Today we celebrate once more the glorious wonders of children books.

Since 1967 IBBY ( International Board on Books for Young Children) celebrates on 2nd of April, the birth anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen, International Children Book Day (ICBD). To honor one of the most important figures in children literature and to celebrate the importance of books in children’s life.

Each year one nation member of IBBY gets to be the sponsor of ICBD. In 2024, Japan is the sponsor of the event and the theme chosen is Imagination: “ Cross the Sea on the Wings of Your Imagination”.

The Japonese writer Eiko Kadono, who won the Hans Christian Andersen award on 2018, send a letter to all the children of the world for this special day.

I will let the English translation of it down below. More informations on this year event can be found on IBBY organization website.

“Stories travel, riding on wings,
Longing to hear the joyful beat of your heart.

I’m a traveling story. I fly anywhere.

On wings of wind, or wings of waves, or sometimes on tiny wings of sand. Of course, I also ride the wings of migratory birds. And even those of jet planes.

I sit beside you. Opening the pages, I tell you a story, the one you want to hear.

Would you like a strange and wondrous story?

Or how about a sad one, a scary one, or a funny one?

If you don’t feel like listening right now, that’s fine too. But I know someday you will. When you do, just call out, “Traveling story, come. Sit beside me!”

And I’ll fly right there.

I have so many stories to share.

How about a story of a little island tired of being alone who learned to swim and set off to find a friend?

Or the tale of a mysterious night when two moons appeared.

Or the one about Santa Claus getting lost.

Oh, I can hear your heart. It’s beating faster.

Flitter-flutter, thumpity-thump, pitter-patter, bumpety-bump.

The traveling story has jumped inside and set your heart racing.

You’ll become one yourself next, spreading your wings to fly.

And so, another traveling story is born.” ( Eiko Kadono)