This December at Pamana Library Corner, in recognition of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re featuring a heartfelt Filipino children’s book: Brother Bird by Raynie Chan. Inspired by her own experiences growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum, the book tells a story about love, understanding, and the beauty of being different.
Brother Bird invites young readers and their families to celebrate empathy, kindness, and the unique ways each person experiences the world. It reminds us that being different is not being less. Everyone’s journey is valuable and deserves respect.
Pamana Children’s Library welcomes you to discover Brother Bird and share its message of compassion and connection with the next generation.
Meet the Voice Behind Brother Bird
I am Raynie Chan, a teacher and currently pursuing my master’s in Early Childhood Education, with special education as my cognates.
Special Education because I grew up with a brother who was on the spectrum of autism. Without much awareness or understanding of neurodivergence at the time, you can imagine the challenges we faced at home—being forced to get along with someone difficult to understand. In many ways, my family and our community unintentionally let my brother down simply because of lack of understanding.
It is hard to fully support someone with special needs when you don’t understand what they are going through. Growing up with my brother, I often wished I knew more—how to help him, how to connect, and how to make him feel less alone. That’s why I wrote Brother Bird—to share my story and encourage understanding, kindness, and acceptance.
Now, my book “Brother Bird” is a piece of my journey, of learning, of wishing I had known more, of wishing he had more time on Earth to be loved the way he deserved.
It is my small way of building UNDERSTANDING , increasing AWARENESS , and celebrating LOVE and ACCEPTANCE for neurodivergent individuals. I pray that families who care for someone with special needs know that they are not alone, and it’s never too late to choose love, understanding, and respect. Everyone—neurodivergent or not—is worthy of love and respect.
Raynie Chan is an entrepreneur, educator, and author from Cebu. She is a graduate of Cebu Normal University with a degree in Elementary Education, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the same university. She has chosen Special Education as her cognate and is preparing to undertake a thesis on inclusion next semester. Beyond teaching, she has a deep love for creativity, spending time reading, writing poems, sketching, doing charcoal painting among other artistic pursuits.
Brother Bird
Did you know that Brother Bird in the Pamana Library was written by Raynie Chan? Inspired by her own experiences growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum, this heartfelt story encourages understanding, empathy, and the celebration of differences. With its warm storytelling and relatable message, Brother Bird is a wonderful way to help young readers and their families learn about kindness, acceptance, and the beauty of being different.
Read about Pamana Children’s Library story and our mission by visiting our page on the Rizal Center website: https://rizalcenter.org/programs/pamana-childrens-library/.
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At Pamana, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling and the joy of books to connect generations and celebrate cultural identity. Our mission is to inspire young minds by sharing the rich traditions, values, and stories of the Philippines, fostering a sense of community. Since our opening in December 2023, our dedicated volunteers have engaged Filipino families in the greater Chicago area through enriching story times and cultural events.
To sustain these vital programs, we kindly ask for your support through one-time or monthly donations. Your contributions directly benefit the children and families we serve.
As the program of the Rizal Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donations may be tax-deductible.
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