International Children's Book Day

International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books. Taking place on the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, a renowned children's writer known for his fairy tales, the day is sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization. Each year a different National Section of IBBY, based in a different country, is the international sponsor of the day. They choose a theme and invite a prominent author from their country to write a message to the children of the world and a prominent illustrator to make a poster for the day. The theme, message, and poster are used to promote books and reading. National Sections often promote the day through the media and organize activities in schools and public libraries. The day is marked with writing competitions, announcements of book awards, and events with authors and illustrators of children's books.

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Odense, Denmark. His writing first gained attention in 1829 with a self-published short story called "A Journey on Foot From Holmen's Canal to the East Point of Amager in the Years 1828 and 1829." After receiving a government stipend, he was able to travel across Europe and continue developing his writing. Another breakthrough came in 1835 when he published The Improvisatore, a travelogue of his time in Italy. That same year he started publishing fairy tales, but he was still mainly known for his adult-centered novels at this time, like Only a Fiddler and O.T.

Some of Andersen's most well-known fairy tales, which appeared in collections, are "The Ugly Duckling," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Emperor's New Clothes." Many of his fairy tales became classics, but some were largely overlooked at the time. His fairy tales first gained popularity in Germany, and then in 1845, English translations allowed foreign audiences to become aware of Andersen's stories. They became classics of the English language and Andersen became one of the most translated authors ever.

Andersen introduced children to new ideas, concepts, and feelings with his fairy tales, but still made the stories relatable to them, viewing the world from their perspective. Andersen often identified with the downtrodden and outcast, and this perspective, that of an outsider, is found in many of his fairy tales, too. Some of his fairy tales are optimistic, showcasing the beauty and good overcoming evil, while others are pessimistic, ending in sadness. He became an influence on British children's authors such as A.A. Milne and Beatrix Potter, and his stories have been adapted to the stage and screen, such as with cartoon and live-action film adaptations of The Little Mermaid. Andersen died on August 4, 1875.

Children's books are important for the development of a child, particularly for preschool-aged children. Reading helps with cognitive, emotional, social, and language development. Books help prepare children for future social interactions and life experiences at a time when their social interactions are limited. Broken down by age, children's books range from picture books to young adult fiction books, with early readers, chapter books, and middle-grade fiction being in between. By genre, children's books range from traditional literature such as fairy tales, fables, myths, and legends, to biography, non-fiction, and fiction, such as mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction.

Before children's books existed, children's stories were shared orally, and many of the stories that were used in early children's books came from oral traditions that predate printing. Modern children's books also trace their roots to fairy tales geared toward children, and to works by authors like Hans Christian Andersen. Children's literature began in earnest in the eighteenth century, at the time when the concept of "childhood" developed, when children began being treated differently than adults. These books were generally educational or devoted to conduct. A Little Pretty Pocket-Book (1744) is considered the first modern children's book, while its author, John Newbery, is considered "The Father of Children's Literature." That same year, Mary Cooper published the first nursery rhyme collection, Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book.

Many classic children's books were published in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a period that became known as the "Golden Age of Children's Literature." The era commenced with the publishing of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) in England by Lewis Carroll. Other works of importance from the Golden Age are Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1869), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Carlo Collodi, Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (1894), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900), and Peter and Wendy (1911) by J.M. Barrie, which includes the story of Peter Pan.

The Golden Age of Children's Literature was gone by World War I, and there was a dearth of children's books until World War II, with some notable exceptions, such as Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A.A. Milne, Mary Poppins (1934) by P.L. Travers (the first in a series), and The Hobbit (1937) by J.R.R. Tolkien, all published in England. Two important American children's books of the era were Little House in the Big Woods (1932), the first book by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (1937), the first book by Dr. Seuss. There continued to be an increase in demand for children's books in America and Canada, fueled by the growth in libraries. The American Library Association began awarding the Newbery Medal, the first children's book award, in 1922, and the Caldecott Medal for illustration followed in 1938.

Mass production of children's paperbacks took place during World War II, and the book market in Europe recovered following the War. Prominent European children's books of the era include the first installment of The Chronicles of Narnia (1950) by C.S. Lewis, The Borrowers (1952) by Mary Norton, Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and James and the Giant Peach (1961) by Roald Dahl. Michael Bond wrote stories about Paddington Bear starting in 1958.

There was also a boom in children's books in America in the 1950s. One of the most prominent American children's books of the decade was Charlotte's Web (1952), published by journalist E.B. White. In the 1960s, realism entered children's books, with books reflecting the social changes in society and touching on subjects that had heretofore been avoided. Books that fit this mold include Where the Wild Things Are (1963) by noted illustrator Maurice Sendak and Harriet the Spy (1964) by Louise Fitzhugh.

Children's books of all forms continued to be published throughout the twenty and twenty-first centuries. Cressida Cowell's series How to Train Your Dragon was published between 2003 and 2015. J.K. Rowling published seven fantasy novels in the Harry Potter series from 1997 through 2007, which became the best-selling book series ever. On International Children's Book Day, on Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, attention is called to these children's books and more, and inspiration for reading grows!

How to Observe International Children's Book Day

• Explore the official International Children's Book Day webpage on the IBBY website for materials for this year's observance and suggestions on how to participate, as well as for materials from past observances.
• Check for activities in honor of International Children's Book Day being held in schools and public libraries.
• Take part in a writing competition being held in recognition of the day.
• Attend an event where a children's author or illustrator is appearing.
• Host a celebration about one of your favorite children's books.
• Read books and stories by Hans Christian Anderson to children or encourage them to read them on their own.
• Read one or more classic children's books to yourself or to children, or encourage children to read them on their own. Get ideas for books from the books listed above in the holiday's description. You could also choose from books by authors who have received the Hans Christian Andersen Award, books that have been awarded the Newbery or Caldecott Medal or another award, books that are on the New York Times Best Sellers list, or pick up a copy of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up and choose some books from there.
• Read a book about the history of children's books, such as Children's Literature: A Reader's History, from Aesop to Harry Potter.
• Order an International Children's Book Day book.
• Visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museums in California or Denmark.
• Watch the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen.

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