HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS DAY 2025
Celebrating International Children’s Book Day: Inspiring Young Minds Through Stories
Every year on April 2, the world comes together to celebrate International Children’s Book Day (ICBD)—a special occasion dedicated to the magic of books and the joy of reading for children. Established in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), this day aims to inspire a love of reading and promote children’s literature worldwide. The date was chosen to honor the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, the legendary Danish author known for timeless fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Why International Children’s Book Day Matters
Books play a crucial role in a child’s development, shaping their imagination, language skills, and emotional intelligence. Reading fosters creativity, encourages empathy, and introduces young readers to new cultures and perspectives. ICBD serves as a reminder of the importance of early literacy and the need to make books accessible to children everywhere.
🎉 Happy International Children’s Book Day! Let’s celebrate the power of books in shaping young minds. Read a story to a child today and help build a future full of creativity and knowledge! 📚💙 #ReadGrowInspire #ICBD2025
READING FOR CHILDREN
👧📖 Every child deserves a book! Let’s make reading fun, accessible, and part of everyday life. Share your favorite childhood book and spread the love of stories! 💕📚 #InternationalChildrensBookDay #EmeraldBookClub

How the Day is Celebrated
Around the world, schools, libraries, and literary organizations mark the occasion with exciting activities, including:
- Storytelling sessions featuring classic and contemporary children’s books
- Book-themed workshops encouraging kids to create their own stories or illustrations
- Read-aloud events by authors, educators, or community leaders
- Book fairs and donation drives to provide books to underprivileged children
Each year, a different country is chosen to sponsor International Children’s Book Day, selecting a theme and inviting a well-known author to write a special message for young readers.

Encouraging a Lifelong Love of Reading
Parents, teachers, and caregivers can celebrate ICBD by:
✔️ Reading aloud to children and making it a daily habit
✔️ Visiting bookstores or libraries together to explore new books
✔️ Encouraging kids to write and illustrate their own stories
✔️ Discussing favorite books and characters to spark conversations about values and ideas
Videos
Shorts
Join the Celebration!
On this International Children’s Book Day, take a moment to share a story with a child, introduce them to a new book, or support initiatives that promote literacy. A single book has the power to ignite a child’s imagination and shape their future—let’s ensure every child has access to that opportunity!
📚✨ Happy International Children’s Book Day! ✨📚
[{"id":3652,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/09\/in-the-green-mountains\/","name":"in-the-green-mountains","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"In the Green Mountains","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 9, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:17:30","modifiedDate":"2026-01-09 14:18:55","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:18:55","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/nature-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>nature poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":28},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3649,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/09\/the-brook\/","name":"the-brook","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"The Brook","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 9, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:14:41","modifiedDate":"2026-01-09 14:14:49","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:14:49","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems-about-nature\/' rel='post_tag'>poems about nature<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":25},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3645,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/09\/the-woodpecker\/","name":"the-woodpecker","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"The Woodpecker","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 9, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:10:17","modifiedDate":"2026-01-09 14:10:28","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:10:28","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/animal-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Animal Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/animal-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Animal Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/animal-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>Animal Poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":21},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3642,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/09\/sea-fever\/","name":"sea-fever","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Sea Fever","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 9, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:07:30","modifiedDate":"2026-01-09 14:07:37","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:07:37","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/nature-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>nature poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":47},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3639,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/09\/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud\/","name":"i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 9, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:04:59","modifiedDate":"2026-01-09 14:05:11","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-09 14:05:11","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/nature-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Nature Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/nature-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>nature poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":41},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3630,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/08\/harnessing-the-power-of-books\/","name":"harnessing-the-power-of-books","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-photo-7809921.jpeg","alt":"Book club Reading"},"title":"Harnessing the Power of Books","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 8, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-08 17:09:11","modifiedDate":"2026-01-08 17:09:24","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-08 17:09:24","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-clubs\/' rel='post_tag'>book clubs<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-clubs-near-me\/' rel='post_tag'>book clubs near me<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/books\/' rel='post_tag'>books<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":28},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3620,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/08\/how-literature-builds-bridges\/","name":"how-literature-builds-bridges","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"How Literature Builds Bridges","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 8, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-08 00:00:55","modifiedDate":"2026-01-08 00:02:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-08 00:02:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":23},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3609,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/06\/unlock-the-world-book-club\/","name":"unlock-the-world-book-club","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2697007fa5b77dedd0b15d00aa684a5d7b3a38ef-scaled.jpg","alt":"Emerald Book Club Avid Readers"},"title":"Unlock the World: Benefits of Joining a Global Book Club for Avid Readers","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 6, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-06 16:08:46","modifiedDate":"2026-01-06 16:23:56","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-06 16:23:56","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-club\/' rel='post_tag'>book club<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-club-near-me\/' rel='post_tag'>Book club near me<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/join-a-book-club\/' rel='post_tag'>join a book club<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":5,"sec":6},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3596,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/06\/word-of-the-day-interpolate\/","name":"word-of-the-day-interpolate","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Word-of-the-Day-Interpolate.png","alt":"Word of the Day Interpolate"},"title":"Word of The Day Interpolate","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 6, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-06 14:06:29","modifiedDate":"2026-01-06 14:11:26","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-06 14:11:26","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/word-of-the-day\/' rel='post_tag'>word of the day<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":11},"status":"publish","excerpt":"To interpolate is to insert (something of a different nature) into something else."},{"id":3584,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/05\/im-not-really-60\/","name":"im-not-really-60","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Im Not Really 60","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-05 23:47:01","modifiedDate":"2026-01-05 23:49:28","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-05 23:49:28","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/life-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Life Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/life-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Life Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":37},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3581,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/05\/the-ballad-of-rum\/","name":"the-ballad-of-rum","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"The Ballad Of Rum","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-05 23:40:23","modifiedDate":"2026-01-05 23:40:32","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-05 23:40:32","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/life-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Life Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/life-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Life Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":46},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3562,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/05\/creating-inclusive-reading-spaces-for-mindful-book-lovers\/","name":"creating-inclusive-reading-spaces-for-mindful-book-lovers","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Creating Inclusive Reading Spaces for Mindful Book Lovers","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-05 11:04:38","modifiedDate":"2026-01-05 11:04:43","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-05 11:04:43","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/community-events\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Community Events<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/community-events\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Community Events<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/reading\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Reading<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":6,"sec":20},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Reading should never feel like a lonely journey or a closed door. For mindful book lovers craving connection, inclusive reading spaces open new worlds where diverse literature brings us closer"}]




0 Comments