Discovering the magic of reading for World Book Day

Each year, to help children discover a love of books and reading, the World Book day charity gives children across the country, through schools and other outlets, free World Book Day tokens which they can exchange for World Book Day books at bookshops.

This year, in a new extension of the initiative called World Book Day In A Box, the charity – funded by philanthropists Julia and Hans Rausing – has chosen Hartlepool Borough Council as one of a number of local authorities around the country to be given 1,200 free books, including a number of titles donated by publishers.

Pupils at all Hartlepool’s primary and secondary schools can exchange their World Book Day token for a World Book Day book of their choice at Community Hub Central in York Road Mondays to Fridays between 10am and 4pm up to the end of March.

Alternatively, they can call in to Community Hub South in Wynyard Road on Saturday 9th March between 10am and 12 noon and exchange their token for a World Book Day book.

The book offer is part of the charity’s national mission to improve children’s access to books and provide them with opportunities to develop a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure.

It comes as research by the National Literacy Trust shows that nationally less than half of children say they enjoy reading and up to one million children in the UK have never owned a book.

Priscilla Deane, Assistant Hub Coordinator, Community Outreach and Engagement, and Councillor Bob Buchan with some of the World Book Day books

Councillor Bob Buchan, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee, said: “We are delighted and grateful to receive these fantastic books.

“Reading a book is a lot of fun and can take you on endless adventures and journeys of discovery, both real and imagined, but encouraging a child to discover the magic of books is so much more important than that.

“Reading is a key skill for life and reading for pleasure is one of the biggest indicators of a child’s future success.”

To find out more about World Book Day, visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/libraries and www.facebook.com/hartlepoolcommunityhubs or call Hartlepool Community Hubs on 07768 841306.