Celebrate Reading: World Book and Copyright Day

 
April 23 marks World Book and Copyright Day. Created by UNESCO in 1995 following a conference in Paris on the theme of tolerance, the date was chosen to annually mark the celebration of books, authors and the laws which protect them. April 23 is especially significant because it marks the deaths and birthdays of a number of beloved writers, including William Shakespeare, Vladimir Nabokov and Miguel de Cervantes.
The day is dedicated to various activities which promote a worldwide reading culture world and highlight cooperation among countries, as well as the awarding of the UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance. It is also hoped that the events of World Book and Copyright Day will increase people's understanding of and adherence to copyright laws and other measures which protect intellectual property. Want to know how you can join in the fun of World Book Day? Here are some suggestions:

Dress up as your favourite book character or writer, whether The Cat in the Hat, the White Witch or Samuel Pepys
Bring World Book Night to your community and share your favourite books with neighbours and friends who aren't regular readers
Appreciate books not just for their words but also for their looks
Try your hand at book sculpture
READ! By yourself, aloud to a young child or older person, or try an audiobook. ZODML recommends our Must Read and Classic books (as well as our free e-library) as great places to find your next inspiring read.

How are you celebrating World Book Day? Share with us in the comments or tweet us using the hashtag #WorldBookDay! Image source