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TueApr 23

World Book Night – April 23, 2024

World Book Night, celebrated on April 23 every year, is a special and enthusiastic holiday that brings the power of reading to the spotlight. Did you know that reading helps you be kinder? Yes, reading can improve your brain function and knowledge. Studies have shown that adults who regularly read fiction are more likely to engage in charity and volunteer work. However, people do not often read books as they used to in the past, and this World Book Night aims to change all that. Let’s learn about the history, significance, and cool facts of World Book Night.

History of World Book Night

Reading is for everyone, from children to older adults who need a cane and glasses to read, and reading is vital for everyone. However, with all the difficulties of adulthood, people nowadays hardly have any time left to read in their busy lives. This might be due to various reasons, ranging from poverty, health concerns, and a lack of books! World Book Night is here to change all that.

World Book Night has been around for a while, and it aims to change the way adults view reading by encouraging them to read at night, and giving them another option to take time to read. It also aims to help others read too by donating or giving away free books. It is an annual celebration of books and reading that brings people from all backgrounds together for one reason — well, maybe two reasons — reading and sharing the joy of reading. It was founded in 2011 in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Ireland by Jamie Byng, M.D. of Canongate. It was originally celebrated in March, but a year later it was moved to April to coincide with UNESCO’s International Day of the Book.

On this day, “worldbooknight.org” will live-stream the reading event, inviting the whole world to join the reading activity where everyone is encouraged to spend time with a good book, alone or with others. The organization will share the list of titles selected for World Book Night. It will feature fiction, non-fiction, quick reads, and audiobooks for adults and young children.

World Book Night timeline

2011
The Birth of World Book Night

Jamie conceives the idea of World Book Night and makes it a reality.

2012
The Date Moves to April

The date of World Book Night moves from March to April.

2012—2013
It Becomes Pan-World

People begin to celebrate the holiday in the United States (U.S.) and other countries.

Late 2013
Reading Agency

World Book Night becomes part of the Reading Agency, a charity organization that promotes the advantages of reading to children and adults in the U.K.

World Book Night FAQs

Is illiteracy still a problem?

Unfortunately, yes, illiteracy is still a problem in this world. In fact, every fifth adult in the world cannot read or write, and two-thirds of all illiterate people in the world are women.

What are the types of reading?

There are four types of reading: Skimming (going through the text to get the point), scanning (keeping track of the sentences to grab some information), intensive reading (close reading to gain a deeper understanding), and extensive reading (reading for pleasure that emphasizes fluency).

How do I improve my reading skills?

Here are a few tips to improve your reading skills: set aside time to read each day, set reading goals, take notes while you read, and apply what you read by summarizing.

World Book Night Activities

  1. Read something

    The best thing you can do to celebrate World Book Night is by reading a book. It could be a short story, a poem, fiction, non-fiction, biography, or novel. Spend some time reading.

  2. Volunteer and help others

    Be a volunteer and go around your local communities, hospitals, libraries, colleges, or homeless shelters. Try to encourage others to read and grow in their knowledge of the world.

  3. Give away books

    If you are someone whose shelf is full of books you have finished reading, give them away to people in need. You can check with your local bookstores to see if they will help arrange a book giveaway for a good cause.

5 Facts About Reading And Books That You Need To Know

  1. It can keep you out of prison

    Kids who read have fewer chances of being imprisoned in the future.

  2. The longest word

    The longest word in any language of the world consists of 189,819 letters.

  3. World’s tallest book

    The world’s tallest book, “Collection of Maritime Rules” is about 6.4 feet tall.

  4. World’s second best-selling book

    “Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung” is the second best-selling book after the Bible.

  5. The benefits of speed reading

    Speed-reading has been proven to preserve vision and double your recall speed.

Why We Love World Book Night

  1. It can improve mental health

    In today’s world where illiteracy, negativity, and stress are stopping others from enjoying a book, holidays like World Book Night can be a game-changer for those who really need reading. It is also a good place to start for those who want to start reading.

  2. It just gives and gives

    Donating or giving away books is not only about donating a physical property but also about sharing a wealth of knowledge and helping others open the door to a new possibility. It is like an endless donation because knowledge will be shared from one person to another.

  3. The real quality time

    World Book Night gives you the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your friends and family by enjoying reading. Sharing knowledge through the books you read will enhance your quality time with them.

World Book Night dates

YearDateDay
2024April 23Tuesday
2025April 23Wednesday
2026April 23Thursday
2027April 23Friday
2028April 23Sunday

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