Literacy news

World Book Night: One million books up for grabs

2 Dec 2010

One million books are set be given away in the UK and Ireland on 5 March to mark the inaugural of World Book Night.

Key to the event is the concept of enthusiastic readers giving away their favourite book to people they think might love it too.

Around 20,000 volunteers will hand out 48 copies each of their favourite book from a 25-strong list. A further 40,000 will be distributed by organisers.

Would-be volunteers can apply through the event's website, choosing a book from the list which features Alan Bennett, John Le Carre and Margaret Atwood.

Atwood said the love of writing and reading were "huge gifts".

Patrons of the event include Damon Albarn, Damien Hirst and JK Rowling.

Volunteers have until 4 January to apply to become a book-giver. The 20,000 people selected will be invited to take part in parties and celebrations on World Book Night, which is being supported by BBC Two.

Books on the list include Atwood's The Blind Assassin, Bennett's A Life Like Other People's, Nigel Slater's Toast, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, and Yann Martel's Booker Prize-winning Life of Pi.

The National Literacy Trust recently launched the Christmas Gift of Reading through which you could give a child from a disadvantaged community a book of their own for the very first time.

Buy the gift of reading for yourself or the book-lover in your life and receive a stunning Christmas card with an exclusive Gruffalo drawing by illustrator Axel Scheffler.

Read more about World Book Night on the BBC website.



Tags: Adults, Children, Families, Young People

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