2 April 2019: The International Publishers Association (IPA) and other organizations partnered with the UN to launch an SDG Book Club aimed at children from six to 12 years old. The book club encourages children to explore the SDGs through a curated reading list of books from around the world. The book selection for each Goal will be published during the first week of every month for 17 months, starting with Goal 1 (no poverty) in April 2019, which is available now, and culminating with Goal 17 (partnerships for the Goals) in September 2020.
The SDG Book Club is organized by the UN in collaboration with the IPA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF).
For each Goal, the books on the reading list are selected in each of the six UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), and include fiction, non-fiction, and other literary genres the committee thinks will help educate children about SDGs. They are chosen by a selection committee composed of members from the UN, IPA, IFLA, the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBA), the International Authors Forum (IAF), and the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
The website encourages people to host book club meetings around the world by making arrangements with their local book store, library or school. It includes information on how to organize a book club, and notes that it will soon provide a list of book club meetings taking place worldwide.
The website also outlines ideas for actions that can be taken to educate children about the SDGs. A special video message from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed explains that the SDGs are a road map for a better future for everyone, everywhere, especially for children and young people. She adds that the book club is a chance to explore the principles behind the Goals, and “fuel our imaginations” about possibilities for improving life for all people, while fostering a love of reading and sharing ideas with adults. [Book Club Press Release]