Today is World Book and Copyright Day

23 April: a symbolic date for world literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.

The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. The success of the World Book and Copyright Day will depend primarily on the support received from all parties concerned (authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs and the mass media), who have been mobilized in each country by UNESCO National Commissions, UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, Associated Schools and Libraries, and by all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors

By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

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http://www.worldbookday.com/

World Book Day: Caribbean Children's Authors

Today is World Book day in the UK and Ireland. This year the emphasis is on children’s literature and as The Guardian reports:

To celebrate World Book Day, the education centre invited children from Blessed Sacrament and Copenhagen primary schools to meet three famous children's authors, who entertained the year 3 and 4 groups with extracts from their books and answered questions about their experiences as writers of children's fiction.

In anticipation of the real World Book Day (LOL), I'm posting a partial list of children’s authors and publishers from the Caribbean in the hope that it may spark a similar response in the region:

Joanne C. Hillhouse
http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/2009/10/joanne-c-hillhouse-musings-on-boy.html

Joanne Gail Johnson
http://caribbeanbookblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/pink-carnival-a-new-book-by-joanne-gail-johnson/


Dany Laferrière:
http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-bookla-fete-des-morts-by-dany.html

Martin Mordecai
http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/2009/04/in-my-own-words-martin-mordecai.html

Kelly Magnus:
http://www.yardedge.net/interviews/yardedge-talks-to-kellie-magnus-about-her-new-book

Geoffrey Philp
http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/search/label/Grandpa%20Sydney%27s%20Anancy%20Stories



Students from the Atkinson Primary School: The Snake King of the Kalinago
http://caribbeanbookblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/the-snake-king-of-the-kalinago-dominicas-kalinago-children-celebrate-their-culture/

Publishers

Papillote Press
http://caribbeanbookblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/an-interview-with-polly-pattullo-of-papillote-press/


Peepal Tree Press:

John Siddique
Don't Wear it on Your Head, Don't Stick it Down Your Pants: Poems for Young People



Janet Jagan
Anastasia the Anteater and other stories

Janet Jagan
Patricia the Baby Manatee and other stories


 Janet Jagan
When Grandpa Cheddi was a Boy

Vishnu Gosine
The Coming of Lights



Macmillan
This is more YA:

http://caribbeanbookblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/macmillan-%E2%80%98island-fiction%E2%80%99-series-helps-kids-rediscover-the-joy-of-reading/

I know I have left several publishers off the list--authors and publishers from the Hispanic, Dutch, Portuguese and French-speaking Caribbean. This is not due to bad mind or malfeasance.

If I have left any author or publisher off the list, feel free to add your name or company to the list in the comments.

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