📖 CHILDREN’s BOOK Week 2025 – May 5-11

👧 CHILDREN’s BOOK Week ORIGIN & HISTORY

CHILDREN’s BOOK Week is typically celebrated the 1st Full week in May. This annual U.S. event promotes children’s literacy and the joy of reading. It often involves visits from authors, book fairs, storytelling sessions, and reading challenges in schools, libraries, and bookstores.

If you’re looking to participate, keep an eye out for happenings and promotions around this time! This event has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.

ORIGINS

CHILDREN’s BOOK Week was founded in 1919 by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), to encourage children to develop a love for reading and books. The idea for the event originated from Franklin K Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, who proposed the creation of a Children’s Book Week to celebrate children’s books and the importance of reading.

In 1916, Matthiews organized the first National Storytelling Day, which planted the seeds for the eventual establishment of CHILDREN’s BOOK Week.

EARLY YEARS

The first official week was held in 1919, with the support of publishers, librarians, and booksellers across the country. Initially, it focused on promoting literacy and encouraging children to read through activities like author visits, storytelling sessions, and book-related contests. During the early years, CHILDREN’s BOOK Week also aimed to address concerns about the quality and content of children’s literature, advocating high-quality books for young readers.

👦 HOW to Celebrate & Observe CHILDREN’s BOOK Week?

Not sure how to LOVE the week? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.

Here are some activities you can do during CHILDREN’s BOOK Week!

💙 READ-Aloud Sessions

Organize or attend read-aloud sessions at schools, libraries, or community centers where volunteers read children’s books aloud to young audiences. This can include themed storytimes or readings by guest authors.

💙 Literary DRESS-Up Day

Have a day where children and adults can dress up as their favorite book characters. This adds a fun and creativity to the celebration and encourages engagement with beloved stories.

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💙 RAISE Social Awareness

Use social media posts with the hashtags #ChildrensBookWeek, #ChildrensLiterature, #KidsLit, #ChildrensBooks, #ChildrensBook, #PictureBooks, #SpecialInterestHolidays, #MayHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ CHILDREN’s BOOK Week.

LEARN more about the benefits of KIDS READING

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