World Book Night is coming! On April 23, to be specific, which is also the UNESCO International Day of the Book (which has a pleasingly historical sound). The day was chosen in honor of Shakespeare and Cervantes, who both died on that day in 1616, apparently.
In Spain’s Catalan region, the day is celebrated by giving a loved one a book and a flower — a perfectly charming gesture that I think we should all adopt immediately. World Book Day is celebrated in the UK and Ireland by giving children a book, and World Book Night grew out of that because jealous adults wanted free books too. (Kidding! Probably.) The first WBN was held in 2011, and 2012 is the first year it’s being officially celebrated in the U.S., so that’s pretty exciting!
Participants signed up to choose one of 30 beloved books to hand out for WBN in their community. Basically, they get a box of 20 copies of the free book of their choice, and pledge to go to a (safe, well-lit) public space in the evening and hand out the special, not-for-sale editions to passers-by in an attempt to promote reading, create personal connections, and maybe match a reader up with their new favorite book. It sounds pretty all-around awesome!
It’s too late to sign up for this year, but you can follow them on Facebook and get on the mailing list to participate as a giver next year. In the meantime, take a stroll around your neighborhood on April 23 and you might just find a WBN giver handing out books in your area!
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