The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) was begun in 1953 based on the vision of its founder, Jella Lepman. IBBY´s mission is to promote international understanding through children´s books; to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards; to encourage the publication and distribution of quality children´s books, especially in developing countries; to provide support and training for those involved with children and children´s literature and to stimulate research and scholarly works in the field of children´s literature.
The organization is composed of more than 70 national sections operating on both national and international levels. IBBY´s policies and programs are determined by its Executive Committee: ten people from different countries, and a President elected by the national sections during the biennial General Assembly held at each IBBY Congress. Each national section pays annual dues to join IBBY based on a sliding scale for nation groups depending on their economic ability. In addition, the Hands Across the Sea program raises funds from all nations to help pay the dues of struggling sections.
The organization is composed of more than 70 national sections operating on both national and international levels. IBBY´s policies and programs are determined by its Executive Committee: ten people from different countries, and a President elected by the national sections during the biennial General Assembly held at each IBBY Congress. Each national section pays annual dues to join IBBY based on a sliding scale for nation groups depending on their economic ability. In addition, the Hands Across the Sea program raises funds from all nations to help pay the dues of struggling sections.
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IBBY's activities include: |
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Hans Christian Andersen AwardThe Hans Christian Andersen Medal is awarded biennially to the living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children´s literature. The nominations are made by the National Sections of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and the recipients are selected by a distinguished international jury of children´s literature specialists.
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IBBY Honour ListThe IBBY Honour List is a biennial selection of outstanding, recently published books, honoring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. The titles are selected by the National Sections which can nominate one book for each of the three categories.
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IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion AwardThe IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award is given biennially to a groups or institution whose outstanding activities are judged to be making a lasting contribution to reading promotion programs for children and young people. The Award was established in 1986 and is sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Read more about the award and its regulations, and consider submitting an application using this form.
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Children in Crisis ProjectsThe IBBY Children in Crisis Fund provides support for children whose lives have been disrupted through war, civil disorder or natural disaster. The two main activities that are supported by the Fund are the therapeutic use of books and storytelling in the form of bibliotherapy, and the creation or replacement of collections of selected books that are appropriate to the situation.
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International Children's Book DayInternational Children's Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday (April 2) to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books. Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD.
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BookbirdBookbird: A Journal of International Children´s Literature is a refereed journal published quarterly by IBBY. The premier journal in the field of international literature for young people, it seeks to communicate new ideas to the whole community of readers interested in children’s books. The subscription rate is $50 per year. USBBY encourages all members to subscribe to Bookbird.
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Biennial World CongressIBBY sponsors a world-wide Congress every two years (in even numbered years) in sites such as South Africa, China, Denmark, Spain, and New Zealand. The prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Author and Illustrator Awards are presented at the IBBY World Congress. The 39th IBBY International Congress will be held in Trieste from August 29th through September 2nd, 2024. The theme is "Join the Revolution! Giving Every Child Good Books." Register on the official website.
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Documentation Centre of Books for Disabled ChildrenThe IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities provides information, consultation and documentation services for organizations, research workers, teachers, students, librarians, publishers, authors, illustrators, policy makers and the media who work with young people with special needs.
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