This September, a little Filipino-British family from the pages of Mango & Marmalade Stories is making its way to one of the Philippines’ biggest celebrations of books.
Created by Filipino-British mum Elena Baldwin, the Sam and Sophie children’s book series will be at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), 9–13 September 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
Readers can find the books at Aisle G, Booth 311–312.
For Elena, seeing the books at MIBF is about much more than bringing another children’s series to the Philippines. It feels a little like bringing part of her own family story home.
“I started writing these stories because I was thinking about my own children and the childhood they are growing up with in Britain—and the Filipino childhood and memories they will never fully experience in the same way I did,” Elena shares.
“I can’t recreate my childhood for them. But I can tell them stories. I can share the food, celebrations, games, family memories, and little pieces of home that helped shape me.”
That idea eventually became Mango & Marmalade Stories.
Meet Sam and Sophie
At the centre of the books are twins Sam and Sophie, who are growing up in a Filipino-British family.
Their adventures aren’t grand lessons about culture. They are childhood stories first: rainy days, family celebrations, games, food, little discoveries, and the everyday moments children remember.
But woven naturally through those adventures are glimpses of the two cultures surrounding them.
In Sam and Sophie at the Festival, the twins discover Filipino celebration and tradition.
Sophie and Sam’s Rainy Day Treat finds joy in one of those very British rainy days, complete with family time and a special treat.
In Sam and Sophie’s Cricket Challenge, a family game becomes a story about playing together rather than simply winning.
Sophie and Sam’s Treasure Hunt begins with an adventure at home but leads the twins towards a different kind of treasure: the family stories and memories we carry with us.
And Sophie and Sam’s Seaside Adventure takes the family to the coast, exploring confidence, cultural identity, and the joy of being proud of where you come from.
Growing Up Between Two Cultures
Elena grew up in the Philippines before eventually making Britain home and raising her own family there.
Becoming a mum made her think differently about what gets passed from one generation to another.
Her children can visit the Philippines. They can eat Filipino food, hear family stories, and learn about traditions. But their childhood will inevitably be different from hers.
That experience has shaped the direction of Mango & Marmalade Stories.
“I don’t want culture to feel like something my children have to study,” Elena says. “I want them to experience it naturally—through the stories we read together, conversations around the table, food, games, and the memories we share.”
And perhaps that is why bringing Sam and Sophie to Manila feels particularly fitting.
The stories may have been created while Elena was raising her family in Britain, but part of their story began much further away.
In the Philippines.
Find Mango & Marmalade Stories at MIBF 2026
Families heading to the Manila International Book Fair can discover Sam and Sophie and browse the Mango & Marmalade Stories collection from 9–13 September 2026.
SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City
Aisle G, Booth 311–312
Mango & Marmalade Stories is an independent children’s book brand creating childhood adventures inspired by family, culture, kindness, and curiosity.
Discover more at the Mango & Marmalade Stories website.
