A teacher from Inner Mongolia Experimental Kindergarten reads a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale to children at Inner Mongolia Normal University (IMNU) on April 2. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]

A reading activity organized by Inner Mongolia Experimental Kindergarten in celebration of International Children's Book Day was held at Inner Mongolia Normal University (IMNU) in Hohhot on April 2.

During the event, Cai Shulan, a preschool education expert from IMNU's Education Science College, gave an interview to share her ideas of how to best develop children's interest in reading. Cai noted that it is vital for children under 6 to develop pre-reading skills.

Professor Cai Shulan is interviewed at IMNU on April 2. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]

Cai added that parents should respect and pay attention to children's choices, and provide them with a relaxed reading environment.

International Children's Book Day, which fell on April 2, is an annual event established by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) in 1967.

Founded in Basel, Switzerland, in 1953, IBBY is an international non-profit organization that holds an authoritative position in the international study and publishing of children's books.

China formally announced its IBBY membership in 1986 and a Chinese branch was established in Beijing in June 1990.