You may not have realized it when you woke up this morning, but this week, November 13-19, is Children’s Book Week 2006!

Organized by the Children’s Book Council (CBC), Children’s Book Week has been a tradition since 1919. The purpose of Children’s Book Week is best described through the words of Frederic Melcher, one of the visionary organizers of Children’s Book Week:

“Book Week brings us together to talk about books and reading and, out of our knowledge and love of books, to put the cause of children’s reading squarely before the whole community and, community by community, across the whole nation. For a great nation is a reading nation.”

You can read more of the history of Children’s Book Week and this year’s activities by checking out the CBC’s web site.

This year, the CBC is celebrating Children’s Book Week by initiating a nationwide book donation program called the “Great Book Giveaway” and, in association with its members, will donate more than 100,000 books to charitable organizations including First Book.

In addition, First Book has partnered with Candlewick Press to celebrate Children’s Book Week and Candlewick’s 15th Anniversary with a book distribution and a series of podcast interviews with several of Candlewick’s award-winning children’s authors and illustrators. Be sure to watch for new podcasts being posted daily!

First Book is grateful to both the CBC and Candlewick Press for their support. We look forward to sharing the joy of reading at the heart of Children’s Book Week to children in need across the country!