INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY

International Children's’ Book Day is on or about April 2, the birthday of Danish author Hans Christian Anderson. The goal of the day is to create and further in children a love of reading.

#InternationalChildrensBookDay

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, on April 2, 1805. His father was a poor shoemaker and his mother was a washerwoman. As a child, Hans was an artistic child. He built his own toy theater, made clothes for his puppets, and read every play he could find. At the age of 14, with almost no money, he left home, telling his mother: "I will be famous! First you go through a great deal of suffering, and then you become famous."

He tried to be an actor, a dancer, and a singer but failed at all of them. A director at the Royal Danish Theatre saw his potential and sent him to school. He was older than the other students and it was discovered he struggled with dyslexia. Hans didn't let that stop him. He worked with his learning disability and eventually began to write.

Hans wrote several children's books and his stories have been translated into more than 125 languages. His books deal with themes of love, loss, social class, and resilience. Though he authored books like "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Nightingale," the Ugly Duckling was his personal story. He once said it was his autobiography, comparing himself to his life to a duck in a yard. As long as you hatched from a swan's egg, it didn't matter where you came from.

HOW TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY

• Invite children to read aloud their favorite children’s story.

• If you have young children, volunteer to read a story to them, or their entire classroom.

• Make bookmarks with children.

Helping a child choose a favorite story:

The library web resource, Alexandria, lists 23 recommended children’s books including favorites such as The Giving Tree, Charlotte’s Web, and Madeline. The list also includes recommended graphic novels such as Awesome Man and Wonderstruck.

• Follow on social media with #InternationalChildrensBook day, #ICBD, #ibby or #usbby.

• The Facebook Page is https://www.facebook.com/USBBYBooks/

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY HISTORY

Since 1967, the sponsoring organization International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) decides on a theme for the day and selects a member region to host the day. That region chooses local authors from the host country to write a message to children of the world. An illustrator designs a poster to go with the theme, and the material is used to promote children’s books and reading.

Activities around the world on this day include library scavenger hunts, writing competitions, announcements of book awards, and events with authors of children's literature.