ANIMATION

63. STORYTELLING ON RADIO

64. WORKS IN PROGRESS
• A children’s book on the topic of adoption,
IPINAGLIHI SA LABANOS, for the
“Special Topics for children” series by
Anvil Publishing Inc.

65. WORKS IN PROGRESS
• A re-issue of my children’s book ANG
AMBISYOSONG ISTETOSKOP on Dr.
Jose Rizal for his 150th birth anniversary
June 2011 (Adarna House)
on the topic of nationalism

66. WORKS IN PROGRESS
FOUR Children’s books to address the
GAWAD KALINGA thrust; a project of the
Vibal Foundation
1. On Respect for Elderly
“ANG LOLA KONG UTOSERA”

67. WORKS IN PROGRESS
2. On Coping with Poverty
“LAKI SA HIRAP”
3. On Community Service
“HANDOG KAY ISABELLA”
4. On Hygiene/Cleanliness
“SI TAKTU”

68. ANG LIBRO AY GAMOT
A good story, like a good tablet,
heals. Hindi lang po istetoskop at
injection ang puwedeng gamitin
sa panggagamot. Puwede rin ang
libro.

69. Masayang
Panggagamot
Gamit ang
Libro!

70. Thank You!