Federation of Children's Book Groups facts for kids
The Federation of Children's Book Groups (FCBG) is a special charity in the United Kingdom. It helps kids of all ages, from babies to teenagers, enjoy reading. The FCBG wants to make sure every child loves books.
This group is run by volunteers. These are people who care a lot about children and reading. They work at a national level and also in local groups. They also team up with publishers, libraries, and schools. Their goal is to help young people read more and better.
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History of the FCBG
The idea for the FCBG started in 1965. Anne Wood, who created the famous Teletubbies, set up the first "Book Group." She wanted to get people excited about children's books.
Soon, more groups started to form. Because of this, the Federation of Children's Book Groups was officially created in 1968. Many of the first local groups are still active today. New groups are also starting up every year.
What the FCBG Does
The FCBG does many cool things to promote reading. They help kids discover new books and stories.
The Children's Book Award
The FCBG runs the Children's Book Award. This is a very special award in the UK. It's the only national book award where children themselves choose the winners. It used to be called the Red House Children's Book Award.
Reading Events and Resources
The Federation also promotes two big reading events each year:
- National Share-a-Story Month: This happens every May. It encourages everyone to share stories.
- National Non-Fiction Day: This takes place every November. It's a day to celebrate amazing non-fiction books.
The FCBG also holds a big conference every spring. Local groups help to organize these events. They also have smaller, one-day meetings in different areas.
Booklists and Newsletters
The FCBG creates helpful lists of books for children of different ages. They also send out newsletters three times a year. These newsletters share news and tips about children's books. They also give advice on how to make reading fun.
Eleanor Farjeon Award
In 2011, the Federation of Children's Book Groups won the Eleanor Farjeon Award. This award is given to people or groups who have done great work for British children's books. It shows how much the FCBG helps young readers.
Local Book Groups Across the UK
There are more than 25 separate Book Groups. You can find them in England, Scotland, and Wales. Each group is a bit different, but they all work to help kids love reading.
Local groups often do these kinds of activities:
- 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.
- They set up book exhibitions where kids can explore new books.
