World Book Day, the world’s biggest annual celebration of books and reading will take place on Thursday 6th March 2014, celebrating the wonderful world of books by giving all school children a token they can exchange for a free World Book Day book in their local bookshop. This year, acclaimed Irish author Mary Arrigan has written a book exclusively for World Book Day in Ireland, Milo and the Long Lost Worriors, and young readers can redeem their books against this or any of the other 10 special titles designed for all different age groups.
Speaking about World Book Day, Bob Johnston chair of the Booksellers Association Ireland said: “We are really excited about World Book Day – with events throughout the country now is the perfect time for kids to get into their local bookshop to pick their free book – and to experience the magical journey of reading!”
With declining numbers of children reading outside the classroom, it is more important than ever to get kids reading – extra curricular reading has proven benefits for development, with young people who read outside of class five times more likely to read above the expected age level, and 40% of young people reading above their age level also writing above the expected level (source: National Literacy Trust’s survey, Children’s and Young People’s Reading in 2012).
Exciting events will take place in bookshops and venues throughout the country on and around 6th March, including a reading from Milo and the Long Lost Warriors by Mary Arrigan in Dublinia; free Bookmaking Workshops in the National Print Museum as well as the We ‘♥’ Books tour featuring 12 authors visiting 5 venues around the country in 5 days. World Book Day is also delighted to support St. Michael’s House Bring a Book Buy a Book campaign from 1st to 9th March, which raises money to support their services for people with intellectual disabilities with bookstalls in companies and schools throughout Ireland.
World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading with the aim of encouraging children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.
To mark the day, school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day €1.50 Book Token provided by Irish booksellers. The Book Token can be exchanged for one of the specially published World Book Day books, or can be used in part payment against any book or audio book of their choice at a participating bookshops around the country.
For the latest news and updates about World Book Day see:
Website: www.worldbookday.com/world-book-day-ireland/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WBDIreland
Twitter: @WBDIreland #WorldBookDay
