World Book Night

William Shakespeare’s actual date of birth remains unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, St George's Day. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized there on 26 April 1564. This date, which can be traced back to an 18th-century scholar's mistake, has proved appealing to biographers, since Shakespeare died 23 April 1616.

April 23 is the UNESCO International Day of the Book because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday, and to honor Miguel de Cervantes, who died on April 23, 1616, the same day as Shakespeare.

World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, one on one.  Each year on April 23, thousands of people in the United States go out into their neighborhoods and give a a million free World Book Night paperbacks to people who read occasionally. The focus is on adults, not children.  The goal of World Book Night is to seek out adult readers wherever they are in public settings or in places from nursing homes to food pantries, low-income schools to mass transit, according to the website.  World Book Night celebrated in the UK, Ireland, Spain, USA and Germany.


The most technologically efficient machine that man has ever invented is the book. –Northrop Frye


To see this year’s World Book Night U.S. books, please click here.
To see previous years’ World Book Night U.S. books, please click here.


There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and the tired man who wants a book to read.–Gilbert K. Chesterton

Events:

On April 23, there will be 3 theater events and 11 Book & Rose events.

Books will be distributed at the Looking Glass Theater production of Still Alice in Chicago.

Books will be handed out at NYC productions of The Lion King and Annie. Of note: An actor will make a post-show announcement asking all show attendees to give their book to a light or non-reader that week.

After Party: Connecticut Center for The Book Celebrates World Book Night 2013. At 7pm, more details here. (please RSVP since space is limited)

 Book & Rose events on April 23 will take place at:

Craig Public Library, Craig, AK  

Basically Books, Hilo, HI

Elliott Bay Books, Seattle

Attribution: Johannes Jansson/norden.org

Secret Garden, Seattle

Vroman’s, Pasadena, CA

Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ

Watermark Books, Wichita, KS

Iowa City Library, Iowa City, IA

Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL

Pomegranate Books, Wilmington, NC

Children’s Book Cellar, Waterville, ME

Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. –Maya Angelou