International Children's Book Day (02/04)

Blooming pink bushes looked from the roof into the open window; their children's chairs stood right there. Kai and Gerda each sat on their own and took each other's hands. The cold, desolate splendor of the Snow Queen's palaces was forgotten by them like a heavy dream. G.H. Andersen, «Snow Queen»

Every year on April 2, the birthday of the great storyteller from Denmark Hans Christian Andersen, the whole world celebrates International Children's Book Day. Its celebration was established in 1967 on the initiative and decision of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).

On this day, the organizers of the event, emphasizing with particular enthusiasm that it is necessary to read good books from an early age, thereby promote the enduring role of children's books in shaping the spiritual and intellectual appearance of new generations of the Earth. Also among the goals of Day — is to draw attention to literature, book art and book culture for children, the problems of accessibility of children's books and the dissemination of children's reading.

It must be said that children's literature appeared relatively recently. Until the mid-17th century, children were mostly told fairy tales orally, or read about the same as their parents, such as fables. But basically the circle of children's reading came down to studying the Bible. In the 18th century, children read such famous works today as «Robinson Cruso» D. Defoe and «Gulliver's Travel» J. Swift, collections of oriental fairy tales were no less popular. Only in the 19th century were they able to read works written especially for them, in particular the — fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and G.H. Andersen, who contributed to the children's book.

Considerable attention was paid to the creation of children's literature in Russia. It is known that back in the 17th century, Hieromonk Savvaty wrote poetry specifically for children, and in the 18th-19th centuries, children's works were created by A. Pushkin, S. Aksakov, A. Shishkov, A. Pogorelsky and others. At the same time, the first children's magazines began to appear. No less famous are Soviet children's writers and poets — A. Gaidar, N. Nosov, A. Barto, K. Chukovsky, V. Bianchi, B. Zakhoder, E. Uspensky and many others.

Currently, children's literature — is a whole separate direction in literature. Every year, one of the National Branches of IBBY receives the honorary right to act as an international sponsor of this wonderful holiday — International Children's Book Day.

Children's literature plays a huge role in shaping the spiritual and intellectual appearance of new generations of the Earth (Photo: Elena Schweitzer, licensed by Shutterstock.com)

Every year the theme of the holiday is determined, a famous author from the host country is invited to write a message to all the children of the planet. A famous artist is also invited to create a poster for International Children's Book Day. These materials are subsequently used to popularize books and develop interest in reading around the world.

Also on Children's Book Day (every two years), children's writers and artists are awarded the main and most prestigious award in this literary field, the — International Prize named after G.Kh. Andersen with the presentation of a gold medal (it is also called the «Small Nobel Prize»). A gold medal with the profile of a great storyteller is awarded to the laureates at the next congress of the International Council on Children's Books, as is the Diploma of Honor for individual books for children, which is awarded for illustrating children's books and their best translations into the languages of the world.

Also traditionally, various exhibitions, competitions, performances, conferences and festivals dedicated to the best children's works are organized in many countries for Children's Book Day. And also — matinees and Children's and Youth Book Weeks, where modern children's writers and poets are invited to present their works themselves and answer questions from young readers.



• Infographics – poster «2 April — International Children's Book Day» • Article «Favorite children's book dishes: read and cook with your children» • Story «How to become a children's writer»

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