International Children’s Book Day: Inspiring Young Minds Through Stories
International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is a widely observed celebration aimed at promoting children’s books and encouraging a love of reading. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) promotes the development and distribution of high-quality children’s books while highlighting the value of good literature for children and teens.
The Theme for International Children’s Book Day
The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Freedom of Imagination”. The topic highlights how books foster children’s imaginations, enabling them to explore creative possibilities and experience the world. Effective storytelling stimulates interest and diverse viewpoints. Globally people celebrate this day by participating in events like book donations, library support, storytelling, and reading and writing contests.
History of International Children’s Book Day
Giving a child a book and watching them explore the world of reading and literature is one of the best feelings to experience. Since April 2, 1967, International Children’s Book Day has been celebrated which doubles as the birthday of Danish Author Hans Christian Andersen, renowned for his fairy tales such as “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Thumbelina,”.
European mythology served as the inspiration for fairy tales, which feature talking animals, giants, goblins, elves, dwarfs, and mermaids. Folklore, fairy tales, and myth are all included in children’s books, and in most societies, there is no discernible difference between the two. While fairy tales are the most common narrative escapist for children, other books use innovative storytelling and techniques to educate them about life.
The most important people in ensuring that children can read, understand, and apply what they learn from books and reading are their teachers. Although parents are important, particularly in the early stages of development, schools are where children will learn the most. To guarantee that students will be actively reading and learning, schools invest a great deal of money and effort in selecting the ideal prescribed text.
International Children’s Book Day is sponsored by the United Kingdom-based non-profit International Board on Books for Young People. Every year, there are events involving authors of children’s literature, writing contests, and book prize announcements. International Children’s It chooses a topic and gets a famous illustrator to create a poster and a famous author from the host nation to write a message to all children. These are done in a bid to encourage reading culture among the children.
The Importance of International Children’s Book Day
International Children’s Books Day is important in various ways. These include:
1. Reading shapes the minds of children
One of the most important aspects of reading, for young readers, is that it teaches them skills like grammar, spelling, and moral lessons. Reading is entertaining and a way to escape from reality. Early reading culture has been shown to reduce learning disabilities and improve a child’s ability to concentrate on schoolwork and other reading tasks.
2. Reading books reduce screen time
The availability of mobile phones, tablets, and television screens in recent times has occupied most children’s minds and time. They now spend most of their time before screens. However, cultivating the habit of reading books greatly reduces screen time. So instead of opting for screens during family gatherings, you can decide to engage in book reading with the children.
3. Reading books lead to creativity
Reading leads to creativity and when a child is introduced to books at a young age, it can inspire creativity in them. According to research, most people who work in creative fields and occupations that call for creative thinking and comprehension either have a strong reading habit or began reading at a young age. The ability to read and put your imagination into action allows you to write your own stories. Reading helps develop imagination, and it begins when a child opens a book at home or school.
How to Celebrate International Children’s Book Day
Here are some ways to celebrate the International Children’s Book Day
i. Organize a picture book read-a-thon
You can organize a read-a-thon for picture books for children in the community. Use vibrant decorations and comfortable reading nooks to turn any area into a fantasy place. You’ll immerse them in a world of fantastic, vibrant tales.
For more fun and excitement, ask the children to dress up as their favorite characters. Give them a wide range of books so they can choose their favorite. Use sound effects and character voices to bring stories to life. Whether it is organized in libraries or classrooms, this activity will create a lasting impression.
ii. Visit a bookstore or your local library
Picture Book Day brings local libraries and bookstores to life. These places organize special storytelling sessions for children, where animated storytellers’ voices bring stories to life.
There may also be meet-and-greets for authors. Children can engage with the authors of their favorite books at these gatherings. Also, during events like workshops, there could be storytelling or illustration classes for children to have hands-on experience.
iii. Give a child a book
Today is a perfect opportunity to give a child a book as a gift. You can buy a new book or choose from your library to present to your child or children in your community. A book is a great gift that will keep young readers occupied for hours.
