1. Children deserve to feel they and their families are represented in the books they encounter at school and in the library. That includes reflecting ethnic diversity, disability and neurodiversity, diverse family structures, as well as cultural and linguistic diversity.

2. Books translated into English from other languages are a window onto the world. It’s estimated that only 5% of the world’s population speaks English as a main language, so if we read books that are translated into English from other languages we open up a whole world of rich, diverse perspectives.

3. Reading and discussing books translated from other languages helps young people value and feel proud of their own language skills and family heritage. Our home languages might not always be represented at school and in our public lives, but reading books by writers and illustrators who speak our family languages can strengthen the bond to that family heritage.

4. Celebrating your community’s rich linguistic and cultural landscape. Getting to know the work of authors, illustrators, poets, artists and translators from other countries, and who write in other languages besides English, is a powerful way to showcase diverse perspectives, while valuing links to local multilingual and multicultural communities. These connections help young people value their own family heritage and experiences.

5. Broader reading, richer learning. Reading children’s and YA books from around the world can enrich the curriculum English, language studies and the humanities. Global books offer contrasting viewpoints on global issues, and stories by authors with lived experience of other countries and cultures can bring authentic, real-world diversity to the classroom or to young people’s bookshelves.

6. Translation builds bridges. Reading books in translation, especially comparing them with the original language edition, helps children see that having two or more languages is a kind of superpower … and an essential asset that can build bridges between countries and cultures.

These are just a few reasons to start exploring international books for young people, and to celebrate World Kid Lit Month in your school, your community, your family … or on your own!