Today, Thursday 1st March 2007 is World Book Day. World Book Day is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated day as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and was marked in over 30 countries around the globe last year.
The origins of the day come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George's Day - a tradition started some 80 years ago. Although this is a world event, the date varies from country to country, it occurs early in March in the UK and Ireland because the initiative is so well established in schools it is important the Day happens in term time to really make the most of this opportunity to celebrate books and reading.
The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.
Schools all over the country are celebrating World Book Day with children dressing up as characters from their favourite books - send me your pictures and I'll add them here! Popular characters include:
- a Witch (from Room on a Broom)
- Milly Molly Mandy
- Harry and his bucket full of dinosaurs
- Tracey Beaker
- a cat (from The Cat in the Hat)
- the children from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- a Fairy (from That's not my fairy)
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