THE MUSIC OF WORDS

 

Good Friday this year happens to also be  International Children's Book Day (ICBD), which is a yearly event sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People. 

Founded in 1967, the day is observed on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, April 2.  Activities include writing competitions, announcements of book awards and events with authors of children's literature.

Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD. It decides upon a theme and invites a prominent author from the host country to write a message to the children of the world and a well-known illustrator to design a poster. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading.

Many IBBY Sections promote ICBD through the media and organize activities in schools and public libraries. Often ICBD is linked to celebrations around children's books and other special events that may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions or announcements of book awards.  As far as I am concerned, we can’t do enough in the age of technology, to promote reading among our young.

This year's theme is  THE MUSIC OF WORDS.  The illustrator of this year's poster is by Roger Mello, a Brazilian artist.  The author chosen is Cuban-American writer Margarita Engle.

Our small Shaw Island Library has the most fabulous children’s room, which most adults here can’t pass up as they head for the back room filled with non-fiction.  I envy children today the amount of incredible, amazing and fun-filled books available, especially those which are illustrated with wondrous colorful images.  And sometimes, more often than not, we too take books from the children!