A library for the world’s children. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? The International Children’s Digital Library is just that.

It’s Mission Statement reads:

The mission of the International Children’s Digital Library Foundation (ICDL Foundation) is to support the world’s children in becoming effective members of the global community – who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas — by making the best in children’s literature available online free of charge. The Foundation pursues its vision by building a digital library of outstanding children’s books from around the world and supporting communities of children and adults in exploring and using this literature through innovative technology designed in close partnership with children for children.

The ICDL Foundation is a non-profit corporation.

Some of the resources on the site include:

• Simple Search
  Search for books in a fun graphical environment using our most popular categories.
• Books by Countries
  Search for books by continent by spinning an interactive globe.
• Advanced Search
  Search for books using a compact, text-based interface with our full category hierarchy.
• Keyword Search
  Search for books by title, author, or keyword, in dozens of languages.
• Recently Added Books
  Read the books just added to the ICDL collection.
• Award-Winning Books
  Access books that have won awards worldwide.
• Using the Library
  Get ideas about how you can use the library – as a child, parent, teacher, librarian, or any other reader.
• White Ravens List
  Explore the database of exceptional children’s books selected by language specialists at the International Youth Library.
• Full Book List
  See all the books in the ICDL and sort by title, author, illustrator, language, and publication date.
• Author & Illustrator List
  Access a complete list of the authors and illustrators whose books are included in the ICDL.
• Featured Books
  Take a look at some of our readers’ favorite books.
• Collections
  Browse the books in our special collections.
• Exhibitions
  Browse exhibitions of books on a particular theme – activities included.

The site is obviously a work in progress and relies on donations to expand its offerings, however it is an intriguing and worthy project.