Children’s Book Week
November 12, 2007 by Lillie
November 12-18, 2007 is Children’s Book Week, which has been celebrated the week before Thanksgiving since 1919.
I wasn’t familiar with Children’s Book Week. So I enjoyed reading the history of the observance.
Even though I don’t write or edit children’s books, I recognize how important it is for children to develop a love for books and reading. I admire and appreciate children’s book writers and editors.
The Children’s Book Council, a trade organization for children’s book publishers, says this about Children’s Book Week:
A celebration of the written word, Children’s Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes, and bookstores. Through Children’s Book Week, the Children’s Book Council encourages young people and their care givers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.
This year’s theme is Rise Up Reading.
If you’re a parent or an educator, I hope you will celebrate Children’s Book Week to help young people “rise up reading.” If you’re a children’s book author, I hope you will take advantage of this week to share your work. Tell us about your children’s books or share your own childhood reading experiences in comments.
Added: Jeanne Dininni at Writer’s Notes reminded me about the Literacy Site, a click-to-give site that donates books to children in need. While I encourage daily visits to the site, Children’s Book Week is an excellent time to make a special effort.
Note the suggestion by Raz from Eco-Libris in the first comment below.
[tags]Children’s Book Week, reading[/tags]
Happy Children’s Book Week!
One option to celebrate this week is with a green children’s book.
Eco-Libris blog brings a recommendation on The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle (written by Stefani Newman of teensygreen). It’s a great conversation starter about nature, the seasons, and helps kids open their eyes to the world outside.
You are welcome to read it at:
http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2007/11/tiny-seed-holiday-green-gift-guide-for.html
Raz Godelnik
Eco-Libris
http://www.ecolibris.net
Thank you Lillie!
Raz
Lillie,
Thanks for the link to my Writer’s Notes post about The Literacy Site! Glad I could help inform people of how they can improve childhood literacy around the world by providing books (and helping to build schools) for children for free!
Jeanne
Hi There!
We offer an intergenerations early literacy skills programme called Run Home to Read. Our NGO is based in SOuth Africa.
this programme has reached over 3,150 families and has had a huge impact on the child’s formal education.
Maybe there are people here that would like to donate books to these families/ partner with Project Literacy on an event promoting “children’s book week”..
visit http://www.projectliteracy.org.za/ info@projectliteracy.org.za
Yondie,
I hope you get good response to your worthwhile program.
Thanks for the recommendation, Raz. That’s an excellent suggestion.
Raz,
I added a note to the post inviting visitors to read your comment.
You’re welcome, Jeanne. Thank you for the reminder during Children’s Book Week.