International Children's Book Day

Today is International Children's Book Day (ICBD), a day to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.  April 2 was chosen because it’s Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday.  For information about the day, go to http://www.ibby.org/awards-activities/activities/international-childrens-book-day/.

Hans Christian Andersen, born in 1805, is best remembered for his children’s fairy tales; among them are "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina" and “The Princess and the Pea”. 

Last year, on what would have been HCA’s 211^th birthday, BookRiot posted a list of eleven things to do on his birthday.  Though it’s a year later, the activities are still appropriate.  Check out the suggestions at http://bookriot.com/?p=94814.

If you don’t have any of HCA’s tales on hand, Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen is available through Project Gutenberg and can be downloaded for free:  http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27200?msg=welcome_stranger.