On Thursday 3rd March, children and young people of all ages will be coming together to celebrate the annual World Book Day for 2022. It is a celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books. Designated by UNESCO, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries all over the world.
World Book Day is a charity that celebrates the importance of reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own (which could be their very first). Baroness Gail Rebuck DBE, chair of publishing group Penguin Random House and the founder of World Book Day, says she wants more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to learn and understand that reading is fun, accessible, exciting and has the power to change lives.
Reading for pleasure is steadily heading into decline, and it is estimated that 400,000 children in the UK don’t have access to books at home. The celebration of World Book Day aims to reverse the decline, by encouraging people who may not necessarily enjoy reading to think about it in a different way and also inspiring them to make time in the day to sit and read. Reading can help children and young people expand their vocabulary as well as their knowledge of the world around them, which will provide them with skills that can help them into adulthood.
“Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income”
World Book Day
The first World Book Day in the UK and Ireland took place in 1997, meaning that this year is the 25th anniversary. Over that time, the importance of reading has remained the same. Spending just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories with children can make a crucial difference, not only to their cognitive development but also to their future success. That’s why World Book Day continues to encourage children and young people to read for pleasure through their work with authors, illustrators, publishers, bookshops and libraries.
There is a fantastic lineup of virtual events as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. You can take part in the classroom or from the comfort of your own home, and you don’t even need to register.
Visit the World Book Day website for more information as well as ideas on how you can get involved and where to find your nearest bookseller.
