by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp

That’s it for another fun and phenomenally busy September, our 9th World Kid Lit Month! Thank you to everyone who got involved, reading and sharing books for young people from other countries and other languages, sharing resources, or playing World Kid Lit bingo.

Here at World Kid Lit blog, we’ve spotlighted global perspectives on the environment this month with international picture books about trees and forests, birds (and grief), the wonder of weather, and African ecological stories. We’ve showcased the work of Hans Christian Andersen Award nominated Chinese author Jin Bo, Japanese picture book maker Taro Gomi. And tying in with Latine Heritage Month, we’ve shared picture books from Peru, Argentina, and Mexico, and explored some of the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

We featured three feel-good middle-grade stories from Norway and Sweden, and talked to librarian Betsy Bird about her top picks and what she’s reading next (clue: it’s the inspiration for the classic movie Spirited Away and this year’s must-read!). For teen readers and beyond, we reviewed four African YA novels, four Scandi noir thrillers, and four Eisner Award-nominated graphic novels.

We’re always proud of the global range we cover here at the blog and on social media thanks to our amazing community of contributors. This month alone, we’ve reviewed books from an astonishing 27 countries: in no particular order, China, Japan, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Korea, Norway, Faroe Islands (Denmark), Canada, Netherlands, France, Russia, India, Madagascar, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Estonia, Portugal, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia. We’re always looking to include new countries. If you know and love an author/illustrator/book from a country or a language we haven’t featured yet, please write for us!

World Kid Lit Month was celebrated by organizations across the English-speaking world, with features at World Literature Today, European Literature Network, Words Without Borders, a month of blog posts at SCBWI (thank you, Avery!) and a whole month of European children’s books at GLLI. Highlights of the month at GLLI include a round-up of Ukrainian kid lit, and introductions to picture book makers Sergio Ruzzier (Italy), Claude Ponti (France), and feisty feminist graphic novel Ink Girls (Netherlands).

Want to Continue Reading the World?

We’ll still be here sharing news, reviews and interviews to help you navigate the world of global books for young people. All year round, you’ll find book recommendations on social media with the hashtags #WorldKidLit, #ReadAsia, #ReadtheAmericas, #ReadOceania, etc.

And if you’re not already following them, do follow Global Literature in Libraries Initiative, where they share World Kid Lit reviews every Wednesday and sometimes weekends, too. They have a new Executive Director – congratulations and a warm welcome to Dr. Vashalice Kaaba! We look forward to seeing GLLI go from strength to strength.

International Reading Award

Last but not least, a final plug for our pilot prize for schools: the International Reading Award is a new competition to promote international and inclusive reading, that is completely free to enter!

The Award is intended to encourage young people to read for pleasure, to explore international perspectives and global citizenship, to see the value of a second or other language as a cultural and creative asset.

Full details here, including the entry form. Enter by 10 October!

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