Why I appreciate World Book Day

Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Image from Wikipedia.

 

I have always loved the idea of World Book Day. It’s a creative, fun and great way to get people, especially youngsters involved in reading and finding out all kinds of books. I remember when I was younger, as soon as I would hear World Book Day was coming up at school – I would be so excited that I would be going on and on about it to anyone that would listen to me.

Books are a sanctuary to me. They’ve enlightened me as a person, been there when I needed to distract myself from other things going on but most of all – they’re like a really good friend. I know, to non-book-loving people that might sound a little eccentric and a bit loopy, but they really have. When I used to get bullied at school as a small timid child, I would push the bullying to the back of my mind and just read when I got home after doing my homework. It has allowed me to escape so many things, but also transported me to places I thought I never would dare to. We’re not only reading these character’s stories, they’re allowing us to be them. I’ve been a Kite Runner, a set of three orphans running away from a money grabbing Count, I’ve been a Tudor Queen, I’ve been the Lionheart in the Third Crusade, I’ve been a Divergent, and I’ve even been a Book Thief! I’ve been so many things through my twenty two odd years that only books have allowed me to be. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, books have a way of enveloping you into millions of different experiences. If it wasn’t for books, I probably wouldn’t have understood the amount of Dutch I’ve learnt in a very short space of time. There’s only so much iPhone apps and websites can give you. And for the pieces that they can’t fill in, books can.

Reading gives you so many connections. Not just to an author, or to characters but to other people. I remember when my sister Stefi got the first Harry Potter book, she shared that with me (and the rest of them) and since then we have been sharing books over the years. From Harry Potter to Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging and finally to The Song of Achilles. Even though we are five years apart, reading has given me and one of my sister’s (I have five for the record) a bond that will last a lifetime. We share book recommendations and we talk about books pretty much every day. Even when me, my fiancé and my sister have been in a group call on Skype – we’ve discussed books throughout it. Of an evening, most of the time, we sit there for about 45 minutes to an hour and a half where all of us are just reading. It may be quiet, but it feels right just to be able to have the pleasure of doing such a thing. We even discuss the books as we sit, lay, hang, do cart-wheels (okay that last one isn’t true…we can’t do cart-wheels) and read. Over the years, I’ve even had long conversations with my Nan about books. Just a few months ago, when I hit the goal of 50,000 words for the first time (and wrote my first novel, still editing for those interested), we were chatting about books on the phone just as I had finished in the bath. Books are such a great way to break the ice and form ever-lasting friendships (or even relationships if you develop such a strong connection over your favourite books or authors)!

Back onto the subject of World Book Day. I remember when our local mobile libraries would visit the schools, how excited and thrilling it was lining up waiting to be allowed in to browse. One of the most memorable World Book Days I’ve had was one where I couldn’t actually attend because I had fallen ill and I was super upset because my favourite author Michael Rosen was doing a book-signing for it. I was so upset and I was begging my mum to let me go to school but I was too unwell at the time (I think it coincided with the time that I was forced to eat peach pie at school and it made me throw up but that’s another story) so my other sister who went to the same school with me, went and got my copy of Don’t Put Mustard in the Custard signed. I still am frustrated at the fact that I couldn’t personally meet Michael Rosen myself at the time as I had so MANY questions to ask him about the book. Safe to say that copy is now in a box, with many other books including a collection of Disney ones, downstairs being kept away from the elements.

I don’t really recall the schools I’ve been to being so big on the dress up thing, or maybe I was just a kid that dressed in my normal clothes like the rebel I am. But regardless, if it’s a way to get kids to want to read then I’m all for it. There are so many parents where I live (note: I’m not generalising all parents as I know that there are still many that read with their kids) that would rather just chuck their children in front of the nearest television or iPad to play Candy Crush for hours on end than sit down with their child and read books with them. It’s scary to think that we may have future generations who won’t be reading as much as us and that’s why I think World Book Day is such a great thing because it’s so interactive and gives these kids a chance to explore different characters, worlds and topics.

People say that books are a dying thing, especially print copies but even with the popularity of e-readers and e-books soaring (add the fact, they’re a great way for new authors to get readers) but in my opinion they aren’t a dying breed. I may be biased in saying this, but as long as we have people willing to write and willing to read, books will always be a part of us. We should be grateful for the technology we have to mass produce so many books, to get word out so easily through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and many wonderful book bloggers out there who are helping to spread the word through reviews, blog tours and other means. Not only do we have the technology to produce and promote books, but more than ever people can write their own stories with ease of word-processors and publish them which I think is fantastic, especially as I’m an aspiring author myself.

So please, whatever you do – don’t just let your child read or get books on World Book Day. Books are not just a one day thing. They’re there to be appreciated every day of the week. World Book Day is an amazing way to introduce your children to various titles and authors, but you should be reading and letting your child read more than just one day a year. Don’t let them miss out on the wonderful books that are out there! So yes, please do dress up, please do read and please do keep buying and reading books all you lovely people! I know when I have children myself, that books will be a huge part of our lives still and I’ll be ensuring that they find books that suit their reading preferences rather than my own.

Happy World Book Day everyone! Last but not least, I would love to know how books and World Book Day have affected you as a reader, whether young or old, in the comments!

Also, you can now find Beyond Seventeen Reviews on Instagram! Feel free to follow <3