International Children's Book Day: History, significance and 3 ways to celebrate joy of reading
International Children's Book Day is a day that celebrates the joy and wonder of children's literature around the world. It falls on April 2nd every year, which is also Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, one of the most well-known children's book authors in history.
On this special day, children and adults alike are encouraged to read and share their favorite books with others. The aim is not only to spark excitement for reading but also to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and access to books for all children worldwide.
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History of International Children's Book Day
International Children's Book Day was first celebrated in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) as a way to encourage reading and promote the enjoyment of children's books around the world.
Each year, a different country is selected to be the host nation for celebrations that include events such as readings, book fairs, and storytelling sessions. Through this initiative, IBBY aims to promote appreciation for multicultural literature and support young readers' emotional and intellectual growth.
Significance of International Children's Book Day
The goal of International Children's Book Day is to support literacy initiatives and inspire adults and children to read. By illustrating what it's like for people who aren't like them in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or poverty, diverse novels help readers develop empathy.
The International Children's Book Day theme for 2023 is ‘Celebrating Creativity - The Power of Imagination’.
3 ways to celebrate the day
Distributing books
Give a young person a book to read. A brand-new book, a book from your collection, or a book from your library can be given to a child in your family, your neighborhood, or even the child of someone you work with.
Visiting a library
The number of library visits has decreased over time. Even if your library card has expired, you can usually renew it for free. Do it! Get a book and take pleasure in the sensation of turning the pages while reading the words.
Spread the word on social media
As International Children's Book Day is not a famous day, it is important that people post about it on social media to make everyone aware of this day. It would help in getting readers across the globe to for communities and celebrate this day together.