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International Children’s Book Day

02/04/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Children’s Book Day

Unlocking Imagination and Knowledge in Children

April 2nd is a day filled with wonder and imagination. It’s International Children’s Book Day! This special day celebrates the joy of reading and honours the power of stories to shape young minds.

The Origins

International Children’s Book Day was first celebrated in 1967. It was established by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The date was chosen to honour Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author known for timeless tales like “The Little Mermaid” and “The Ugly Duckling.”

Why Reading Matters

Books open doors to new worlds. They spark creativity and teach valuable lessons. For children, reading is not just about words on a page. It’s about adventures, dreams, and learning about different cultures and experiences. Reading helps develop language skills, boosts imagination, and improves concentration. Plus, it’s a great way for families to bond.

The Role of Illustrations

Illustrations play a crucial role in children’s books. They enhance the storytelling experience, making it more engaging and easier to understand. Vibrant pictures help young readers visualize characters and scenes, aiding comprehension and memory. For early readers, illustrations provide context clues that support word recognition and vocabulary development. We have lots of great books on illustration including this one: When we were young : two centuries of children’s book illustration

Famous Children’s Books

  • “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling
  • “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
  • “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
  • “Matilda” by Roald Dahl

These classics have inspired generations and continue to captivate young readers. What are some of your favourite children’s stories? Comment below

The Power of Reading

Reading isn’t just fun. It helps build empathy and critical thinking. When children dive into stories, they step into different perspectives and learn about kindness, bravery, and friendship. With the help of beautiful illustrations, stories come alive and leave a lasting impact on young minds.

So have a Happy International Children’s Book Day. Perhaps you might want to write your own one day. If so check out lots of great resources at librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

By Juliet Kinsey

read more fun posts on our blog such as: Books that shaped you

Roald Dahl Day

13/09/2023 / / 0 Comments

Roald Dahl Day

Roald Dahl is the best-known 20th-century author for his imagination and children’s stories such as Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, James, and the Giant Peach. Although, they are not your typical children’s books and can often take twists and turns with dark humour.

But did you know that James and the Giant Peach originally started off with a cherry?

 

Roald Dahl always had a spirit for adventure and even became an aircraftman in 1939 for the Royal Air Force. This inspired some of the characters and locations, like his family home in Buckinghamshire.

Dahl depicts heroic and villain protagonists from The Witches to Mr and Mrs Twit, to Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They are brought to life with humorous vocabulary that turns them into mischievous characters. Dahl played around with new words and names such as the Oompa-Lumpas featured in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Not only did Roald Dahl write children’s books, but between also wrote gruesome adult fiction; Sometime Never, Pig and Tales of the Unexpected!

 

But have you ever wondered who also illustrates the characters in the books?

Sir Quentin Blake is an illustrator and is most known for illustrating Roald Dahl’s stories. His first illustration was for Punch magazine before designing children’s books. Blake worked with Dahl in the 1970s and illustrated the Enormous Crocodile.

For Roald Dahl’s stories, Blake uses black ink and a fountain pen to create scratchy, inky and blotted designs. He usually begins with a gesture or facial expression like this example of the Charlie, the lucky finder of the golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:

 

 

Charlie and the golden ticket. Illustration by Quentin Blake.

Charlie and the golden ticket. Illustration by Quentin Blake.

 

You can find more about Roald Dahl’s work available in the library’s Box of Broadcasts:

https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/0CD1CC91?bcast=132147891

 

You can find the ebook here:

https://napier.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44NAP_INST/n96pef/alma9923522873202111

 

We even have a Spanish adaptation on DVD of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny Depp!

https://napier.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44NAP_INST/n96pef/alma9920610750102111

 

 

Image of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory DVD starring Johnny Depp in Spanish, available at Merchiston Library.

Image of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory DVD starring Johnny Depp in Spanish, available at Merchiston Library.

 

Get involved in Roald Dahl’s Children’s Charity:

https://www.roalddahlcharity.org/

 

Other links:

Roald Dahl Day

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/36824907

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