Reading has the power to transform lives. It opens doors to new ideas, fosters creativity, and builds the foundation for lifelong learning. World Book Day celebrates the rich and vibrant worlds that stories take us to, empowering young people to develop a lasting enthusiasm for reading.
This Labour Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child—no matter their background—has access to the resources they need to succeed. Libraries, schools, and community initiatives play a crucial role in making reading a right for all. Through these efforts, we give children the best start in life, equipping them with skills and confidence to thrive.
Supporting this mission, Cheshire West and Cheshire Council’s Library Service is once more offering fancy dress swaps at 11 participating local libraries, where residents can donate costumes for school children to use this World Book Day. This cost-effective and environmentally friendly initiative makes sure more families can participate. To find out more, please head to the Council’s website.
As for me, I am pleased to be attending one of our many wonderful libraries to celebrate World Book Day. These spaces are vital in helping our children and young people to get the best possible start in life.
World Book Day provides critical access to reading that can drastically improve the success of a child’s future. Indeed, the National Literacy Trust emphasises that when children read for pleasure, they become more happy, confident, and empathetic to others, developing cognitive and social skills that help them in school and beyond.
At a time where electronic devices dominate our down time, and the number of people choosing to read for fun is seemingly ever decreasing, this event continues to support opportunities for children and young people of all backgrounds to foster a lasting passion for books.
It’s also fantastic to see students from Neston High School taking part in the regional heats of the National Reading Champions Quiz, an initiative that inspires young readers and celebrates reading for pleasure. Best of luck to all involved!
This month I have been reading the new novel from Elly Griffiths, “The Frozen People”. It’s a thrilling time-travelling detective story from one of my favourite authors. I would recommend highly!
Reading for pleasure isn’t just for our young people. Whether you chose to pick up a magazine, an audiobook, enjoy a blog post or something else entirely, this World Book Day, I invite you to make time to sit back and read for your own pleasure. Encouraging reading for pleasure is a mission that ultimately benefits us all.