International Children's Book Day 2014

ICBD 2014 - Imagine Nations Through Story

International Children’s Book Day (ICBD), an annual celebration since 1967, serves to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. Hosted by the non-profit organization, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the event is organized on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, April 2.

Seems like every day is a Children's Book Day for some of us. However, as the world gathers to celebrate the love of reading, and inspire children to share their stories, here are some ways to join in:

• arrange with the teacher so children can share a favorite book with their friends at school
• a small-scale book-exchange party where children can pick out a book they have outgrown, wrap it and bring it to the party; after a story-telling session, kids can pick out one of the other wrapped books to take home
• make up a chain story with the children
• make a book and read it together
• visit Andersen Fairy Tales website and read one of his tales like Shoes of Fortune or Elfin Hill
• listen to Me and My Cat read by Elijah Wood or No Mirrors in My Nana's House by Tia & Tamara Mowry, among others, at Story Online 
• read favorites from yesteryears like A was an Apple Pie and The Square Book of Animals online
• write to your favorite author/illsutrator to let them know how much joy their work has brought for you and your kids

Happy Reading!