What Adarna House Inc. does

Adarna House Inc. is a Philippine independent children's book publisher founded in 1980 by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, headquartered in Quezon City with a regional office in Baguio City. The company publishes across picture books, board books, young adult novels, comics, flashcards, and curriculum-aligned materials under multiple imprints: Anino Comics (graphic novels rooted in the Filipino experience), A Plus/A+ (educational content for preteens), and Apop (curated South Korean content in English). Its catalog exceeds 335 titles, supported by the WiKAHON leveled-reading tool and a four-volume Grade 4 Araling Panlipunan series aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum.

The company monetizes across four streams: retail book sales through DTC e-commerce (adarna.com.ph), three major Philippine bookstore chains (National Bookstore, Fully Booked, Pandayan), and three online marketplaces (Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop); publishing and rights licensing; book development partnerships with brands such as Jollibee Foods Corporation and Mead Johnson's Enfagrow A+ Four for CSR and branded content; and educational programs including the Klasrum Adarna teacher workshops, Magkuwentuhan Tayo live storytelling, and the Buklod Aklatan library sponsorship program. Pricing ranges from ₱150 for picture books to ₱699 for special-edition young adult novels, with curriculum-aligned volumes priced at ₱499.

Adarna House employs 64 people and has built durable institutional relationships over 45 years, including a royalty-free license with the Department of Education for over 1 million books for Key Stage 1 learners, numerous domestic literary awards (Palanca, National Book Awards, PBBY-Salanga, Gintong Aklat), and international recognition (IBBY Honour List, White Ravens, Noma Concours). International expansion accelerated in 2025 with the Philippines' Guest of Honor appearance at Frankfurt Book Fair and a follow-on licensing deal with German publisher Dantes Verlag.

Name

Adarna House Inc.

Legal name

Adarna House, Inc.

Website

https://adarna.com.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Adarna House is a 45-year-old Philippine independent children's book publisher with 335+ titles across picture books, comics, and curriculum-aligned materials, serving families, schools, and brand partners through retail, e-commerce, workshops, and custom publishing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Activity & Workbook Publishing (MPAJAFAG), Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC), Reading & Literacy Intervention Materials for Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Decoding, Comprehension) (EDAGAMAH), Children’s Books & Educational Readers Retail (CRALAAAD)

Keywords

• Children's book publishing
• Filipino literature
• Educational publishing
• Curriculum-aligned materials
• Graphic novel publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Quezon City

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Direct sales of physical children's books through e-commerce website and retail partners. One-time purchase model with books ranging from ₱150-₱699 for picture books.
2. Publishing & Rights: Licensing and rights management for their catalog of over 335 titles, including purchasing rights from authors and licensing IP to partners for branded projects.
3. Book Development Partnership: Custom book development services for brands and organizations seeking CSR or branded content, including the Jollibee Values Kiddie Meal campaign.
4. Educational Programs: Revenue from workshops (Klasrum Adarna), live storytelling sessions, and library sponsorship programs for schools and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Adarna House publishes and sells Filipino children's books across picture books, board books, young adult novels, comics, flashcards, and curriculum-aligned materials through its e-commerce store, online marketplaces, and physical retail partners. The company also operates educational workshops (Klasrum Adarna), live storytelling sessions (Magkuwentuhan Tayo), a library sponsorship program (Buklod Aklatan), and a custom book development service for corporate CSR and branded projects. A proprietary leveled-reading tool, WiKAHON, supports literacy instruction across schools.

Product overview

Adarna House is a Filipino children's book publisher with 45 years of experience, operating as a publishing house with multiple imprints including Anino Comics (graphic novels), A Plus/A+ (educational content for preteens), and Apop (South Korean content). The company produces physical books across various formats—picture books, board books, young adult novels, Big Books for classroom use, and flashcards—totaling over 335 titles. Their product ecosystem includes educational tools like WiKAHON (leveled-reading system) and the Alamin, Alamin! Grade 4 series aligned with the MATATAG curriculum. Services include Klasrum Adarna (educational workshops), Magkuwentuhan Tayo (live storytelling), Buklod Aklatan (library sponsorship), and Book Development Partnership (custom publishing for organizations). Distribution occurs through their website, major Philippine bookstore chains (National Bookstore, Fully Booked, Pandayan), and online marketplaces (Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anino Comics: Anino Comics creates bold visual narratives for readers drawn to stories told through art. Through graphic novels and illustrated works, they bring to life stories deeply rooted in the Filipino experience.
• A Plus (A+)
• Apop

Products and services

• Alamin, Alamin! Grade 4 series A four-volume educational series for Grade 4 Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies), aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum and covering Philippine geography, constitution, government, economic sectors, citizenship, and national identity; priced at ₱499 per volume.
• Janus Silang Series A five-volume young adult novel series by Edgar Calabia Samar that combines Philippine mythology with gaming/RPG themes, exploring the Santinakpan universe through titles such as 'Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon' and subsequent volumes.
• Picture Books Award-winning Filipino children's picture books covering folklore, history, values education, and contemporary stories, typically priced at ₱150-₱199 and including bilingual Filipino/English titles.
• Board Books Sturdy board books for young children featuring first words, family, body parts, and basic concepts in Filipino and English, priced at ₱199-₱399.
• Rio Alma Collection A collection of children's books associated with poet and National Artist Virgilio Almario (Rio Alma), featuring retellings of Filipino folk tales.
• Adarna Alpabeto Filipino Flashcards Filipino alphabet flashcards for early literacy education, sold as a boxed set at ₱399.
• Adarna Alphabet English Flashcards English alphabet flashcards for early literacy education, sold as a boxed set at ₱399.
• Big Books Oversized editions of picture books designed for classroom use, allowing teachers to display pages for group reading sessions.
• Anino Comics titles Graphic novels and illustrated works from the Anino Comics imprint, deeply rooted in the Filipino experience and celebrating history, imagination, and contemporary realities, typically priced at ₱199-₱599.
• WiKAHON leveled-reading tool Adarna House's proprietary leveled-reading assessment tool designed to help children develop reading skills, now available in both English and Filipino versions for use by teachers and schools.
• Klasrum Adarna Educational Workshops An educational workshop series for educators and children focusing on reading instruction, including the 'big six of reading' components and approaches such as the Marungko and Fuller methods; delivered to schools and academic institutions.
• Magkuwentuhan Tayo Live Storytelling Live storytelling sessions delivered by Adarna-trained storytellers, available for hire at events to entertain and educate children.
• Buklod Aklatan Library Sponsorship A 'Sponsor a Library' program that allows organizations and individuals to support literacy by funding library packages for underserved schools and communities.
• Book Development Partnership Custom publishing services for schools and organizations, including branded book projects, CSR partnerships, and co-produced educational or literacy programs (e.g., Jollibee Values Kiddie Meal campaign).

Quantifiable outcome

• Donated rights for over 1 million books to DepEd for early literacy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enfagrow A+ Four (Mead Johnson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Partnered to develop The Brilliant Hour activity book series and Digibooks for the Brilliant Hour advocacy, encouraging quality family time for child development. Launched at Mindspark Museum with actress Iza Calzado.
• Jollibee Foods CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Developed five original picture books for the Jollibee Values Kiddie Meal campaign, promoting kindness, responsibility, and respect. The campaign reached millions of families and earned a Bronze Award at PR Awards Asia-Pacific.
• National Book Development BoardminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Government agency partnering for the Vaklat! Before The Slay event showcasing Anino Comics' new graphic novel on drag culture in the Philippines.
• WhenInManila.comminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Media partner for Vaklat! Before The Slay event, promoting Anino Comics' launch of the Vaklat graphic novel.
• National Book Store FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Organized the Effective Reading Remediation and Intervention Strategies Workshop at Aguho Elementary School in Tanay, Rizal. Foundation supported the workshop bringing together 12 teachers and 10 MicroSourcing employees for literacy training.
• MicroSourcingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2026Corporate partner whose 10 employees participated in the reading remediation workshop organized by Adarna House and National Book Store Foundation.
• Ascott MakaticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Launched the Adarna Books Suite, a specially themed two-bedroom hotel suite filled with artwork and stories from beloved Adarna House titles. The collaboration commemorates Adarna House's 45th anniversary and extends reach to hotel guests through a unique staycation experience featuring over 20 curated books.
• Best Buddies PhilippinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 October 2025Non-profit partner for the Adarna Books Suite launch at Ascott Makati. Children from the organization joined the storytelling event and received take-home books.
• Alitaptap Storytellers' ClubminorOthersStorytelling organization where former Adarna House storyteller Jay Menes developed his skills from 2002 onwards, promoting early literacy advocacy.
• KUTING (Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting)minorOthersOrganization of children's storytellers that author Liwliwa Malabed participates in, using Adarna books for storytelling events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Scholastic Corporation: Global children's book publisher and distributor with extensive catalog across picture books, early readers, and middle grade. Comparable to Adarna House as a children's trade publisher targeting similar age segments, though Scholastic operates at significantly larger global scale and includes book fairs and educational distribution.
• Hachette Livre (Children's Imprints): Global publishing group operating children's imprints (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orion Children's) with award-winning picture books and YA. Comparable as a children's content publisher with international licensing reach, though within a much larger diversified portfolio.
• Penguin Random House Children's Books: Largest children's trade publisher globally with imprints including Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children's Books. Comparable in picture books, middle grade, and YA, with similar licensing and translation partnerships, but at vastly larger scale and broader international footprint.

Direct peers

• Walker Books: Independent UK children's publisher (including Candlewick in the US) known for award-winning picture books and YA. Comparable as a mid-sized, independent children's publisher with strong literary credentials and international co-edition partnerships similar to Adarna's Frankfurt-anchored approach.
• Anvil Publishing: Leading Philippine trade publisher with a children's imprint and broad Filipino-language catalog. Directly comparable as a domestic Filipino publisher competing for the same authors, illustrators, bookstore shelf space, and DepEd-aligned curriculum opportunities.
• Usborne Publishing: UK-based independent children's book publisher with extensive picture book, activity book, and educational titles. Comparable in product mix (board books, activity books, early readers) and in operating as an independent publisher with strong brand recognition and curriculum-aligned content.
• Tundra Books: Canadian children's book publisher specializing in picture books, middle grade, and YA, with a strong awards record. Comparable as a mid-sized specialty children's publisher focused on curated literary content rather than mass-market volume, similar to Adarna's positioning in the Philippines.
• Lampara Publishing House: Philippine children's book publisher focused on Filipino-language titles and illustrated picture books for young readers. Directly comparable as a domestic Filipino children's publisher competing for the same institutional and retail channels, with similar curriculum-aligned offerings.

Others

• National Book Store (Philippines): Philippines' largest bookstore chain and Adarna's key physical retail distribution partner. Comparable as a Filipino bookselling channel and ecosystem participant, though operating on the retail/distribution side rather than publishing; useful as a channel indicator for Philippine children's book demand.
• Hachette Book Group Philippines / Cacho Hermanos: Long-standing Philippine book distributor and publisher of children's and educational titles. Comparable as a local publishing and distribution ecosystem participant, though broader in scope beyond children's books.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/adarnahouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/adarnahouse/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adarna-house-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adarna House Inc.