2nd April International Children's Day

 

In 2025, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY-Netherlands and the poster is made by two Dutch creators of children’s books. The theme of the 2025 International Children's Book Day is The freedom of imagination, and the motto is the last sentence of the poem ‘The Language of Pictures’:

‘Make pictures for my poem, and please feel free: these words belong to you even though they came from me.’

The poem comes from the illustrated poetry collection Alle wensen van de wereld (2021) by Rian Visser and illustrator Janneke Ipenburg. This book was awarded a Zilveren Griffel in the Netherlands and the Gouden Poëziemedaille (Gold Poetry Medal) in Belgium.

I know very little about Dutch Children's Literature and this poem and illustration made me feel guilty that I didn't know more. Of course I know about Dick Bruna and Miffy is still popular in my Early Childhood Library. Miffy books are on display in the library at the moment along with other famous 'rabbits' in children's books eg Max and Ruby (Rosemary Wells), Simon (Stephanie Blake), Davy (Brigitte Weninger), Hopper (Marcus Pfister) and Betty Bunny (Michael Kaplan).

The other author Dutch author illustrator I know and admire is Max Velthuijs. His series of books about Frog will make you smile.

Other than those two, the library has very few other Dutch children's book makers... at least one book by each of these:

• Jan Jutte

• Wouter van Reek has a series of books about Coppernickel

• Annemarie van Haeringen

• Sarah van Dongen

• Mies van Hout

• The Tjong-Khing is an Indonesian-born children’s book illustrator based in the Netherlands who has won Dutch picture book prizes several times. 

Time to do some more research and find some more!

Meanwhile I have written more comprehensively about Children's Book Day here and Momotimetoread has here.

25th July International Red Shoe Day

International Red Shoe Day, celebrated every July 25, was founded in memory of Australian Lyme disease patient Theda Myint, who passed away from the disease in 2013. Theda Myint died of Lyme disease on July 25, 2013, thus the date. Myint’s disease grew gradually after she was bitten by ticks in Australia, and was exacerbated by a bout of flu she caught while traveling in Europe in 2000.

It was created to raise awareness of the so-called invisible illnesses — physical, mental and neurological conditions that are not immediately apparent to others but can hurt just as much as illnesses with easily visible symptoms. Myint was known for her love of red shoes, which is why the red shoe became the symbol of the day.

While many of my students would not know what Lyme disease is, there are many that seem to be besotted with shoes and having the same shoes as their friends. This worries me, but I guess there is so much shoe choice these days and I am jealous because as a child I had only two pairs of shoes, school shoes and sneakers. A rare school friend had a pair of 'good' shoes too for parties and Sunday School.

There are so many children's books that feature shoes. See here. To celebrate this day though I thought I would just mention those that feature 'red' shoes.

Of course there is Hans Christian Anderson's story The Red Shoes. The library has two picture book versions, but it is not a 'simple' story and is in fact, I think very strange and not really for young children. As is the case in some of Anderson's tales, Karen the protagonist dies at the end of the story. She is 'punished' for her vanity and 'lust' for the finer things. The version with illustrations by Sun Yung Yoo that is in the library has beautiful and haunting artwork.

Simpler and more 'cosy' is the series of books about the hare Ruby, in Ruby Red Shoes. The library has all of these books and a very popular toy to accompany them.

Next look for this, Red Shoes where Malika is delighted when Nana surprises her with a beautiful new pair of red shoes! 

We don't have this one, Lily May and the Ruby Shoes Blues as here in Australia children wear a school uniform and no one is likely to come to school wearing red high heels, but it has the making of lots of good discussion.

And if you are thinking 'outside the box' try this lovely story, The Mermaid and her Shoe is  about one of King Neptune's daughters, Minnow and her quest for answers about a red shoe that she finds.

2nd April International Children's Book Day

Today is International Children's Book Day in honour of Hans Christian Andersen's birthday and as is usual IBBY has produced a poster. This year's theme is Stories are wings that help you soar everyday. The quote is from Canadian author Richard Van Camp and the artwork by Canadian  illustrator Julie Flett. They are Canadian because the event this year is sponsored by IBBY Canada.

Julie Flett's book illustrations are distinctive, recognisable and always a joy to behold.  Her books often feature Cree language or are bilingual because she is a Cree-Metis author who promotes her indigenous Canadian heritage and culture. Her books We All Play  and Birdsong  are both available here and worth seeking out.

        

I am not a huge fan of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales. Many are sad, too long and obscure, but like all fairytales many have been romanticised, toned down, rewritten and presented in a more child-like way. Some of these have become very popular with a young audience. 

My students like:

The Little Mermaid

The Princess and the Pea

Renowned illustrators such as Jerry Pinkney, P.J.Lynch, Susan Jeffers and Jane Ray have ventured in with titles such as:

The Ugly Duckling  and  The Snow Queen

and The Wild Swans

Even The Emperor's New Clothes has had a resurgence in popularity.

I have yet to find copies of The Little Match Girl, The Fir Tree, The Nightingale  or The Steadfast Tin Soldier that I would recommend to a very young audience.

Learning more about Hans Christian Anderson's life has become much easier for young audiences though with the publication of very accessible biographies.

To celebrate International Children's Day you do not need to read Andersen or Flett's books, you are just being encouraged to read children's books and revel in the quality of them all over the world.

 

2nd April Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) International Children's Book Day Ruth Heller (1923 - 2004) Emily Rodda (1948)

Today is Hans Christian Andersen's birthday and it is the day that the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) chose to celebrate annually as the day to inspire young children to read and to promote quality children's books the world over, that is it is International Children's Book Day. Each year IBBY produces a poster, such as the one above which is the 2010 one. Every two years they also announce the winners of the Hans Christian Andersen Award. This prestigious award is given to an author, this year to David Almond from the United Kingdom and an illustrator, this year to Jutta Bauer from Germany.

Hans Christian Andersen needs no introduction. His stories continue to be read by children, especially as many accomplished illustrators continue to illustrate versions of his stories as single picture books. The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea are popular with the children in my library.

Ruth Heller's book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones is always popular, especially when it is Easter or school has eggs incubating. It does not matter that it is old or that other authors have written about the same thing. The combination of Ruth's bright colours and just the right amount of information makes it work beautifully. It also goes beyond birds and reptiles when looking

at who lays eggs.

Lastly, it is Australian author Emily Rodda's birthday. Really it must be Jennifer Rowe's birthday because Emily Rodda is a pen name used by adult book author Jennifer Rowe when she is writing books for children. She is well known in the library because of the Deltora Quest; Fairy Realm and Squeak Street series.