On 1 September 2018, the 36^th IBBY World Congress has successfully concluded in Athens, Greece. IBBY World Congress is held every two years at different locations in the five continents. This year’s theme is “East Meets West around children’s books and fairy tales. ”

At the Congress, authors, illustrators, librarians, publishers, editors, and journalists from almost 80 countries gathered together to discuss the development and future of children’s literature. Outstanding children’s authors, illustrators, children’s reading promotion organizations are also recognized and awarded during the Congress. The award ceremonies of Hans Christian Anderson Award and IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award were held, and the new IBBY Executive Committee was formed.

At the time of the 40^th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, Chinese children’s reading organization, the iRead Foundation has joined the world in promoting children’s reading. Together with International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), iRead established an international award, the IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award. By establishing the award, the iRead Foundation hopes to encourage a real commitment to the cause of reading promotion in the hope of spreading this dedication to others around the globe.

IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award

Founded in 1953 in Zurich, Switzerland, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.

On 1 September 2018, at the IBBY World Congress in Greece, the iRead Foundation and IBBY have officially announced the establishment of the IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award. This award has been established to encourage a real commitment to the cause of reading promotion in the hope of spreading this dedication to others around the globe. The award will encourage further investment by individuals, organizations and governments in the promotion of children’s reading.  The award will stimulate educational innovation, much greater access to children’s books and an enhanced profile for children’s reading promotion—key tools in global, social, economic and cultural development—all in the context of Article 17(C)) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The iRead Foundation Director General Li Wen is signing the agreement

IBBY Present Zhang Mingzhou, IBBY Executive Director Liz Page, iRead Director General Li Wen, iRead Executive Director Li Zhe have signed the Sponsorship Agreement between iRead and IBBY.

Every two years, the jury selects two winners from the nominations submitted by the National Sections. Each winner receives 200,000 RMB yuan prize money, an official certificate and a trophy. In addition, 150,000 RMB Yuan is awarded to each winner to be donated to a not-for-profit children’s reading promotion project selected by the winner.

Nominations for the first IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award is open from February 2017. Each National Section will submit suitable candidates. The winners will be announced at Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2020. The award ceremony will be held at the 37th IBBY World Congress in Moscow in September of the same year.

Nominees for the award are assessed using criteria including sustainability, influence, dedication to the common good, innovation and inspiration. However, it is understood that nominees do not need to meet all listed criteria. The award will encourage further investment by individuals, organizations and governments in the promotion of children’s reading.  The award will stimulate educational innovation, much greater access to children’s books and an enhanced profile for children’s reading promotion—key tools in global, social, economic and cultural development—all in the context of Article 17(C)) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Director General of the iRead Foundation Li Wen said: “The diversity of cultures in the world determines the complexity of the world. Children are our future’s builders. Today’s children determine what the world looks like in the future. I hope this award can inspire more individuals, organizations and governments to further invest in high quality children’s reading, so that children can grow healthily, children all over the world can understand each other and we can have a beautiful and peaceful future.”

In addition to the establishment of IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award, Zhang Mingzhou is selected to be the new IBBY President. This is the first time a Chinese person serves as the president of IBBY.

“The iRead Foundation’s sponsorship of IBBY demonstrates the Chinese and Chinese organisations’ active engagement in bringing children’s and books together. Together we can build humanity’s shared destiny, consistently leading the world to a better future,” said IBBY President Zhang Mingzhou.

The iRead Foundation Director General Li Wen and Executive Director Li Zhe with IBBY President Zhang Mingzhou