Today is World Book Day. It’s a global celebration of readers, authors, and books. It’s an event recognized in over 100 countries around the globe. For school kids, it began this year on April 17 and lasted 5 days.
A day for readers to rejoice.
World Book Day—Things to Do.
- Join me in reading a good book. In case you have nothing lying around to read, I’ve got an idea. Why not download the e-book version of Cleft Heart: Chasing Normal. Former Secretary of State John Kerry calls it “A poignant, heartfelt tale.
- Learn more about your country’s celebration, including literacy partners and reading events.
- “Share why you #LovetoRead. Post about why you #LovetoRead on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Ask your friends and colleagues to do the same! (The hashtag is not related to Amazon.)
World Book Day—Background.
If you’re a cynic, you might think Amazon came up with the idea, but UNESCO started the ball rolling in 1995.
According to Wiki,” the connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Catalonia, Spain . The original idea was of writer Vicente Clavel Andrés as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes, on on April 23, his death date.
In 1995 UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, too, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare … In a historical coincidence, Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same date — 23 April 1616.”
Cleft Heart, Amazon bestseller.
A typical World Day Celebration.
Kensington, Maryland takes Book Day seriously. A bedroom community for workers who commute to Washington, D.C., Kensington celebrates the day with live music, author readings, open mic, activities for children and adults, storytellers, and books. Local authors, book artists, publishers, booksellers, and literary groups line Howard Ave in Historic Old Town Kensington to show, sell, and discuss their works.
Interesting factoids:
- The huge, brilliant-white Mormon Temple in Greater Kensington can be seen from the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway.
- And for crime buffs, on October 2, 2002, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera became the fifth victim of the snipers who terrorized the Washington area that month, while washing her car at a Kensington gas station. (See Beltway sniper attacks.)
- Crime fact inKensington.
World Book Day—More things to Do.
- If you need a hardback copy or one to give to your GP, your dentist, or another health care professional, go here.
- Please let me know what books you’ve been reading lately . . . or what you chose for World Book Day. Thanks.
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