World Book Day

Rustle up the pages of your favourite books – or light up your Kindles, – because today is World Book Day and there are quite a few ways to get involved.
Going onto its 21st year running, World Book Day was launched by then-PM Tony Blair at the Globe Theatre in London.
Since then, the amount of initiatives has gradually been growing each year, with programmes like Spread The Word, Quick Reads Initiative and Books for Hospitals. The number of children receiving a World Book Day Book Token has also gone up every year.
The most important part of the day is that millions of schoolchildren across the UK and Ireland will receive a World Book Day token, which they can exchange for one of ten exclusive, new and free books. Another option is to use it to get £1 off any book or audiobook that costs over £2.99 at a participating bookshop.
Almost every child in the UK will receive one this year: the charity has worked together with publishers and booksellers to send out as many as 15 million book tokens to children and young people.
While today is mainly about getting children excited about books, and the authors they like, anyone can join in festivities and celebrate their favourite book.
From storytime events in Brighton and in Cambridge all the way to Glasgow, where proceeds from a recycled book sale will go towards the foodbank, there is certainly something to do for everyone all over the country.
Meanwhile, Foyles at Charing Cross will let children meet with Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, authors of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, this year’s winner of Foyles Children’s Book Award of the Year.
World Book Day is a registered charity, and while it doesn’t raise funds for itself, it does support Book Aid International and Readathon as its nominated charities, and encourages schools to raise money for children less fortunate than themselves.
For a more events taking place on the day, visit the calendar of the charity here.
> Borislava Todorova