International Children’s Book Day (ICBD), organized by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), is an event for the celebration of children’s books worldwide. ICBD inspires young minds to read and honors the importance of books for young minds’ imagination. It is celebrated every year on or near the 2nd of April, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, since its creation in 1967, honoring Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, such as The Little Mermaid.
How it is Celebrated
It is celebrated every year by a different IBBY national section, choosing their own theme, author, and illustrator from their country to develop a global message and poster for promoting the reading culture among young minds across the world. Some events celebrated during ICBD include reading to kids, author presentations, contests, and book awards. Some simple actions for celebrating this day include choosing a book to read together, as it can encourage kids’ empathy and build their self-confidence.
The theme for 2026, as hosted by IBBY Cyprus, is “Plant stories, and the world will bloom,” which focuses on the impact of stories in bringing about change.
UNESCO BMW’s Role
UNESCO BMW, a UNESCO-affiliated nonprofit, organizes storytelling sessions, library collaborations, and youth reading events for ICBD. They publish children’s books like If I Could and align activities with their mission: inner ecosystem improvement, creativity via arts, and global inner peace. Past efforts include 2024’s “Cross the Seas on the Wing of your Imagination” and 2025’s “The Freedom of Imagination” promotions.
UNESCO BMW’s Vision
UNESCO BMW has always had a vision where peace, technology, and justice can co-exist harmoniously in society. Furthermore, we aim to help create a society in which gender equality and environmental betterment are core values. We wish to show a global example of youth-led and artistic expression. Our mission statement is “UNESCO Body and Mind Wellness is a registered non-profit organization that promotes Inner Encouragement of Arts and Crafts. We follow the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Certificate of participation, internship, and volunteer opportunities are available. Our mission is to promote and to put into action programs that help raise a new generation of peacemakers, to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and people, based upon respect for commonly shared values.”
Written By
Ruheena Roushanara Choudhury and Seemab Arif