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Nurturing Creativity and Appreciating Reading on World Book Day

It all started 18 years ago when UNESCO decided we needed a day to celebrate authors, illustrators, books, copyright, and most of all: reading. Nowadays over 100 countries participate in the fun on April 23rd, marking the date of the anniversary of the death of two prominent authors: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and William Shakespeare. [caption id="attachment_2872" align="aligncenter" width="262"] Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. Source: Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Every country has their own way of making the most out World Book Day, for example in Spain they hold a two-day “readathon” of the famous Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, and here in the U.S, in Kensington, Maryland there is a street festival on the Sunday closest to April 23rd. [caption id="attachment_2871" align="aligncenter" width="644"] World Book Day street festival in Kensington. Source: Kensington Book Festival. Photo by: Carina Hopper[/caption] In the U.K and Ireland they have a different date, March 5th, but the premise is always the same. The truth is, no matter the day the appreciation of reading is crucial to the development of children and to better the quality of life of every individual. Books can expand your worldview, fill your mind with knowledge, and take you to places you’ve never been. This is why IBA has planned a series of book recommendations which we will post daily on our social media and up to date in this article, ranging from pre-k to adult novels, short story collections, and even some non-fiction books. In addition, the online scholastic book fair is currently open, where you can find many of our recommendations and so much more! If you have any reviews, or comments don’t hesitate to share them with us. We’d love to know what you think and if you agree with our recommendations. The online book fair is a great way to prepare for the live book fair happening from April 20th to the 24th at our preschool. Take this opportunity to talk about the importance of reading, get lost in a book, read with your family, and fully immerse yourself in this wonderful day and it all represents. Book Recommendation List:

• First Words: a book designed to help children ages 3-5 learn thematically organized words and read along with their parents

• This is How You Lose Her: by Dominican-American writer and Boston resident Junot Diaz. This book tells a collection of interlinked short stories about Yunior, a restless young man and the women he loved, from the Dominican Republic to New Jersey and Boston.

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: by Jeff Kinney. winner for Favorite Book during Kids Choice Awards. This interactive book is good for ages 10-14. It tells the story of the hazards of growing up before you’re ready, uniquely revealed through words and drawings as the main character, Greg, records them in his diary.

• The House on Mango Street: by Sandra Cisneros. This classic coming of age tale tells the story of Esperanza Cordero a young Latina living in Chicago, determined to leave her neighborhood.

• The Book Thief: by Marcus Zusak, perfect for 6th to 9th grade. It takes place in nazi Germany, where a girl with an incredible hunger for books is surviving right outside of Munich.
• Carry and Learn Colors: This book teaches toddlers early learning concepts such as colors, numbers, shapes, and opposites using multi-sensory novelties! You can find it online at our Scholastic book fair.

• Clifford the Big Red Dog: Today we recommend "Clifford the Big Red Dog" a classic for the little ones! You can find it online at our Scholastic Book Fair.

• My Beloved World: by Sonia Sotomayor. The first Latina woman to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court, in this book she tell us her story.

• Little Kids First Big Book of Space: Introduce your child to what is out there in a fun way. You can find it online at our Scholastic Book Fair.

• In the Time of the Butterflies: by Julia Alvarez. This historical novel tells the story of the Mirabal sisters who fought against the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.

• We the Animals: by Justin Torres. The story of three half Puerto Rican brothers living in upstate New York and their parents' explosive relationship.

• Esperanza Rising: by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico--she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers.

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