Celebrate International Children’s Book Day

Have you ever read a book from another country?

We celebrate International Children's Book Day on or around April 2 every year, so this is a great time to try a book from another place. And of course we have ideas to get you started.

Each year, a group of children's librarians gives the Mildred A. Batchelder Award to the best children's books published in another country and translated into English in the past year.

The Batchelder Award went to Cry, Heart, first published in Denmark. Death visits with four children caring for their sick grandmother. This book is excellent for helping young children deal with death, grief and negative emotions.

Batchelder Honors went to these books:

Over the Ocean, from Japan, is a lighter story about a young girl who wonders what mysteries might lie across the sea.

As Time Went By, from Colombia, follows a grand ocean liner and a rich family as their fortunes change.

The Ballad of A Broken Nose will get older readers cheering for ever-optimistic Bart, a Norwegian 13-year-old who loves both boxing and opera.

Looking for more? Try past Batchelder Award winners.