Bringing books and children together
INTERNATIONAL Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated on April 2 every year to inspire love of reading and to call attention to children’s books, stories, and poems. It has been observed since 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) to commemorate the birth of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote the popular fairy tales The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Princess and the Pea.
Founded in 1953, Zurich-based IBBY promotes books and reading to young people. It has today 75 national sections established in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, and a network of individuals committed to bringing books and children together. National sections represent countries with well-developed book publishing and literacy programs. Members include authors and illustrators, publishers and editors, translators, journalists, teachers, university professors and students, librarians and booksellers, social workers and parents. The Philippine Board on Books for Young People, a private, non-stock organization serves as the Philippine national section of IBBY.
IBBY-United Arab Emirates is hosting ICBD 2015, with the global theme of “Many Cultures, One Story.” The poster shows a little girl with butterfly net catching books that are floating in the sky. Emphasizing the theme, IBBY says, “We speak many languages and come from different backgrounds, yet we share the same stories.”
Wonderful children’s books have been published worldwide and ICBD is a good reminder to share the books originally published in other countries with children of the world. It is said that the late 19th Century and early 20th Century became known as the Golden Age of Children’s Literature with the publication of books acknowledged today as classics.
IBBY oversees the development of promotional materials, used for reading and distributing children’s books. Schools and libraries hold events in conjunction with ICBD. The day’s special events may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions, and presentation of book awards.
To develop a nation of readers, children are taught early to love and appreciate good books. The advice is to get a book – and read. Reading stimulates the mind, broadens horizons, improves vocabulary, sharpens comprehension, sees the world in larger perspective, and helps in understanding peoples and cultures.
Countries, including the Philippines, are committed to the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the United Nations in 1990.One of its main provisions is the right of the child to general education and to direct access to information.