If you’ve been to Bradley Stoke Library this week you may have seen whispered conversations, furtive scurrying and plain brown boxes being quietly passed from one hand to another and wondered what was going on! The answer would be that World Book Night is again coming to Bradley Stoke.
World Book Night, which takes place on Wednesday 23rd April, is the adult version of World Book Day and is an annual celebration of reading and books. It sees passionate volunteers give hundreds of thousands of books away in their communities to share their love of reading with people who, for whatever reason, don’t read for pleasure or own their own books.
The initiative began in 2011 and is run by the Reading Agency, who are only able to do so with the generosity of the authors who waive their royalties on the books given away, publishers Clays and CPI who publish at cost and Yodel who deliver the books for free.
April 23rd was chosen for several reasons; as well as being International day of the book, it is the date of Shakespeare’s birth and death, as well as the death day of Spanish writer Cervantes. In Spain on this day it is traditional for gentlemen to give their ladies a rose who return the favour by giving them a book.
Around 20 ‘givers’ have already collected their 18 books from Bradley Stoke library and on the 23rd you may be lucky enough to be given a book by one of them, quietly sharing their love of reading, one book at a time.
More information: What is World Book Night?
Photo: Local book ‘givers’ pictured at Bradley Stoke Library.
