Foreword by ibby president, Peter Schneck

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY (ICBD)

Although not all the NS celebrate ICBD, there are many that hold a big event or a series of events around the 2^nd of April. Among these IBBY Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungry, Iceland, India, Iran, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, New Zealand, Peru, Romania, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela are very active. The sections of Slovakia, New Zealand and Thailand sponsored the ICBD 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

The activities that are held often take place in schools and libraries, and include meetings with authors and illustrators; contests; readings and storytelling; exhibitions; conferences and lectures. Most of them use the message and poster from the sponsoring National Section.
IBBY Greece is always successful with the activities to mark the ICBD. On the NS’s request, the Ministry of Education sends a circular to all Greek schools recommending the celebration of ICBD with activities such as book-fairs, meet-the-author events, animations etc. Inquiries from schools and libraries are answered with information about what type of activities can be organized for this event. The ICBD materials are distributed to all the schools in Greece. Furthermore, through its members the NS participates in lectures to parents and students, as well as radio/TV programmes.
The NS of Lebanon, Moldova each organize a National Reading Week in April.