Jenn Writes

Today is World Book Day, a day to honour all the books that have made us laugh out loud, caused you to weep, or both, and have stayed in your memories for as long as we can remember.

They may not be Nobel-esque literature, but they are the stories we go back to over and over for comfort or escape.

And yes, I’m putting it out here, some of my favourites of all time take place in Discworld, that flat planet carried through space on the back of four humungous elephants standing astride a space-swimming turtle.

Thank you, Terry Pratchett, for the endless hours of pleasure, as evidenced by the well-worn books on my shelf, covers faded and buckled, pages yellowing.

UNESCO event

So back to World Book Day. Celebrated every 23 April, it’s a global event organised by UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to promote a culture of reading. As the organisation puts it: “… celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures.”

The first World Book Day was held in 1995, with a symbolic date chosen – 23 April marks the death of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

So how are you planning to celebrate World Book Day?

• Read for your own pleasure
• Read to your children or grandchildren
• Volunteer to read at your nearest school or community centre
• Support local writers and booksellers
• Donate books to a local library
• Send books to a hospital or community centre

You never know, you may provide a future reader with one of their beloved stories.