International “Silent Books” and Books for Children with Disabilities
As I was researching events related to international children’s literature, I stumbled upon the website for International Children’s Book Day. This led me to a tab titled “Silent Books.” The International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) started a project called “Silent Books” in 2012. The project involved collecting hundreds of “silent books,” which are just picture books without any words in them. The purpose of this is that kids of any language or background can understand them. I think this is an awesome idea. Language barriers are so complicated, so it is cool that a “silent book” can be read and interpreted by anyone. The books the IBBY collected came from over twenty countries. There are currently three collections of Silent Books: the years 2013, 2015, and 2017. The collections travel the world to various museums.
Another topic that caught my eye on the website for International Children’s Book Day was IBBY’s Collection of Books for Young People with Disabilities. I think it is great that this is such an important topic for international children’s literature. Kids everywhere want to enjoy books, but it can be difficult for those with disabilities. There are many books that have been published for those with disabilities, but it is often challenging for people to find them. Therefore, IBBY wanted to put together a collection to make it easier to meet children’s needs. This collection is located at the Toronto Public Library. The selection comes from various countries and contains books in over forty languages. There are also special formats that include Blissymbolics, PCS, Braille, sign language, and tactile and textile books. Some of the books’ main characters have disabilities and some books are made for adults with developmental delays. In order to make these books more accessible, the collection can be retrieved online at www.torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Until researching this topic, I had never heard of International Children’s Book Day or the International Board of Books for Young People. I think it’s amazing to see an international effort towards inclusive books for those who have disabilities, and books that can be enjoyed by all despite language barriers.
References:
International Board of Books for Young People. “IBBY Collection of Books for Young People with Disabilities.” n.d. IBBY. Retrieved from http://www.ibby.org/awards-activities/activities/ibby-collection-of-books-for-young-people-with-disabilities/
International Board of Books for Young People. “Silent Books.” n.d. IBBY. Retrieved from http://www.ibby.org/awards-activities/activities/silent-books/