Thus, UNESCO launched an extensive campaign for the dissemination of books and for the encouragement of book reading, which have been the driving force of mankind's progress and development.

The International Book Commission, which was founded for accomplishing the ideal of the International Book Year, has designated this year, 1976, as a year for encouraging children into book reading, and is spearheading a worldwide campaian.

We should try to let our growing children appreciate the pleasure of reading books and cultivate the habit of book-reading from childhood, thereby helping them make themselves good citizens equipped with sound human emotion and general education. We should also exert ourselves for helping them countribute greatly to their self-development and the progress and improvement of mankind through the acquisition of higher knowledge and wisdom by means of making books their close friends throughout their lifetime.