The Brave Balikbayan Box: A Filipino-American, Rhyming Bedtime Story for Kids Ages 2–6

A rhyming Filipino-American bedtime story about love, belonging, and the magic of balikbayan boxes.

A note from Ate Britt:

Dear families,

Growing up Filipino-American, I remember the magic of Balikbayan boxes—cardboard packages that were really hugs wrapped in packing tape, love made visible and measured on Airport scales.

Inside were treats that whispered, "I'm thinking of you," and clothes that said, "I wish I could be there." Vitamins that meant "Stay healthy, I miss you." Every item chosen with care, packed with prayers, sent with hope that somehow we could squeeze our whole hearts inside.

But love doesn't fit in boxes. It spills over, crosses oceans, and grows bigger than any package we could ever send.

This bedtime story follows one brave Balikbayan Box discovering that the greatest gift isn't what's inside—it's the love that connects us across all distances.

For every Filipino-American child who feels stretched between two worlds: You belong everywhere you are. Your identity doesn't need to fit neatly into any container. You are the beautiful blend of all your stories—the ones from here and the ones from there.

To our communities who keep traditions alive—salamat po. You are the bridge-builders, the story-keepers, the strong roots of our growing family tree.

And to every precious child reading this: You are more than enough, exactly as you are.

Take up space. You belong.

Love,
Ate Britt