The Parag initiative, since its inception in 2005, has been dedicated to fostering reading habits and promoting literature amongst children and young adults in India. IBBY, a non-governmental organization accredited by UNESCO, plays a key role as an advocate for children’s literature and supports a global network of members from 84 countries, aimed towards bringing books and children together. This partnership will build on Parag’s extensive network of key players and is uniquely positioned to transform the children’s literature landscape in India.
Siddharth Sharma, CEO, of Tata Trusts, said, “At the Tata Trusts, we have continuously strived to transform and expand the scope of the children’s literature ecosystem in India through our unique initiative, Parag. Over the years, we have worked with an unwavering commitment to strengthen and nurture key drivers of the literary landscape – from writers and illustrators to teachers and publishers. Our partnership with IBBY marks the latest step in our journey towards spurring access to quality storybooks for children and youth, reaffirming our promise to encourage children to embrace reading for joy.”
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Carolina Ballester, Executive Director, of the International Board on Books for Young People, added, “The work developed by Parag is very much in line with the mission pursued by IBBY since its creation in 1953, both in terms of reading promotion projects and valorization of quality children’s books. Our recent partnership with Parag has already taken shape with the nomination of several Indian titles for the IBBY Collection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. "
This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for authors and illustrators of Indian children’s literature, as winners of Parag’s Big Little Book Award may be nominated for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. Books recognized on the Parag Honour List will be eligible for nomination to the IBBY Honour List. The Parag Initiative will unveil the Parag Honour List 2024 and the Big Little Book Award for children’s illustrators this month in New Delhi. Continuously engaging with stakeholders such as publishers, library networks, and academies, Parag remains committed to strengthening and amplifying efforts in collaboration with IBBY on an international scale.