Happy International Book Giving Day

It’s International Book Giving Day – obviously one of our favourite days of the year! Started in 2012, the aim is to get books into the hands of as many children as possible. International Book Giving Day is celebrated by people in over 44 countries and is a 100% volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to and enthusiasm for books.

According to the website these are the ways that you can get involved.

1. Subscribe to the website, join over 14,000 already committed to #bookgivingday.
2. Leave a book for a child to discover, donate to a local charity.
3. Connect with others celebrating International Book Giving Day via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #bookgivingday
4. Download and print an International Book Giving Day bookmark and/or bookplate to attach to a book you give. They’re free!
5. Share a photo of yourself celebrating International Book Giving Day. Use #bookgivingday on social media so they can find you.
6. Invite your community to celebrate International Book Giving Day. Proudly display the #bookgivingday poster.

In addition, they also encourage people to support the work of nonprofit organisations (i.e. charities) that work year round to give books to children.

If you’re looking for some ideas for books to donate or give then look no further, below is a list of our favourite books to give to get you started.

Melissa Wilson Head of Marketing and Children’s Content
There are a few books that I will always give to new parents such as Guess How Much I Love You, The Gruffalo and The Very Hungry Caterpillar they are always well loved and read many times over. For older children I choose a handful of new books each year that I love and tend to buy multiples of those. At the moment it’s The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell, The Malamander by Thomas Taylor, Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth by Lisa Nicol and The Monster Who Wasn’t by T.C. Shelley.

Bec Howard | Marketing Coordinator
One of my favourite things to give to people is books! I love having a book I gave become a favourite. I love giving copies of Beatrix Potter stories – these tales were staple in my childhood and I love passing that on to a new generation. The same is true of the Spot collection of stories. For those in the YA community, one of my top gifting books recently has been Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. It’s a completely original way of telling a story and drew me in like no other book!

Jane Tara | Lifestyle Editor
My go-to picture book to gift is The Wrong Thing by Isobelle Carmody. A friend gave it to my son and the first time I read it to him, I cried. In fact, every time I read it, I cried. I just love this book. For older children, I’m surrounded by boys. I raised four, have godsons… life sent me a lot of boys. So, I tend to give books that might challenge them a little, without them realising. Most boys give an eye roll when I give them the first title in Erin Hunter’s Warrior series (cats on the covers), but without fail they all devour many books in the series. So that’s another favourite for me to gift.