International Book Giving Day, celebrated every year on February 14, is a day to do exactly what the day says — give books. This special holiday is celebrated by book lovers all over the world. It is a day to share your love of books with someone — especially children — who might not have access to as many books as you do. It’s not a coincidence that International Book Giving Day falls on the same day as Valentine’s Day — it is a day of love after all. International Book Giving Day is about two things — a love of books and a love for fellow human beings.
History of International Book Giving Day
The idea for International Book Giving Day was conceived by Amy Broadmoore, founder of Delightful Children’s Books and The Curious Kid’s Librarian in 2012. She worked with fellow blogger, Zoe Toft, founder of Playing by The Book, to get the day started.
In 2013, Broadmoore handed over the organization of the day’s events to Emma Perry, the brain behind the children’s review site, My Book Corner, and author of the children’s books “I Don’t Like Books” and “This Book Has Alpacas.” Perry is supported in the running of the events by Catherine Friess of Story Snug children’s books and learning activities.
International Book Giving Day has a history rich with creative author leadership. The bookplate for the inaugural International Book Giving Day was designed by Clara Vulliamy, popular illustrator of children’s books and author of nine books including “Dotty Detective” and “The Bear With Sticky Paws.” The first header and logo for International Book Giving Day were designed by writer and illustrator, Viviane Schwarz.
International Book Giving Day is all about getting new, used, and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible. People are encouraged to help however they can, whether by donating to charities that give books to children or simply buying new books for the children in your life.
The day is a volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to books and instilling a love of reading in them. Volunteers are encouraged to organize their own events or simply contribute however they can by giving at least one book to a child in need.
Today, International Book Giving Day is celebrated in over 44 countries, including France, Ukraine, South Africa, Japan, Nigeria, the U.S., UK, and Malaysia, among others.
International Book Giving Day timeline
“The Diamond Sutra,” the world’s earliest-known printed book, is created.
Johannes Gutenberg invents the mechanical moving-type printing press which revolutionized the publishing industry.
Amy Broadmoore creates and organizes the first International Book Giving Day with some help from Zoe Toft.
Power changes hands and Perry becomes the organizer of the International Book Giving Day events.
International Book Giving Day FAQs
When is World Book Day?
World Book Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom on the first Thursday in March. In most other parts of the world, however, the occasion takes place on April 23.
Is there a National Book Week?
There are different national book weeks and they vary from country to country. In Scotland, Book Week is celebrated in November while South Africans celebrate the occasion in September. In the Philippines, National Book Week is celebrated from June 18 to June 24 every year.
Is there a day to donate books?
There is a National Donate a Book Day celebrated on April 14 in the United States. On this day, people are encouraged to donate books to their local libraries. The day was created by Direct Brands’ Book Of The Month Club in 2011.
International Book Giving Day Activities
Leave a book somewhere
Next time you’re at the doctor’s, you can “accidentally” leave your favorite book for someone else to find and pick up. You can leave a nice note on the first page saying whoever picks the book up is free to read and pass it on to the next person. That way, you start a book-gifting culture and make a difference in the lives of many people.
Organize a book exchange program
It’s not just about giving books out — you can also exchange them. You can start a book exchange program in your local community so everyone gets to benefit from each other’s library. You can have one program for kids and another for adults. It’s a great way to share love within the community and strengthen everybody’s love of reading.
Donate to a local library
Let’s be honest — our libraries are underfunded. You can help out by donating some gently-used books to your local library or any non-profit that focuses on sharing books with those who cannot access them. By the way, we recommend Books for Africa, Book Aid International, and The Book Bus. You can go a step further and make cash donations to the library and help them buy the books they really need.
5 Places To Donate Your Old Books
Prison book programs
Prison book programs like Books Through Bars provide quality reading material to help prisoners gain knowledge that can set them on the straight and narrow after their release.
Local libraries
Many local libraries accept donations of used books, so find the one nearest to you and donate away.
Goodwill
Goodwill organizes many community-based programs for people who struggle to get access to books.
Children-focused N.G.O.s
Non-governmental organizations like Kids Need to Read help to create a culture of reading for children attending underfunded schools.
Bookmooch
Bookmooch allows you to receive used books in exchange for donating your own well-loved books, creating a culture of information sharing and community building.
Why We Love International Book Giving Day
We love books
Call us nerds, but books are awesome. In just a few sentences, you can be immersed in an entirely new world. Books are also a great way to learn and develop yourself and your vocabulary. What’s not to love?
Sharing is caring
International Book Giving Day is all about sharing love and showing care to someone in need. When you donate books, you can leave a nice thoughtful note to put a smile on someone’s face and make the world a slightly better place. Sharing is a powerful way to show love and strengthen communities.
It’s about growing together
When you share a book on International Book Giving Day, you allow someone to experience the growth that you gained from reading the book yourself. Imagine a community of avid readers who circulate books among themselves. Everyone gets to experience personal development and no one gets left behind.
International Book Giving Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 14 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 14 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 14 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 14 | Monday |
| 2029 | February 14 | Wednesday |
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