IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award

The IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award has been established by the Shenzhen iRead Foundation and IBBY 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 aims to encourage further investment by individuals, organizations and governments in the promotion of children’s reading and will stimulate educational innovation, give 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.

Every two years, IBBY will invite nominations from IBBY National Sections that recognise outstanding individuals who are working to promote the expansion and development of children’s reading. From the nominations the IBBY-iRead Award Jury will select two winners. 

The Jury will look for suitable nominees whose work may include: the creation and operation of outstanding reading promotion projects; effective promotion of strategies in favour of reading policies; and advocacy of the children’s right to read. All nominations will be judged on sustainability, influence, innovation and inspiration.

The iRead Foundation has pledged 1'200'000 RMB Yuan biennially for twenty years for this important award. The two winners will each receive 200'000 RMB Yuan and, in addition, 150'000 RMB Yuan will be given to a non-profit children’s reading promotion project of their choice. The remaining funds will go towards the administration of the Award and to support the IBBY Secretariat. 

2024 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award

The 2024 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award received 13 nominations. These were reviewed by the IBBY Reading Promotion Award Jury composed of Tina Bilban (Slovenia), Ingrid Källström (Sweden), Elena Pasoli (Italy), Luis Zendrera (Spain), Wen Li (China, representative of the Shenzhen-iRead Foundation), and chaired by Junko Yokota (USA).

The two winners of the 2024 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award were announced on 8 April 2024 during the Press Conference organised at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Follow the event on Youtube. The winners of the 2024 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award are: Ms Basarat Kazim from Pakistan, nominated by IBBY Pakistan, and Ms Irene Vasco from Colombia, nominated by IBBY Canada. Read more on the 2024 edition of the award and the profile of the winners here.

Previous IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Awards