International Board on Books for Young People [ibby]

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization to bring books and children together. As a non-governmental organization with an official status in UNESCO and UNICEF, IBBY has a policy-making role as an advocate of children's books. IBBY is committed to the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the United Nations in 1990. One of its main proclamations is the right of the child to a general education and to direct access to information. Thanks to IBBY’s insistence, the resolution includes an appeal to all nations to promote the production and distribution of children's books.

In 1966 the local section, IBBY Australia, was established and Ena Noël, OAM became its first president and remained in this role for over 20 years.

Purpose and goals:

• To promote international understanding through children's books
• To give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards
• To encourage the publication and distribution of quality children's books, including those in their own languages (eg the Indigenous languages across Australia)
• To provide support and training for those involved with children and children's literature
• To stimulate research and scholarly works in the field of children's literature

IBBY Australia has, in some years, nominated Australian children's authors and illustrators for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Awards. The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children's books.

The award is made to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. In 1986, both Hans Christian Andersen Awards were won by Australians: Patricia Wrightson for writing and Robert Ingpen for illustration.

The IBBY Honour List is a biennial selection of outstanding, recently published books, honoring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. IBBY Australia nominates Australian books for inclusion in the honour list.

In 1987, Australia hosted International Children's Book Day

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