International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated every year on April 2nd to inspire a love of reading among children and to promote children’s literature worldwide. The day also marks the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author known for classic fairy tales like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Since 1967, ICBD has been organized by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), with a different national section of IBBY sponsoring the event each year. The sponsoring country selects a theme and a well-known children’s author to write a message for young readers.
This day serves as a reminder of the importance of books in shaping young minds and encouraging creativity and imagination. Many schools, libraries, and bookstores organize special storytelling sessions, book fairs, and literary events to celebrate.