Editorial

Dear Bookbird Readers,

This issue of Bookbird comes to you with greetings from the 34^th IBBY Congress, which will be held in México City, 10–13 September 2014. Jella Lepman, founder of IBBY and the International Youth Library in Munich, would have been pleased with the conference theme. Chosen by IBBY México, the theme is Que Todos Signifique Todos / May Everyone Really Mean Everyone. The full name of México’s IBBY Section is A leer IBBY México, and this is an organization that has put children’s reading at the forefront of all its endeavors. Since its establishment in 1970, IBBY México has worked to encourage joyful encounters between children and good books. This issue’s gorgeous cover and the illustration above come from Pat Mora’s Book Fiesta, illustrated by Mexican artist Rafael Lopez. These joyful illustrations are fitting accompaniments for an issue about joyful encounters between children and Latin American literature for them, something fully promoted by A leer IBBY México.

This organization’s many activities include organizing courses and workshops on children’s literature for parents, teachers and librarians; offering certificate programs in Reading Promotion and Literary Text Analysis; and regularly publishing a Recommended Books Guide, Leer de la mano [Reading Hand in Hand] and Rumbo a la lectura [Towards Reading]. A leer IBBY México also offers a specialized library of literature for children and youth, literature that serves educators and researchers, and it works with other organizations in México and internationally on special projects, including working with various publishers on their catalogues for children and youth. A leer IBBY México has also created more than forty Bunkos, small community libraries intended for recreational reading for children and youngsters in various marginalized areas of México. These spaces offer children quality books and reading sessions. Since 2005, its Books Between Us project has sent volunteers to read aloud in public primary schools, and in 2011 the organization produced DVDs of Mexican picture books in sign language.

Overall, A leer IBBY México is an organization dedicated to reading and books for children as a means to social renewal, with a particular and admirable focus on inclusion and on promoting equal access to literacy as one way to build a more just society. It comes as no surprise, then, that it has chosen the theme of reading as an inclusive experience for the 34^th Congress, which will explore stereotypes in children’s literature, the role of literature in building an inclusive culture, and the creation of art and literature from a standpoint of diversity. The many keynote speakers, presenters, and participants will consider inclusive models, strategies and practices, as well as common practices of exclusion, in the promotion of texts and reading for children. The Congress organizers have put together a vibrant program that will include the presentation of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards, sponsored by Nami Island Inc., and the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Awards, which are sponsored by Asahi Shinbun.

I was especially pleased when a member of A leer IBBY México, Dr. Beatriz Alcubierre Moya, accepted my invitation to guest edit this issue of Bookbird and introduce our readers to children’s literature in Latin America. I know you’ll enjoy her comprehensive introduction.

See you in México City!