Federation of Children's Book Groups facts for kids

The Federation of Children's Book Groups (often called FCBG) is a special charity in the United Kingdom. Its main goal is to help kids of all ages, from babies to teenagers, enjoy reading books. The FCBG believes that reading should be fun! This group is run by amazing volunteers who love books and want to share that love with young people. They work with schools, libraries, and book publishers to make sure more children discover the joy of reading.

The Story of FCBG

The idea for the FCBG started in 1965. A British TV producer named Anne Wood created the first "Book Group." You might know Anne Wood as the person who created the Teletubbies! She wanted to get more kids excited about reading. Because her idea was so popular, more groups started forming. By 1968, all these groups came together to create the Federation of Children's Book Groups. Many of the first groups are still active today, and new ones are always starting.

What Does the FCBG Do?

The FCBG does many cool things to encourage reading:

• Children's Book Award: They run the Children's Book Award (UK). This is the only national book award in the UK where children themselves vote for their favorite books! It used to be called the Red House Children's Book Award.
• Special Reading Days: They promote two important events each year:
  • National Share-a-Story Month: This happens every May. It's a time to celebrate storytelling and sharing books.
  • National Non-Fiction Day: This takes place every November. It focuses on the fun of reading non-fiction books, which are books full of facts and real information.
• Conferences: The FCBG holds a big meeting every spring. Local groups help organize these events. They also have smaller, one-day meetings in different parts of the country. These meetings bring together people who care about children's books.
• Booklists and News: They create lists of recommended books for children of different ages. They also publish newsletters three times a year. These newsletters share news and tips about children's books and reading.
• Advice and Information: The FCBG offers general advice and information to anyone interested in helping children enjoy reading.

Local Book Groups

There are more than 25 local Book Groups across England, Scotland, and Wales. Each group is a bit different, but they all work to promote reading in their local areas. Here are some things a local group might do:

• They hold meetings for adults to talk about children's books.
• They invite authors and illustrators to speak at events.
• They organize fun activities for children, like storytelling sessions and book exhibitions.

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, the Federation of Children's Book Groups won a very special award. They received the Eleanor Farjeon Award. This award is given to people or groups who have done amazing work for British children's books. It shows how much the FCBG has helped young readers.