This year more than 17,000 children enjoyed the night with Andersen, particularly from the Czech Republic, but also in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia

Some libraries invited children from neighbouring countries to make the event an international one. For instance Czech and Slovak children spent a night in Uherske Hradiste public library.  This was one of many such exchanges: Czech children went to Skalica in Slovakia, Hungarian children came to Nove Zamky library in Slovakia and children form Orlova in Moravia went to Rydultowych in Poland.

Safer internet was one of the themes. Children received and discussed  leaflets with basic information about safer internet and the dangers they could face. They also read the stories from the finalists of the Safer Internet 'Magic and Friendship' international story telling competition that was organised in 2005.

Fairytales were also the focus of a number of other events linked to 'A night with Andersen'.   These included artistic competitions, a forum with writers and journalists, and general knowledge quizzes. The children had special visitors, including writers, ghosts, and animals.

As the Czech Oscar-winning director Zdenek Sverak once put it: "All children need fairy tales. Fairy tales are like water that helps the infant soul grow."

'A night with Andersen' started with 20 children in Uherske Hradiste library in 2000.  Since then, the internet has played an important part in helping the event develop, and linking the various participants to make it even more of a shared experience.