International Children's Book Day

April 2nd is International Children's Book Day!

This falls on the birthday of one of our most loved children's book authors, Hans Christian Andersen. Started in 1967, it is sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization.

April is also National Poetry Month!

Here is more information from Poets.org.

What's your favorite children's poem?

Hans Christian Andersen Award

Information about the Hans Christian Andersen Award

Every other year IBBY presents the Hans Christian Andersen Awards to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children's books. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards.

The nominations are made by the National Sections of IBBY and the recipients are selected by a distinguished international jury of children's literature specialists.

The Author's Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator's Award since 1966. The Award consists of a gold medal and a diploma, presented at a festive ceremony during the biennial IBBY Congress. A special Andersen Awards issue of IBBY's journal Bookbird presents all the nominees, and documents the selection process.

The first winner was Eleanor Farjeon (UK) in 1956

One of Eleanor Farjeon's books

The 2014 winner was Nahoko Uehashi (Japan)  for writing and Roger Mello (Brazil) for illustration

One of Nahoko Uehashi's Books

Illustrated by Roger Mello