International Children's Book Day 2025

In 2025, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY-Netherlands and the poster is made by two Dutch creators of children’s books. The theme of the 2025 International Children's Book Day is The Freedom of Imagination.

It is just one week until International Children's Book Day. This year our IBBY Australia members will be sent a wonderful video celebrating eight organisations from around Australia associated with children and reading and children's literature. Organisations that reflect three of our goals:

·       to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high                 literary and artistic standards

·       to provide support and training for those involved with children and children's                 literature

·       to protect and uphold the Rights of the Child according to the UN Convention on             the Rights of the Child

If you have an art teacher in your school you might like to enter the internation competition for ICBD 2025.

Read more here

Here is the 2025 official poster and poem. And here are some lesson suggestions. This is the link to the three lessons or you can access this from the previous link.

The Language of Pictures
Rian Visser
Translation: Laura Watkinson 

Can you draw pictures
for the words,
for the things I say?

Then draw
part of the picture,
cold,
wind,
a lump in your throat
or tough luck,

draw a cough,
a sigh,
the scent of fresh bread,
time,
a moment,
the beginning or the end
of a plan,

draw the place wherever,
the place where never,
the place where soon
something is going to happen,

draw the pain of a push,
the taste of the sea.

There is so much
that I want to see,
like love,
one day,
and maybe for me.

Make pictures
for my poem,
and please feel free:
these words
belong to you
even though they came from me.

Poster Illustrator: Janneke Ipenburg (b. 1979) is a Dutch illustrator of children’s books. She has made two poetry collections with Rian Visser, including Het is een zachte dag vandaag (2024). As an author/illustrator, she created the picture book Voor altijd bij jou (2023), a story about being connected in spite of an immeasurable distance. In addition to her work as a children’s illustrator, Janneke has worked on a number of animation films, and she is currently working as a character designer on a large Chinese stop-motion animation. In 2023, Janneke was on the longlist of the World Illustration Awards.

You can see her books here.

Message author from the poster: Rian Visser (b. 1966) is a Dutch children’s book writer and poet. She writes funny and exciting books that are a perfect match for children’s interests. Together with the illustrator Janneke Ipenburg, she has created the poetry collections Alle wensen van de wereld (2021) and Het is een zachte dag vandaag (2024). In 2022, Rian Visser won a Zilveren Griffel and the Gouden Poëziemedaille (Gold Poetry Medal). Rian Visser is very active in education. She designs digital lessons about creative writing and reading promotion, which teachers can use for free. From 2024 to 2026, she has officially been appointed Dutch Children’s Laureate.

You can see more books here. 

Something like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Laura is sure it is all her fault. The authorities have taken her mum and dad away. Laura now has to live with an aunt who she does not know. She has to go to a new school. And she is not allowed to phone her mum or dad she can only write letters to the rehab facility. She is wracked with guilt. Why did she make that 911 phone call? This was such a bad decision, or was it?

Her aunt has so many house rules - Laura is constantly on edge worried about doing the wrong thing. Luckily school is okay and without even trying she does make a really good friend - a boy named Benson who is also an outsider. Benson has Sickle cell anemia which means he cannot join in sport activities and he has to spend long periods in hospital. Laura is not sure at first if it is wise to make a friend because surely she can go back home very soon - any day now - but then days become weeks, and weeks become months. 

I love books where a dog helps with the healing of a character - Laura finds an abandoned puppy. Her aunt does let him stay and Laura names him Sparrow. She finds out about a program where dogs can go into care facilities like the one where her parents are. They work as therapy dogs so all Laura needs to do is train Sparrow, pass the training test and then find a way to visit Harmonic Way. This is a good plan but then her parents discharge themselves, they disappear and even though she writes to them every week she never receives a reply. 

The review by Ms Yingling will give you lots more plot details (Spoilers too). Colby Sharp talks about Something Like Home: "Beautiful, powerful, unforgettable." I totally agree - this is a perfect Verse Novel - you can find more of them by selecting that label from my sidebar. Highly recommended for readers aged 11+.

Arango’s writing is a joy to read, combining strong storytelling, compelling characters, and rich language. Kirkus Star review

Arango’s writing is intimate and heartbreaking, tackling such hefty issues as cultural identity, addiction, the pain of displacement and the anxiety it causes, and the adulation and rationalization that a child in pain can offer to adults they love. Arango accomplishes this with the believable voice of a girl in crisis and by tapping into compassion for all the characters amidst moving scenes of joy and connection. Horn Book

Haunted by her guilt and lack of autonomy, Laura is struggling to find a place in a new school and in a house with rules she doesn’t understand when she discovers an abandoned puppy and sets out to train him as a therapy dog. Maybe he will be the key to visiting her parents so she can apologize and they can all go home together. School Library Journal

Companion books:

Waiting for Normal

Wish

When Friendship followed me Home

Almost Home

Scarlet Ibis

My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui illustrated by Evie Barrow

Mum is coming to school but my mum is so different. It is Parents and Carers Day. Visitors come to school, talk to the class and then enjoy morning tea of cup cakes in the playground. But mum doesn't walk her daughter to school she carries her dangling from her claws. Mum doesn't talk to the class - she sings. And mum is not interested in the cup cakes so she perches high in a tree. There's a funny implication here about the possibility of bird poo raining down on people sitting under that tree. Then a spider lands on the head of a parent. Everyone rushes about but no one can catch it until mum swoops down and saves the day. This is an important turning point for her daughter. Mum is a hero. Mum has made her proud. So together they fly away home. 

So is mum really a bird? 

The word allegory might come into your mind when you read My Mum is a Bird. An allegory is a simple story which has a symbolic and more complex level of meaning. Characters, setting, objects and colours can all stand for or represent other bigger ideas. 

I am going to suggest mum depicted as a bird could be designed to show she is neurodivergent; or has a disability; or she might be a non-English speaker; or have some mental health issues. She could even be an alternate life-style advocate - hence the seeds for morning tea? Because we don't know this - you and your students will have plenty to discuss. This is a question with no right answer, and I am sure your students will have lots of interesting ideas and also personal stories to share.  

I did enjoy the moment of heroism when mum swoops in and eats that huge spider. The classroom or school learning goals are very appropriate - gratitude, empathy and mindfulness - I like these better than the three 'buzz' words used on signage at a school near me: opportunity, excellence and community and the words from my former school - respect, responsibility and personal best. To my eye personal best sounds so mediocre - no striving for excellence or setting yourself bigger learning or life goals. 

One important thing to notice in this story relates to the embarrassment felt by this child - surely this is a universal feeling. It made me think of several funny scenes in Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham - the little girl in that story is so embarrassed by her dad wearing baggy board shorts and also when mum has toffee wrappers stuck to her bottom. Also, the embarrassment felt by Emmy Lou in Sloppy Kisses (one of my favourite books).

The bookseller blurb says: A delightfully absurd and touching story about celebrating differences and loving your family - feathers and all. 

Image source: Evie Barrow

The author says: Writing My Mum is a Bird was a deeply personal and meaningful journey for me. Inspired by the real-life experiences of a dear friend, I set out to create a story that celebrates individuality and the beautiful diversity that sets us apart from one another. Witnessing my friend’s struggles and triumphs in embracing their identity and navigating family relationships moved me to craft a narrative for those who feel different or misunderstood. My hope is to inspire young readers to accept and celebrate who they truly are, while recognising the unique gifts that diversity brings. 

There is a tiny detail in the end papers - at the front all the feathers are in an ordered pattern but at the back one feather is slightly off set in the corner. This might spark an interesting discussion with your library group. You can see inside this book on Evie Barrow's web page. Read more about Angie Cui here.

You can download teachers notes from the publisher page. The notes suggest also reading That Bird Has Arms by Kate and Jol Temple but I thoroughly disagree because these two books are designed to explore very different themes. You might find a companion book in this Pinterest collection from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. You might also have a book in your library from 2015 called If my Mum were a Bird by Jedda Robaard. This one could also be an interesting companion book:

Never, Not Ever!

Thanks to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for my advance copy. My Mum is a Bird will be published on 1st April 2025.  If you live in Melbourne this book you can meet the author Angie Cui and the illustrator Evie Barrow at a special story time held at Readings Books in Carlton. 

I am a huge fan of art by Evie Barrow. I previously talked about these books:

I saw Pete and Pete saw me

Cub and Brown

My Mum is a Bird is a debut picture book for Angie Cui. Her next book will be published in June.

Saskia Spark-Lee Trading Trouble by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg

I picked this book up by mistake. The second book from this series is a CBCA Younger Readers Notable title but anyway I did enjoy this first installment (published 2023). In fact this easy chapter book was a total surprise. I expected it would be a fairly light weight story, but this story explores deeper themes of honesty, jealousy, problem solving and remorse.

Saskia is a collector especially of things that sparkle (think about her name). She lives with her two dads. One is a great cook. Saskia has a wonderful friend at school and each day the pair of them have fun guessing what might be in their lunch boxes and then swapping the different treats and sandwiches. At lunch time one day Saskia sees a girl from her class with a wonderful large piece of sparkling quartz. It would be a fabulous addition to her collection. Without thinking about the consequences Saskia tells Athena about the real diamond she has at home. Saskia offers to swap her tiny diamond for the lovely piece of quartz. Does Saskia really have a diamond? No. But how can she undo this terrible lie.

I love the role adults play in this story. Dad (Da) has a great idea about how to tell the truth but also smooth over this relationship. At the same time, unknown to Saskia, Athena's mum also has a solution which means as readers we can all enjoy the resolution to this problem and it feels realistic, kind and very satisfying. 

Here are the Scholastic Standing Order teachers notes. 

I have been reading my way through the 2025 CBCA Younger Readers Notable titles. Saskia Spark-Lee Trading trouble is the first book in this series featuring Saskia Spark-Lee. The second book Fundraiser Fail is a CBCA Notable and tomorrow the short-listed books will be announced. There are 14 books in this category I have not read (although I did browse through a few of the pop titles - reading just their first few pages until the word 'fart' was mentioned then I thought I should really spend my time on books that I think meet the CBCA criteria because this is a literary award not a pop one). I will need to hunt out this book because it is an important part of the CBCA judging that books from a series must stand alone. Here is the webpage for Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg. 

Here is the notable title from the CBCA 2025 Younger Readers list:

Publisher blurb: Saskia Spark-Lee loves animals – she’s almost adopted a whole zoo-worth! But when Da and Dee say they can’t add another to the collection, she must come up with a new plan to continue supporting her furry friends. With some help from Nanna, and the amazing fundraising skills of her friends, Saskia may find where there's a will there's a way!

The Younger Readers 2025 CBCA judges said: This book is ideal for the younger end of the category. Although only 64 pages, it’s packed with substance – excellent plotting with tension maintained throughout, and good authentic characterisation with a strong voice. The topics are appealing to the age level, and the book is accessible with illustrations in halftone and line. The themes of prioritising competing values, animal conservation, advocacy and charity are explored in a way that is accessible to the intended audience and this series does not talk down to readers. Similarly, it includes some vocabulary that will challenge readers such as ‘solemn’ and ‘dilemma’. There is also a diverse representation of characters including Saskia’s two dads and her multicultural classmates. This book will entice but not intimidate younger readers.

CBCA 2025 Shortlist predictions Younger Readers and the picture book categories

The 2025 Book of the Year Award received 730 entries for 15 

 judges to assess. The longlist showcases the incredible work of 122 books,

 representing 31 publishers, 114 writers and 79 illustrators

The CBCA will announce the 2025 shortlists on Tuesday. There are six categories (Older Readers; Younger Readers; Early Childhood Picture Book; Picture Book of the Year; and the Eve Pownall award for Non Fiction plus one category for a New Illustrator which has no notables list). Six books will be announced in each category and then on 15th August the winners and two honour titles for each category will also be announced. 

I have been reading my way through the Notables for Younger Readers and the two picture book categories.  Here are my statistics (sampled means I read a chapter or two in a library):

Younger Readers Notables total books 25.  
I have read 11, blogged 10, and sampled 5 so I have 9 unread

Early Childhood Picture Book Notables total books 25. 

I have read 12, blogged 11 so I have 13 unread 

Picture Book of the Year Notables total books total books 25.

I have read 18, blogged 14 so I have 7 unread

I have included these statistics to show I have not read every book that made each 'long list'. I no longer work in a school library and so I was only able to read books I could borrow from the two libraries where I work as a volunteer along with a couple I couldn't resist buying. For each title I give a link to my blog post and a brief quote from the CBCA judges report.

Younger Readers - my six choices:

The Midwatch

"With strong female characters, a well-paced narrative, and a touch of

 humour, this book is sure to captivate readers."

Countdown to Yesterday

"A stunning novel that will resonate with anyone navigating change ... "

Small Acts

"This sensitively written and neuro-affirming text will resonate with child readers."

The Kindness Project

"A beautifully crafted verse novel that delves into the complexities of friendship 

and the way we perceive those around us"

Laughter is the Best Ending

"A compelling and immersive coming-of-age story ... "

The Other Shadow

"A heart-wrenching and unflinching portrayal of a family torn apart by grief and mental illness."

Here are my Picture Book of the Year choices (I put eight not six):

A Leaf called Greaf

"a picture book that handles its profound theme with artistic brilliance and sensitivity."

Then and Now

"The minimal yet masterfully crafted text creates emotional

 resonance through transformed meanings where the same sounds carry 

profoundly different weight across time and place."

Words that Taste Like Home

"The sumptuous production features an engaging cover and

 mango-patterned endpapers, which beautifully echo the grandmother's garden 

and the story's cultural roots."

Night Watch

"The text is sophisticated and

 descriptive with highly effective use of figurative language."

The Truck Cat

 "the nuanced exploration of loneliness and connection will resonate with readers of every age."

Three Dresses

"The significance of the three dresses and their use as a touchstone to

 tell the story is skilfully done."

These long-loved things

"The narrative's contemplative mood is enhanced by illustrations that demonstrate 

accomplished craftsmanship in character development and settings."

Listen, Hippo!

"A wonderful resource to talk to children about the power of talking and listening."

Here are the Early Childhood Picture (ages 0-6) books I enjoyed (plus Night Watch which is in two categories):

One Little Dung Beetle

"Exquisitely illustrated, entertaining and informative, this rhyming counting book introduces

 budding entomologists to ten beetles found across Australia. All design elements ... 

work cohesively in this highly engaging and accessible picture book."

How to Move a Zoo

 "This gentle retelling is further enhanced by evocative pencil and digital illustrations in a muted colour palette firmly establishing the setting and time in early twentieth – century Sydney."

Spiro

"The blend of deadpan humour in the written text and slapstick in the illustrations is masterful."

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tooth Fairy 

"Witty, whimsical, and wonderfully imaginative, this enchanting guide to the world of tooth

 fairies is a treasure trove for every child who has ever lost a tooth."

The Wobbly Bike

 "Every design element has been carefully considered."

Happy all Over

"Happiness bubbles up and spills over every page of this lyrical picture book as a diverse troupe

 of small children play, pretend and take part in the everyday moments of life."

I mentioned this resource previously - Here are links to all the Reading Time reviews.

Reading the judges' comments (I am not trying to 'hedge my bets') I know some of my choices will be overlooked. I do expect the judges will include Stickboy by Matt Ottley; Afloat illustrated by Freya Blackwood and written by Kirli Saunders; and The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood. I did stretch my choices for the Picture Book Category to eight books - with the addition of these that means there are eleven possibilities for Picture Book of the Year shortlisting. 

Oscar's Lion by Adam Baron illustrated by Benji Davies

Reading this book is a roller-coaster ride. Oscar wakes up (a little later than usual) and he wonders why his parents didn't call out telling him to get ready for school. He picks up his favourite book, reading this is part of their family morning routine, and he heads along the hallway to his parent's room. BUT his mum and dad are gone and in their place he finds a huge lion. 

Sadly, I cannot tell you too much more because anything I say here will spoil this story. Since I have given this book four stars and because the paperback edition has only just arrived here in Australia I am going to suggest you go out and find or buy or borrow this book yourself - I am certain you will enjoy it because there are so many surprises here including flying a spitfire plane and meeting Admiral Nelson and being part of the Battle of Trafalgar but just how this, and many other things happen, and how it all relates to a lion, are things you need to discover for yourself. 

Content warning - there is a distressing scene near the beginning of this book (it's okay the lion has not eaten Oscar's parents) involving a bully and a birthday party and some vicious cruelty towards young Oscar but the resolution of this will give you a smile. 

This is definitely a story where you just have to suspend disbelief and roll with it. There is no point in wondering why Oscar is not more upset about his missing parents and there is no point in thinking it is all very convenient that the lion can shape-shift into an insect or a bird. Yes, there are some deeply sad moments in this story along with some that are funny and slightly incredible. As an adult reader you may have guessed the ending long before your young reading companion, but I think that will just allow you both to go back and hunt out the story signposts. The reviewer at BookBag disagrees. 

The narrative voice accepts all of the magical at face value and is a skilful portrayal of a child’s view of the complexity of life as the plot tumbles through historical, real life and eccentric exploits. Books for Keeps

Listen to the first couple of chapters here. The audio is perfect and this could be way to introduce this story to your young reader or library group. You can read a brief interview with Adam Baron about the topic of grief. And you can read more about him and see his other books here. 

My copy of this book has an extra very appealing feature - the fore edge is red. The fore edge is a term used to describe the vertical edge of a book opposite the spine. The part you see when the book is closed. This, along with illustrations by the wonderful Benji Davies, is why I picked up this book in one of our large chain bookstores. 

Then and Now by Datsun Tran

"This book is dedicated to those who have had to make the difficult decisions to leave their homes, to those who had to cross oceans for safety, to those learning to live life again in foreign and sometimes unfriendly lands, to those who found their new homes, and to those who didn't make it in their attempts. Your courage will not be forgotten."

The narrative in this book is shared from two perspectives as the title implies - then and now. Look at these lines:

"Knock, knock, knock. We hide under the table."

"Knock, knock, knock. We open the door to welcome our guests."

These two highly contrasting responses to a knock at the door could form the basis of your introduction and preliminary discussions with a class before you read the whole book.

Or you could use this line "The smell of food is a distant memory." Talk about why the boy might say this. Discuss the difference between hunger and words you might use such as I'm hungry. Where in the world past or present might a child experience desperate hunger and starvation as the illustration shows? Talk about food as an important part of culture.

For more ideas take a look at this page from the publisher and here are some simple art ideas.

The way the two colours are used in this book is so powerful. The blogger at Reading Opens Doors explains it this way: Sepia tones are used to illustrate the past and capture the history of where the children have come from. The emotions etched on the children’s faces convey a gamut of feelings – fear, courage, desperation, sadness, despair, hunger and pain. The use of space on the page serves to highlight the vulnerability of the children. Shades of blue with pops of colour represent “now”. In their new home the children celebrate their culture, honour their ancestors, take comfort in sharing a traditional meal with their neighbours and experience a sense of belonging, abundance, freedom and beauty in their new community.

It would be fantastic to experience some of the 'now' foods mentioned in this book: dim sum and char siu bao.

Here is an interview with Datsun Tran and here is an extract:

The way refugees are often depicted in news and media don’t usually show the humanity, other than the suffering. So I wanted to show refugees as people like you and I, people who have had to go through a really devastating event. The story is told through sensory triggers for trauma, and I wanted to show that these triggers can also change and fade away to more positive experiences.

And I found another interview with images of the illustrations.

You already know I have an opinion about endorsements on book covers but with your students it would be very worthwhile to research the three people who are quoted on the back cover of Then and Now - Behrouz Boochani, Abdul-Rahman Abdullah and Zeno Sworder (My Strange Shrinking Parents).

An astounding work of light and shadow, this poetic and profound book is a rare treasure. Zeno Sworder

The publisher of this book is Slingshot Books. The founder says: I seek to broaden the range of print material accessible to children and their grown-ups. It’s my hope that the growing Slingshot library helps raise curious, brave, loving and critically engaged people who are committed to collective liberation.

When I saw this book on a display at the announcement of the 2025 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Notables I picked it up, read it and declared - this will surely be one of the winners!

The CBCA Picture Book judges in their Notables report said this - I have added bold to some of the text for emphasis:

Drawing on Vietnamese refugee experiences, this layered narrative explores the power of memory through sensory detail. The minimal yet masterfully crafted text creates emotional resonance through transformed meanings where the same sounds carry profoundly different weight across time and place. Ink paintings, inspired by classical Chinese brushwork, employ contrasting colour palettes of evocative browns for the past and deep blues for the present. Strategic touches of full colour highlight some pivotal moments. The illustrations, merging traditional and contemporary techniques, integrate seamlessly with the text. The cover's metaphorical composition, where past and present selves reach towards a bright red lantern, symbolises enduring cultural identity. The thoughtfully designed endpapers introduce contrasting colour schemes that flow throughout this immersive story of survival and renewal.

I said this in a previous post about another one of the splendid notables - A Leaf called Greaf: "One of the things that I think is important in Picture Book judging, when we think about an award such as the one from the Children's Book Council of Australia - relates to the universality of the book. Is this a book that could be shared with a child in another English-speaking country? Is this a book that should travel beyond our shores? Would you be excited to see this Australian book for sale in London or New York. Is this a book that transcends and age classification? (You could read this book to a child aged 6 or 7 and equally to an older child or gift it to an adult). I can answer YES to all of those questions ... Also a fabulous picture book like this should expect readers to 'join the dots' - to have to think about the story and its deeper meanings."

Check out my Pinterest and here are some companion books:

Grandma's Treasured Shoes

My Strange Shrinking Parents

What you need to be warm