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PRESS RELEASE

PATSY ALDANA of Groundwood Books has been elected President of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People). IBBY is an NGO (non-governmental organization) comprised of national sections in seventy countries around the world, in countries as diverse as Mongolia, Uganda, Venezuela, the Palestinian Territories, India, Japan, European countries, China, Mexico, the US and Canada.

IBBY's goals are to ensure that children in every part of the world can become readers; that they have access to the very best books of their own, in their own languages, as well as to the best from around the world. IBBY works to train and support professionals who bring children and books together. IBBY believes that in creating life-long readers who have had access to the very best literature from their own cultures and from around the world, we are working to create the conditions for democracy and peace and understanding between peoples.

"Patsy is only the second Canadian to be elected President of IBBY — this is a significant appointment in a highly regarded international organization," said Susan Shipton, President of the Canadian section of IBBY. "Patsy will be terrific in this influential role; she is a fearless and persuasive advocate for children's books." IBBY Canada will host a Toronto reception honouring Ms. Aldana, following the annual general meeting on Saturday, February 24, 2007.

Patsy Aldana previously served as Vice President on IBBY's Executive Committee, and was active and influential in Canadian and international children's book publishing. Ms. Aldana, who was born in Guatemala, came to Canada in 1971 and founded Groundwood Books in 1978. Groundwood Books publishes for all ages of children and is known for high quality, award winning Canadian books, as well as translations from other languages.

As the newly elected President, Ms. Aldana announced IBBY initiatives that include:

A new IBBY Fund for Children in Crisis, which will be used to support children in regions torn by war, in a state of civil disruption, or suffering from natural disasters. An initial sum has been allocated to IBBY Lebanon.

Expansion of IBBY's Every Child's Right to Become a Reader workshops, to ensure that children everywhere have access to high quality books written and produced in their own countries, as well as access to the best books from the world. The workshops assist in training authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians, bibliotherapists and teachers.

Working to ensure that children's books from all over the world are better known, especially in the major publishing centres, including promoting more translations, knowledge of high quality books from around the world, and exchanges between countries.

IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People (www.ibby.org) believes in the ability of children's books to bridge cultures and, ultimately, to promote peace. Jella Lepman, founder of the International Youth Library, started IBBY in 1953 in postwar Germany, with the goal to promote international cultural understanding through children's books. IBBY Canada (www.ibby-canada.org), established in 1980, is one of the more than 80 IBBY National Sections worldwide.

For more information, please contact:
Helena Aalto, Promotion Officer, IBBY Canada
416-925-5437 ext. 126
promotions@ibby-canada.org

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