Bilal Bashir Bhat
Charles Pierre Baudelaire, a prominent French poet once said, “A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.” Today marks the 12th year of International Book Giving Day a volunteer initiative founded by UK-based renowned author Emma Perry.
International Book Giving Day is a volunteer effort that was started in 2012 after studies indicated that one thing that disadvantaged children have in common in California to Indonesia does not own a single book. Emma Perry, launched International Book Giving Day to inspire people across the globe to donate books to kids.
In a conversation with this writer, Emma Perry emphasized the importance of reading books, especially for children. International Book Giving Day is a 100% volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to, and enthusiasm for, books, she said.
On enquired about designating the date 14 February for Book Giving Day, Emma said that “Turning the commercialization of Valentine’s Day on its head, people across the globe are encouraged to spread the love of reading by getting books into the hands of as many children as possible on 14th February.”
Besides running the International Book Giving Day initiative, Emma is also the founder of the award-winning children’s book review site My Book Corner.
She said the support of well-known children’s book authors so far has been instrumental in International Book Giving Day’s success. They have jumped on board with both feet – donating valuable time, energy, and enthusiasm, adding, we encourage people to support the work of nonprofit organizations (i.e. charities) that work year-round to give books to children.
Asked about the method to observe Book Giving Day, Emma replied we need to encourage our children to give away some of their books to a child in need, donate a gently used book to a local library, hospital, or shelter, or to an organization that distributes used books to children in need internationally.
She said that as of now some 50 countries throughout the world participate in International Book Giving Day including Ukraine, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Australia, Canada, South Africa, France, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Brazil, Egypt, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Mexico, Macedonia, Malawi, Hungary, Malaysia, Israel, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Thailand, Indonesia, Jordan, China, Puerto Rico, and Bulgaria.
Emma hoped that people around the world would think about the best ways to help children in need in their communities. Every year on February 14, International Book Giving Day strives to reach one goal. This goal is to get books into the hands of as many children as possible.
