Book Giving Day

Book Giving Day is February 14th

International Book Giving Day is aimed at increasing children's access and enthusiasm for books. It is celebrated around the world where awareness and efforts take place to contribute and give books to share with children. Whether you give to your local library or school, donate to a local charity or connect with International Book Giving Day volunteers, celebrate this day by helping to provide access to books for children to help distill a love of reading. 

February 14th has become a day for the love of reading with Library Lovers Day, Book Giving Day and Read to Your Child Day. 

February 14 is about more than giving out valentines. International Book Giving Day is a globally celebrated event aimed at putting books into the hands of children. Books offer many wondrous benefits: they engage our minds, entertain us, deepen our cultural understandings, increase language development, and bolster creativity. Give a book today and spread the joy of reading to the young minds of tomorrow!

History of International Book Giving Day

International Book Giving Day (IBGD) began in 2012 with Amy Broadmoore, a K-5 school librarian and library science graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Chapaign. Founder of the blog Delightful Children’s Books, Amy’s created the event as a means to get more books to kids, particularly those in communities lacking quality resources. Upon seeing it make waves on social media, Emma Perry, a U.K. children’s book author, reached out to Amy to offer her assistance. In 2013, Amy handed over the reins of the project to Emma, who still stands as the organization’s leader. International Book Giving Day has since only continued to grow. A 100% volunteer initiative celebrated in 44 countries, including the United States, the U.K., Japan, Israel, Mexico, India, France, and China, International Book Giving Day not only wants to give books but to foster a child’s appetite and enthusiasm for great storytelling and literary adventures.

How to Book Give

The International Book Giving website offers numerous ways for you to give a book! Their suggestions include subscribing to their website of over 15,000 members, connecting with other celebrators via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), or sharing a photo of yourself celebrating International Book Giving Day with #bookgivingday.

Another way to be a book giver is to leave books out for kids to finds. It sounds a bit odd but can prove to be a clever way to gift a child a book. Here are the steps:

• First and foremost, gather up the books you’ll be giving away
• The International Book Giving Day website offers free bookmarks and bookplates. Print some out and put them inside the books.
• The website also offers labels to put on the books. Slap one on your books to make sure your intentions are crystal clear!
• Time to make like a book Santa and get with the gifting! Now, you’ll want to place your books in places where kids will be able to find them: along school routes, in the waiting rooms of doctors' offices (after asking permission of course!), and placed conspicuously in parks around benches, swings, and slides.

Other means of International Book Giving Day support are donations. Check with your local libraries, hospitals, children centers, schools, and kindergartens to see if you can donate your unused books. Literacy organizations the world over can use our support. Take a peek at the International Book Giving Day website’s list of organizations that you can help out.

February 14 is a day for more than one kind of love. Spread, support, and strengthen the love of reading today. Get books into the hands of children. Nurture their imagination and intelligence. Allow them the chance to grow as literate-capable, creative, critical-thinking dream wizard! Mythologies are the mirrors of our cultures. Let’s help to make sure the kids can look into them.