What is IBBY?

Awards and Recognitions

Hans Christian Andersen Award — Presented biennially to a writer and an illustrator, living at the time of nomination, whose complete works are judged to have made a lasting contribution to literature for children and young people. The award consists of a gold medal and a diploma. The Jury, composed of ten jurors and a President elected by the General Assembly, is fully autonomous in its decisions. Winners are announced at the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

→ Hans Christian Andersen Award

IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award — Presented biennially to one not-for-profit group or institution whose outstanding activities are judged to be making a lasting contribution to book promotion programmes for children and young people, with a focus on reaching disadvantaged groups. The award consists of a diploma and USD 10,000.

→ IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award

IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award — Presented biennially to two outstanding individuals with an exemplary record of working to promote the expansion and development of children's reading. Each winner receives 200,000 RMB Yuan, plus 150,000 RMB Yuan donated to a not-for-profit children's reading promotion project of their choosing.

→ IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award

IBBY Honour List — A biennial selection of outstanding, recently published children's books honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. Structured in three categories: Writing, Illustration and Translation. Presented as a catalogue and touring exhibitions.

→ IBBY Honour List

Honorary Membership and Jella Lepman Medal — Formal distinctions conferred by the Executive Committee to acknowledge outstanding contributions to IBBY and to the global advancement of children's literature and IBBY's mission.

Programmes and Collections

International Children's Book Day — Observed annually on 2 April, the anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth. Each year a different IBBY Section sponsors the day, suggesting a motto, commissioning a message from a well-known author and a poster from an illustrator of that country.

→ International Children's Book Day

IBBY Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities — A biennial selection of approximately 40 titles from around the world that are for and about children and young people who are Deaf or have disabilities. Categories: Accessible Formats and Portrayals of Disability. Launched at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. The IBBY Collection of Books for Young People with Disabilities, located at the Toronto Public Library, is the permanent reference collection supporting the biennial Outstanding Books selection.

→ Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities

IBBY-UNESCO Collection of Remarkable Books for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages — A joint initiative with UNESCO under the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032). The Collection gathers books originally published in Indigenous and/or endangered languages, selected by an international committee. Formally launched at the 40th IBBY Congress in Ottawa, 6–9 August 2026.

→ IBBY-UNESCO Collection

Children's Books from and About Palestine — An ongoing collection initiated by IBBY UK in collaboration with IBBY, honouring the existence of books from and about Palestine that the world's children can share. The collection comprises titles in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and other languages, encompassing both books originating from Palestine and books about Palestine. It is open to nominations from all IBBY Sections and members of the IBBY community; final selection rests with the IBBY UK project team of English and Arabic speakers. The collection is held at the IBBY Secretariat in Basel and travels as an exhibition, having been presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair (2025), the Shanghai Children's Book Fair (November 2025) and the Guadalajara International Book Fair (November–December 2025).

→ Children's Books from and About Palestine

IBBY Silent Books Selection — A literary and humanitarian project launched in 2012 at the IBBY Congress in London, carried out as a collaborative initiative between IBBY Italia and IBBY. The project invites IBBY Sections to nominate wordless picture books — stories that can be understood regardless of language — for a biennial selection of up to 70 titles. Over 600 titles from five continents have been compiled across seven selections to date. The project established a permanent library on Lampedusa, Italy, and a research collection at the Scaffale d'Arte, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome. A touring exhibition set circulates internationally. The selection is announced annually at the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

→ Silent Books

Children's Books in Europe — A virtual collection of books in European languages.

→ Children's Books in Europe

Books for Africa / Books from Africa — A virtual collection highlighting books published in African languages from Africa.

→ Books for Africa / Books from Africa

IBBY-Yamada Fund — Supported by Yamada Bee Farm, the IBBY-Yamada Fund provides seed funding for projects that develop book culture and reading promotion in countries where these are limited or absent. The Fund supports three types of activity: introductory workshops (editing, publishing, writing, illustrating, using books in schools, creating libraries), advanced workshops and mentoring (including bibliotherapy), and policy workshops for decision-makers, ministries of education and funding agencies. Applications are submitted by IBBY Sections in good standing; one application per Section per year is permitted. The Executive Committee selects proposals annually. The renewed partnership with Yamada Bee Farm (2026–2030) includes the invitation to Section to participate in the International Honeybee Illustration Competition, an annual initiative collecting children's artwork from around the world.

→ IBBY-Yamada Fund

IBBY Children in Crisis Fund — Supports projects proposed by IBBY Sections that replace or create libraries and collections of appropriate children's books, and provide the therapeutic use of books and storytelling for children affected by natural disasters, civil disorder or war. Administered under the IBBY Trust's mandate for emergency responses.

→ IBBY Children in Crisis Fund

Publications

Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature — IBBY's official journal, published quarterly. It publishes peer-reviewed articles and articles of practical interest, reflecting the ethics and principles of IBBY.

→ Bookbird

IBBY also publishes a range of catalogues and commemorative volumes, including the biennial IBBY Honour List catalogue, the biennial catalogue of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities, and historical publications documenting IBBY's awards, congresses and programmes. These are available for purchase through the IBBY Secretariat.

→ Publications

Jella Lepman and the Origins

The founding of IBBY was the result of the vision and determination of Jella Lepman (1891–1970). Born in Stuttgart, Germany, the second of three daughters of a Jewish factory worker, Lepman became a politically active journalist. In 1936 she fled Nazi Germany with her son and daughter, settling in London, where she became a British citizen. During the Second World War she worked for the Foreign Office and the BBC, and from 1941 for the American Broadcasting Station in Europe (ABSIE). Following the war, she was engaged as an advisor on questions relating to children and young people at the American headquarters in post-war Germany.

In 1946, without funding, Lepman organised an exhibition of children's illustrations and children's books from 20 countries in Munich. With initial funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, she established the International Youth Library in Munich in 1949 and directed it until 1957.

After the war, individuals actively engaged in children's literature across many countries recognised the potential of children's books as a means of promoting international understanding and peace. Lepman shared this conviction and took the initiative to convene a meeting.

The Munich Meeting, 1951

In November 1951, Lepman organised a meeting in Munich under the title "International Understanding Through Children's Books." The goal was the foundation of an international organisation to promote children's books. Instead of the expected 60 participants, 250 guests from 26 countries attended, representing the varied professions connected with children's literature: authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians, teachers and members of youth organisations. The conference was covered in the media worldwide.

The result was the establishment of a committee to form the International Board on Books for Young People. The committee met in Munich in 1952 and set down its declaration of intent in writing. It was chaired by the Swiss publisher Hans Sauerländer and was international in character from the outset, including representatives from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Foundation, 1953

IBBY was registered as a non-profit organisation in Switzerland in October 1953, when its first General Assembly and Congress were held at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. The congress brought together the founding members, including Jella Lepman, who had convened the organisation into being; the authors Erich Kästner, Lisa Tetzner, Astrid Lindgren, Jo Tenfjord, Fritz Brunner and Pamela Travers; the illustrators Alois Carigiet and Hans Fischer; the publishers Hans Sauerländer and Bettina Hürlimann; and the reading researcher Richard Bamberger.

Early Years

The initial capital for IBBY's founding was donated by the Swiss foundation Pro Juventute, whose Secretary General Otto Binder was elected as IBBY's first President. In the early years IBBY also received support from the International Youth Library. However, the dues from the ten National Sections that had joined IBBY by 1956 were insufficient to establish a permanent office. Activities were carried out primarily through donations and voluntary work. The organisation of the administration fell to the acting Presidents, who served for periods of only two years during the first decade.

The early Presidents were: Otto Binder (1953–56), Hans Rabén (1956–58), Enzo Petrini (1958–60) and Jella Lepman (1960–62).

Professionalisation Under Bamberger

A notable professionalisation of IBBY and an extension of membership were achieved during the presidency of Richard Bamberger in Vienna (1962–66). During this period, the publication of IBBY's quarterly journal Bookbird, edited by Jella Lepman, Richard Bamberger and Lucia Binder, became a permanent activity.

The Secretariat in Basel

Although IBBY's official seat had always been in Switzerland, it was not until 1974 that a permanent office — the IBBY Secretariat — was established in Basel. Leena Maissen was appointed its director and served until her retirement in 2003. Kimete Basha I. Novosejt was appointed in 2003, and served for one year. Liz Page was appointed in 2009 and retired in 2022. Carolina Ballester was appointed Executive Director in 2022 and continues in the role.

The Biennial Congresses

From the beginning, the biennial IBBY Congresses have served as the principal meeting points for the worldwide membership to share information and experiences. The General Assembly has met in the following locations:

Bologna (1970), Nice (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1974), Athens (1976), Würzburg (1978), Prague (1980), Cambridge (1982), Nicosia (1984), Tokyo (1986), Oslo (1988), Williamsburg (1990), Berlin (1992), Seville (1994), Groningen (1996), New Delhi (1998), Cartagena de Indias (2000), Macau (2006), London (2012), Online Virtual Meeting (2020), Online Virtual Meeting (2025), Ottawa (2026).

IBBY Today

IBBY is constituted in conformity with Article 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code, with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. The organisation comprises over 80 Sections worldwide. Its governance is structured under the Statutes most recently amended at the General Assembly in Ottawa on 8 August 2026, and comprises the General Assembly, the Executive Committee, the Secretariat, the IBBY Trust, Bookbird Inc., and the Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury.