What is World Kid Lit Month?

Every September is World Kid Lit Month, the time to explore international books for young people. And this year it’s our 10th anniversary!

It’s all about reading and discovering books from or set in another country, and stories translated into English from other languages.

Read, recommend, share!

How to celebrate World Kid Lit Month?

However you like – the main thing is to read, and tell your friends about the great books you discover!

Here are three easy ways to get involved:

  1. Only got 10 minutes? Share a resource to help others explore international books for young people. Our website is absolutely packed with reading lists, book reviews, interviews, and links to other recommended sources. Delve in and get sharing!
  2. Looking for your next read? Head to your library and check out an international children’s book! Maybe a graphic novel or manga translated from another language, a middle grade fantasy, or a picture book set in a country you’d love to visit. Share it on social media. What makes it international for you?
  3. And if you’d like a larger project … set yourself a World Kid Lit Explorer Challenge! You can use one of our bingo charts below for inspiration, or create your own. It could be a solo challenge, a project for the family, for your class at school, or your team at work. Share how you get on and inspire others! #WorldKidLitMonth

Explorer Challenge: World Kid Lit Bingo!

If you read one or two books for World Kid Lit Month in the past, or you’re already a seasoned explorer of children’s literature, why not go further this year, and set yourself an international kid lit reading challenge?

For ideas of what to read, you could use one of the 3 bingo charts above for reading prompts. Set your own challenge and see what you can read within the timeframe you set for yourself: can you complete a color category? Get a line of three? Or all nine categories?

Please share what you read on social media so that others are inspired to join you! #WorldKidLitMonth in September, or #WorldKidLit all year round

Click on the links in the images to download these as PNGs, or use this editable Canva link to make your own.

World Kid Lit Explorer Challenge – all ages
Explorer challenge – not-age specific – colour in as you read
Click here for editable Canva template

10 Years: #AroundtheWorldin10

For readers who like a theme to respond to … this year the theme is the 10th anniversary of World Kid Lit Month and the idea of “Around the World in 10”. You could interpret this in many ways, e.g.

  • Set yourself a library challenge with your little one: 10 days, 10 picture books exploring different countries/cultures
  • Make an insta post: 10 books I’ve discovered from around the world
  • Take 10 minutes to search the World Kid Lit website for children’s books from or set in Asia
  • Find 10 translations for 10 year olds to add to your TBR pile
  • Bluesky thread of 10 middle grade reads set in African countries
  • Find 10 friends or family members to start a book club, and choose an international book as your first read
  • Ask your librarian to help you order 10 graphic novels from 10 different countries
  • (for translators:) social media post: 10 books I’ve translated in the past 10 years!
  • (for publishers:) 10 international books we’ve published and the countries they’re from/set in
  • (for agents:) 10 illustrators on our list and the languages they speak

Share your ideas on social media. We can’t wait to hear/see how you interpret #AroundtheWorldin10 and what bookish gems you discover!

Schools’ International Reading Award

SIRA, the Schools’ International Reading Award is a new competition for schools to promote international and inclusive reading. See here for more details, including how to enter.

Spread the word!

If you’re writing about World Kid Lit Month in your newsletter or on social media, you’ll find media assets here. Feel free to use these graphics, blurbs and assets, or make your own.

Why is World Kid Lit Month in September?

September has lots of associations with language learning and cultural exchange. In the USA, September is National Translation Month. 26 September is European Day of Languages, and 30 September is both International Translation Day and St Jerome’s Day – the patron saint of translators!

For more ideas…