PRESS RELEASE
Hundreds of Portuguese and Brazilian children’s books highlight sustainability and equality through new SDG Book Club
Following submissions of over 1000 titles, book sector organisations from Brazil and Portugal announce lists to augment the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Book Club with a collection of lusophone books about the different goals for children.
The list of 175 books for Brazil has been published here: www.clubedeleituraods.com.br with an Instagram campaign on the Brazilian books starting today at @cbloficial
The list of books for Portugal have been published here: https://bad.pt/agenda2030/clube-de-leitura-ods/
The Brazilian club is organizing a webinar on 16 June with a stunning line-up of speakers to discuss the project and how it can be used.
Vitor Tavares, President CBL said: The book is an essential source of ideas for human development and all aspects that make us live in harmony with the planet. Encouraging the reading of books that address issues such as equality and sustainability is like planting a seed of transformation in the world. The Portuguese Language SDG Book Club is a great initiative in this regard. When children grow up in contact with these learnings, they will certainly have present and future habits that value each of the goals proposed by the UN, and that can transform the world for the better.
Bruno Duarte Eiras, Deputy Director, General-Directorate for Book, Archives and Libraries – Portugal said: The UN SDG Book Club is a great opportunity to engage with readers about SDG and 2030 Agenda principles. With this initiative we can contribute to fulfill the 2030 Agenda motto “Leaving no one behind” through reading and literature. Books have the power to help us understand the world around us and each other. We’re excited to be building on the original UN SDG Book Club to bring the goals to Portuguese-speaking children and to promote action at public libraries.
Elizabeth Serra, Secretary General FNLIJ (Brazilian section of iBBY): More than ever, the Hope and Confidence that unites us around the 2030 Agenda is decisive for us to move towards a sustainable planetary consciousness. The bridge created by the SDG Book Club through literature books, exponentially expands the possibilities of dialogue and knowledge of the other as seeds for reaping peace in the world. As IBBY Brazil, we strive for the presence of literature, more than textbooks, to be daily and permanent in the lives of new generations. Knowing the stories, old and new, feeds the imagination that makes you dream, fantasize, create and act and leave no one behind.
Pedro Sobral, Leya EG General Manager and APEL Vice President: We’re so happy to show off all of the excellent books Portuguese publishers have released to help children understand the challenges of the future in their own language. We have our role to play in making a brighter future.
Jorge Moisés, President FEBAB (Brazilian Libraries Federation): “Now that we have a rich selection of titles, our commitment is to build reflection, awareness and dissemination with libraries to contribute to the formation of citizens capable of living in a society aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, even after 2030. There is engagement of libraries and librarians across the country as we are sure that the selected books have a potential for transformation and libraries have the competence to provide the environment for readings to happen”
Sherri Aldis, Chief UN Publications: “It is exciting to see such a diverse and comprehensive selection of books to launch the Portuguese Chapter of the SDG Book Club. Expanding the horizon of the Book Club to Lusophone children around the world will surely inspire them – and the adults in their lives – to take action for people and planet during this crucial Decade of Action. Happy reading!”
The Portuguese language club follows the launches of the Global SDG Book Club in 2018 and subsequent clubs in Norway, Indonesia and Africa. The world’s publishing community through the IPA supports the SDGs as an investment in future generations of leaders, innovators and agents of change.
The founding partners for the Portuguese language book club are:
- APEL – Portuguese Publishers Association
- CBL – Brazilian Book Chamber
- FEBAB – Brazilian Libraries Federation
- FNLIJ – Brazilian section of iBBY
- DGLAB – General-Directorate for Book, Archives and Libraries
Organisations interested in joining the initiative are invited to contact:
- Brazil: Karine Pansa: karine@girassolbrasil.com.br
Portugal: Bruno Duarte Eiras: Bruno.Eiras@dglab.gov.pt
About the SDG Book Club
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Book Club was launched at Bologna International Childrens Book Fair in 2019 and aims to use books as a tool to encourage children ages 6-12 to interact with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a curated reading list of books from around the world related to each of the 17 SDGs in all six official UN languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdgbookclub/
About the SDGs
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders at the historic Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. Encompassing everything from health, to gender equality, and education, the Goals will mobilize efforts around the world to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.