International Book Giving Day Feb 14‏

There is no monthly blog carnival this month because there were not enough entries.  We will shoot for next month.

If a blog reviews mystery/suspense/thrillers (even occasionally) then I would like to feature those reviews.   Multiple entries from a blog are welcome.  Submit your blog entry for next month's Carnival here: (http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_8796.html)

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But today I would like to share the news about International Book Giving Day, which is on February 14th.  It is a day dedicated to getting new, used and borrowed books in the hands of as many children as possible and it is an international holiday.  In 2012, International Book Giving Day was celebrated by people in Australia, Canada, South Africa, France, India, Ireland, Japan, the Phillippines, Spain, Turkey, the UK and the US.

There are three simple ways to celebrate International Book Giving Day!

1. Give a Book to a Friend or Relative.
Celebrate International Book Giving Day by giving a child a new, used or borrowed book.

2. Leave a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.
Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.

3. Donate a Book.
Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or shelter. Alternatively, donate your books to an organization working internationally to get books in the hands of kids, such as Books for Africa. 

In addition, they encourage people to support the work of nonprofit organizations (i.e. charities) that work year round to give books to children, such as Room to Read, Books for Africa, Book Aid International, The Book Bus, Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Pratham Books. 

Check out  International Book Giving Day's website (click here.)  The website has bookplates, more information, and events.

 

Every Child a Reader

I have always been an advocate for children's reading programs.  When video games came out, books took a back seat and the outlook was bad.  It appeared that reading was on the way out for each new generation.  But then authors such as J.K. Rowling seemed to reinvent children's literature and children and teens were reading again.  Twilight came along.  Even dystopian darker themes captured young adult readers with The Hunger Games.  Reading among children may not be dying out after all. 

Programs such as "Every Child a Reader" have been working diligently to help turn the tide.  This program is "dedicated to supporting positive programs and opportunities that help promote the enjoyment of reading among America’s youth with the goal of instilling a lifelong love of reading."  The signature drive of the program is the Children’s Book Week, the nation’s longest-running literacy initiative, now in its ninety-third year.  

This year, Children's Book Week (click here) will be May 7-13, 2012.  I wanted to highlight this in advance so readers can find local events - or start one.  If you are a teacher or librarian, there are resources and tools to get involved.

There is even a Blog Hop for Children's Book Week (click here) for bloggers to join.  Enjoy, and spread the love of reading!

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