International Children’s Book Day 2013

April 2 is the day set aside annually by the international community to mark International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) and the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, the legendary author of several popular children’s books including The Nightingale, The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling.
The International Children’s Book Day celebration was started in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) (a non-profit organisation) to inspire a love for reading and to spotlight children’s books. IBBY was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1954 and is composed of seventy National Sections all over the world. Activities that take place on the day include writing competitions, spelling-bees, book award ceremonies, book reading, drama and poetry recitals. Longhorn Steakhouse, a restaurant in the United States, engages families with children through its its 'Give a Book, Get a Free Steakhouse Kid’s Meal' offer. The Garden City Literary Festival, a non-profit based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, expressed their support for the day with an article encouraging parents to read and give a book to a child as a gift. Do you have a child in your life? Celebrate with them by giving a book or spending some time reading with them today! P.S. Check out some of the classic children's books in ZODML's collection (both at the Main Library  at 196 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi and in our e-Library):

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
What Katy Did at School and What Katy Did Next by Susan Coolidge
Mr Toad of Toad Hall by Walt Disney
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Without a Silver Spoon by Eddie Iroh
Eze Goes to School by Onuora Nzekwu
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling

Be sure to share your favourite children's books in the comments, on our Facebook page or on Twitter!