World Book Day, the annual celebration of books and reading, is coming up on 6 March! Here, our friends at Children's Books Ireland tell us all about it.
This year, World Book Day have partnered with Children’s Books Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge and An Post in a joint effort to give every child access to excellent stories.
The core message to children is to 'Read Your Way’, whether that’s picking up one of the 14 available titles in your local bookshop, listening to an audiobook or reading in braille - there are so many ways to enjoy a good story on World Book Day...and everyday!
from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Inchicore want everyone to read your way.
In Ireland there are 14 titles available to readers aged 0 to teens, and what a selection to choose from! Be sure to look out for the Irish published books, Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly (The O'Brien Press) and a book as Gaeilge Ag Buzzáil sa Ghairdín by Áine Ní Ghlinn and Mr Ando (An tSnáthaid Mhór).
Irish-language books and resources are supported by Foras na Gaeilge and ensuring that every child is included in the World Book Day celebrations, accessible copies of the books are provided by Vision Ireland and ChildVision.
What books can I choose with my token?
You can choose a brilliant book for free when you redeem your €1.50/£1 World Book Day token. These tokens can be redeemed for one of 14 specially curated titles until 23 March. Visit your local bookshop or a participating retailer to pick up a new book and escape into a great story.
Ag Buzzáil sa Ghairdín by Áine Ní Ghlinn, illustrated by Mr Ando (Andrew Whitson) and published by An tSnáthaid Mhór
Bíonn Billí Beach ag obair go dian sa ghairdín. Bíonn Billí ag obair ó mhaidín go hoíche!
Follow Billí's magical working day gathering nectar from all the beautiful flowers in the garden. This rhyming story of Billí, the hardest-working bee in the garden, is a tale that will delight all eco warriors, big and small.
Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly, published by The O’Brien Press
Rory’s dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails – which isn’t always easy! But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas…
Resources
There are lots of brilliant resources available to help young readers enjoy reading and get the most out of their new World Book Day book. Check out engaging videos from this year's authors and illustrators, activity sheets, and even some easy dress-up ideas ahead of the day itself. These are great ways to inspire budding booklovers at home or in the classroom.
Free resources and ideas here!
Competition
If you’d like the chance to get your hands on more book tokens for you and your school, get involved in the DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN competition. As sponsors of World Book Day, National Book Tokens are inviting children of all ages to share their creativity – and their love for books and reading – by designing their own fabulous gift cards in the theme of Read Your Way. Learn some top tips and enter at the link below.
About World Book Day
World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and reading. Its mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.
World Book Day want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them. Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
Go to worldbookday.com to find out more!
For more great reading recommendations from our friend at Children's Books Ireland, check out the RTÉjr Book Club every month.
