About
Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, young people across the country participate by attending events at schools, libraries, bookstores, celebrating at home, and engaging with book creators both online and in person. The 2024 Children’s Book Week will take place during two dedicated weeks of celebration, May 6-12 and November 4-10!
To learn more about participating this year:
History
Children’s Book Week originated in the belief that children’s books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.
Matthiews enlisted two important allies: Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly who believed that “a great nation is a reading nation,” and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children’s Works at the New York Public Library and a major figure in the library world. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916, the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association sponsored a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1944, the newly-established Children’s Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. In 2008, Children’s Book Week moved from November to May. At that time, the administration of Children’s Book Week, including planning official events and creating original materials, was transferred to Every Child a Reader, CBC’s charitable arm.
In 2019, the 100th anniversary of Children’s Book week was celebrated.
2024 Children’s Book Week Highlights:
Exciting new resources and materials are being created now. What to expect?
- Official Poster — poster and drawing page by award-winning artist, author, and illustrator Sophie Blackall, and inspired by the 2024 slogan, No Rules. Just Read.
- Bookmarks — Exclusive bookmarks by six prominent children’s book illustrators.
- Draw Characters — new Children’s Book Week drawing pages featuring characters from your favorite children’s book illustrators.
- CLUB NO RULES JUST READ — a new reading club where kids can discover that reading has no rules.
- Celebration Ideas – specifically created for the various types of participants
- Floyd Cooper Day — Keep his legacy alive with book read-alouds of Floyd-illustrated books on Memorial Day, the Tulsa Race Massacre, and Juneteenth.
- Anna Dewdney Read Together Award — picture book prize in honor of the late author and illustrator.
More Resources and FAQs
