News
World Book Day 2012 supported by David Cameron
1 Mar 2012
Today is World Book Day. Celebrated in over 100 countries around the world, World Book Day is the UK's largest festival of reading and aims to encourage a lifelong love of literature in children. Thousands of schools and nurseries are joining in, with more than 14m book vouchers given out to children, and hundreds of events – from Where's Wally? "flash mobs" to author talks and literary fancy dress competitions – taking place up and down the country.
Eight new books including the latest adventures of Winnie the Witch, a 25th anniversary edition of Where's Wally Now and the newest instalment of Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant series are free with a £1 World Book Day token.
Director of World Book Day, Kirsten Grant said:
We can't wait to get the whole country sharing stories in time for World Book Day. The £1 World Book Day Book Tokens are a great way to get young people of all ages started and there are some brilliant events lined up that will make this year's World Book Day bigger and better than ever before.
Prime minister David Cameron has pledged his support for World Book Day:
It plays an important role in helping children to develop a love of reading from an early age, supporting the inspirational work that takes place in schools and libraries up and down the country.
Citing Dr Seuss's The Lorax as his own favourite children's book, Cameron said that the books loved by children were "something you treasure for the rest of your life".
