Books did not always look the way they do today, with their glossy covers and creamy pages. When writing systems were invented in ancient civilizations thousands of years ago, clay tablets were used. Later, humanity moved on to using papyrus. In the 3rd century, the Chinese were the first to make something that resembled today’s books in that they consisted of numerous thick, bamboo pages sewn together.
Then, in the mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenburg’s printing press brought books into the industrial age, making them readily available to anyone who wanted to read them. It is thanks to the ingenious invention that we are all able to enjoy the works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy and many others in the comfort of our own homes today.
World Book Day was created on April 23rd, 1995, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The connection between that date and books, however, was made in Spain in 1923, as it is the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, prominent Spanish Chronicler.
How to Celebrate World Book Day
The absolute best way to celebrate this day would be to find the time to do some reading. Do you have a book you just can’t get around to finishing? Just curl up on the couch or a blanket outside with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy every last page.
Yet another way to go about celebrating this day would be to get together with some friends for a reading of a book you all love. Hearing someone read aloud sentences you have only ever murmured to yourself could cause you to see them in a whole new way by adding feeling or emphasis of some certain elements.
Furthermore, varied interpretations of a book could make for animated discussions about who did what and why they did it. Whichever way you choose to celebrate World Book Day, make sure it’s an educational experience for you and those you care about.
As acclaimed author Alan Bennett once said: “A book is a device to ignite the imagination.”
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