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It is impossible to overestimate the role of children’s books in the formation of personality. The book is our faithful friend since childhood, which will always teach you something new, plunge you into the wonderful world of exciting travels and interesting discoveries. Through reading, the child forms thinking, imagination, literate speech. A children’s book not only educates each child individually, but participates in the creation of the moral and intellectual image of entire generations.
However, in our age of all-consuming digital reality and media technologies, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a book to compete with cartoons and computer games that allow you to see a beautiful plot picture right away, without fully bringing thinking and imagination to work. Parents, in order to relax and free up time for household chores, often resort to the help of virtual assistants themselves. Of course, watching cartoons is an interesting and necessary thing, but do not forget: nothing can fully replace reading. This is an exciting adventure that an adult can share with a child, find something important, instructive, and truly valuable on the pages of books.
When is Children’s Book Day celebrated in Our Country and the world
International Children’s Book Day is celebrated annually on the same day – 2 April, in 2023, residents of dozens of countries around the world, including Our Country, will join the celebration. The date is not accidental: it coincides with the birthday of one of the most famous storytellers in history, Hans Christian Andersen.
history of the holiday
Children’s Book Day was established in 1967 by the International Children’s Book Council at the initiative of the German writer Jella Lepman.
An integral part of the holiday is the presentation of the International G.Kh. Andersen, approved back in 1956. The award is given to the author of the best children’s book, and since 1966 to the illustrator.
Domestic writers and artists were also awarded prizes. In 1976, the Soviet artist Tatyana Mavrina became a laureate; in 2018 – artist Igor Oleinikov. Agniya Barto, Sergei Mikhalkov, Yuri Koval and other writers repeatedly received diplomas and certificates.
Holiday traditions
The main international event and tradition on this day is the G.Kh. Andersen and other awards within the framework of the congress of the International Council on Children’s Books.
In countries celebrating the holiday, they organize various seminars, exhibitions, conferences, performances and festivals dedicated to the best children’s works.
Traditional events for this day are children’s book weeks. They meet children with modern children’s writers and poets. The authors recite their works, talk with young readers in the “question-answer” format. Such meetings are held annually in Our Country.
How to celebrate Children’s Book Day with your family
We invite parents and children to celebrate this good holiday at home. It can be a good family tradition to create a small homemade book with your child. Its content is up to you. The book can include both fairy tales and poems by your favorite authors, as well as your own works, the results of family creativity, and freehand drawings.
Remember how you made these little books while doing your homework with your parents? Small, but decorated with your own hands, the book will be a wonderful gift and a favorite family artifact.
And if you are a writer, artist or poet at heart, it’s time to open your talents to the world. Create a unique book for your children with their participation in the roles of the main characters. Such a work will definitely be liked, remembered and will be read with pleasure in your family.
By the way
Even in the Soviet Union, several decades before the celebration officially proclaimed in the world, the children’s book holiday was celebrated for the first time. It bore the interesting name “Knizhkina Name Day”. The holiday was held in Moscow in 1943 at the initiative of the children’s writer Lev Kassil. Schoolchildren were invited to it, who were gathered in the Hall of Columns.
Famous children’s authors performed before the children: Samuil Marshak, Korney Chukovsky, Agniya Barto, Sergey Mikhalkov, Mikhail Prishvin and others.
From that day on, the holiday had an all-Union, annual character.