The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Book Club officially launched today with its first month’s title selections. The initiative—which is a collaboration among the United Nations, the International Publishers Association, International Federation of Librarian Associations, European & International Booksellers Federation, International Board on Books for Young People, and Bologna Children’s Book Fair—aims to provide an opportunity to encourage children ages 6-12 to learn about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and “discover new voices and concepts from around the world” in all six official UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Each month a new list related to a Sustainable Development Goal will be announced. The April book club selections, announced today at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, address issues related to Goal No. 1, No Poverty. The books are:

English:

• Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg

• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illus. by Christian Robinson

• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

• The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde, illus. by Maisie Paradise Shearring

Spanish:

• A la Sombra de los Anacardos by Antón Fortes Torres, illus. by Simona Mulazzani

• De Noche en la Calle by Ángela Lago

• No Comas Renacuajos by Francisco Montaña Ibáñez

• Un Punado de Semillas by Mónica Hughes, illus. by Luis Garay

Arabic:

• Aina da’at by Mohanned Al Akoos

• The Wonder Bag by Omaima Ezadeen

• The Strange Wondrous House by Omama Allawati

French:

• Jouer aux Fantômes by Didier Levy, illus. by Sonja Bougaeva

• L’usine by Yael Hassan

• La Pauvreté et la Faim by Louise Spilsbury, illus. by Hanane Kai

• Ma Robe Couleur de Fruits by Myriam Gallot, illus. Julia Wauters

Russian:

• The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish by Alexander Pushkin

• Vanka by Anton Chekhov

• The Cat’s House by Samuil Marshak

Selections in Chinese can be found on the website.

In May, the SDG Book Club will address Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are: 1. No Poverty ; 2. Zero Hunger ; 3. Good Health and Well-being ; 4. Quality Education ; 5. Gender Equality ; 6. Clean Water and Sanitation ; 7. Affordable and Clean Energy ; 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth ; 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure ; 10. Reduced Inequality ; 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities ; 12. Responsible Consumption and Production ; 13. Climate Action ; 14. Life Below Water ; 15. Life on Land ; 16. Peace and Justice Strong Institutions ; 17. Partnerships to achieve the Goal.