International Book Giving Day 2017

14 February 2017

The International Book Giving Day team, founded and headed by my gorgeous friend and colleague, Emma Perry, is delighted to announce that Marianne Dubuc is the illustrator behind 2017’s official poster. Isn't it just divine!?

Now in its fifth year, International Book Giving Day (IBGD) continues to grow from strength to strength, reaching places such as Nepal, India, Canada, South Africa, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Nigeria, Fiji, Czech Republic, USA, Cambodia, Hungary, The Philippines and Romania.

On the 14th of February, #bookgivingday participants are encouraged to give books to children.

This can take many forms, the only limit is your imagination. Books have been sent to child refugees in Calais, France; a new library was created in Cape Town, South Africa; in Uganda the Mpambara-Cox Foundation gifted books to children, and for many, it was the first time they have been given a book of their own. In 2014, Scholastic Australia went to the Melbourne Children’s Hospital and gifted a book to every child. People continue to be creative in so many different ways, all keen to share the love of books. More examples can be viewed here.

Turning the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day on its head, people across the globe are encouraged to spread the love of reading by getting books into the hands of as many children as possible on 14 February.

Learn more about IBGD here and about Marianne Dubuc here.

On Feb 14, I'll be giving books to kids. When you've finished gobbling chockies and smelling the roses, won't you do the same?