International Children's Book Day

What Is International Children's Book Day?

Every April 2nd is "International Children's Book Day." It was established in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) in honor of the fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, known for "The Little Mermaid" and "The Little Match Girl," who was born on this day in 1805. Its aim is to bring the joy of books to children and to show adults, too, how fascinating children's books can be. It is a day to share the pleasure of reading around the world and to think again about the importance of children's literature.

Andersen and the History of Children's Literature

Andersen's stories have gone beyond the category of children's books and are read all over the world.

• A storyteller born to a shoemaker: Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a shoemaker. He drew attention in 1835 with his novel "The Improvisatore" and began publishing fairy tales that same year. He wrote more than 200 fairy tales in his lifetime, and his works are said to have been translated into nearly 150 languages.
• The Hans Christian Andersen Award: Given by IBBY every two years, the Hans Christian Andersen Award honors a lasting contribution to children's literature and is sometimes called the "Little Nobel Prize." Japanese winners include authors Michio Mado, Nahoko Uehashi, and Eiko Kadono, and illustrators Suekichi Akaba and Mitsumasa Anno.

International Children's Book Day in Japan

Each year, a different IBBY national section takes its turn creating a commemorative poster and message for this day and sharing them with the world. In Japan, JBBY (the Japanese Board on Books for Young People) produces a Japanese version and distributes it to libraries and other institutions across the country.

Interesting Facts About Children's Books

• A surprising side of Andersen: Andersen is said to have been a very anxious person. According to anecdotes, he always carried a rope when going out so he could escape through a window in an emergency, and left a note by his bed saying "I only seem dead" so no one would mistake him for dead while he slept.
• A master of paper cutting: Andersen was also known for his paper cuttings, and he made picture books decorated with his own cut-outs as gifts for his friends' children.
• The novelty of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland": Published in 1865, Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was a story to enjoy for its nonsense and fun rather than its moral lessons, and it had a major influence on later children's literature.
• A name that lives on in his hometown: The airport in Andersen's hometown of Odense was renamed "Hans Christian Andersen Airport" in 2013.
• The pleasure of rereading as an adult: Rereading fairy tales you loved as a child often reveals things you didn't notice back then, such as the bittersweet endings or the characters' feelings.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Reread a book you loved as a child and discover charms you didn't notice at the time
• Give a picture book to a child you know or read aloud to them, passing on the joy of stories
• Explore fairy tales and translated picture books from around the world, enjoying the differences and similarities between cultures
• Look for works by Japanese authors and illustrators who have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award at your library

Every Page Turned Plants Seeds of Courage and Kindness

April 2nd is a day to feel anew the power a single book can hold. The stories we read as children stay with us somewhere in our hearts even as adults. On Andersen's birthday, why not pick up a book you once loved, or one that children are reading today?