ICBD 2025 sponsored by the Netherlands


Are you planning to celebrate the 2025 International Children's Book Day?
Download our digital materials to decorate your event, share posts about it and tag IBBY: @ibby.international (Facebook & Instagram), @ibbyint (Twitter). #ICBD25


In 2025, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY-Netherlands and the poster is made by two Dutch creators of children’s books. The theme of the 2025 International Children's Book Day is The freedom of imagination, and the motto is the last sentence of the poem ‘The Language of Pictures’:

‘Make pictures for my poem, and please feel free: these words belong to you even though they came from me.’

The poem comes from the illustrated poetry collection Alle wensen van de wereld (2021) by Rian Visser and illustrator Janneke Ipenburg. This book was awarded a Zilveren Griffel in the Netherlands and the Gouden Poëziemedaille (Gold Poetry Medal) in Belgium.


The Freedom of Imagination


In high-quality children’s books, the reader’s imagination is kindled and developed. These books help children to explore their imagination, to develop their creativity and to see the world in a new way. Good books invite readers to interpret the words for themselves, making the story their own.

You can download lesson suggestions (in English and Dutch) based on the theme for three different age groups (ages 4–6, 6–9, and 9–14) on the IBBY-Netherlands website.


International drawing competition

IBBY Netherlands has launched an International Illustration Competition to encourage children worldwide to use and express their imagination and creativity by creating works of art inspired by the theme "The Freedom of Imagination" and the associated motto: "Make pictures for my poem, and please feel free: these words belong to you, even though they came from me." - from the poem 'Visual Language' by Rian Visser. 

Make a drawing, painting or some other kind of art based on the poem and send it to IBBY Netherlands! All the entries on their website, and the winners will be rewarded with a package of books for their school. This virtual exhibition is our way of celebrating the freedom of imagination.

Click to learn how to participate!

Message author: Rian Visser

Poster artist: Janneke Ipenburg

ICBD 2025 Message - original Dutch text

ICBD 2025 Message - English translation

The Language of Pictures
Rian Visser
Translation: Laura Watkinson

 

Can you draw pictures
for the words,
for the things I say?

Then draw
part of the picture,
cold,
wind,
a lump in your throat
or tough luck,

draw a cough,
a sigh,
the scent of fresh bread,
time,
a moment,
the beginning or the end
of a plan,

draw the place wherever,
the place where never,
the place where soon
something is going to happen,

draw the pain of a push,
the taste of the sea.

There is so much
that I want to see,
like love,
one day,
and maybe for me.

Make pictures
for my poem,
and please feel free:
these words
belong to you
even though they came from me.

ICBD 2025 Message - French translation

ICBD 2025 Message - Frisian translation

ICBD 2025 Message - German translation

ICBD 2024 Message - Russian translation

ICBD 2025 Message - Slovenian translation

ICBD 2025 Message - Spanish translation