13 may be unlucky for some but not for World Book Day as it celebrates its 13th year on Thursday, 4 of March 2010. World Book Day is now firmly established as the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading in Ireland and the UK

World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day we now celebrate in the UK and Ireland come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 80 years ago. For international information about World Book Day, please visit www.unesco.org.

World Book Day 2010 in the UK and Ireland takes place on Thursday 4 March in the UK and Ireland only.  The initiative is so well established in schools here that the aim is to make sure that the Day happens in term time to really make the most of this opportunity to celebrate books and reading. Most other countries hold World Book Day on 23rd April every year.

World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all.

A main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. To support this aim, a Schools’ Pack full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day has been mailed to schools (including those secondary schools that have specially registered to participate) since mid-January 2010. Registered pre-schools also received material around the same time.

Thanks to the generosity of National Book Tokens Ltd and numerous participating booksellers, school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day €1.50 Book Token. The Book Token can be exchanged for one of the six specially published World Book Day Books (where stocked and while stocks last), or for €1.50 off the price of any book costing €3.99 or more, any time up to 27 March.

At Skibbereen Bookshop we currently have all the World Book Day Titles, plus an extra Irish title from the O'Brien Press, which is another 'flip-over' 2 books-in-one. Don't forget, if you cannot find a book you like, we can order it for you, and you can use your token when your book comes in.

Quick Reads

Short, sharp shots of entertainment

As fast and furious as an action film.
As thrilling as a theme park ride.

Quick Reads are short, sharp shots of entertainment - brilliantly written books by bestselling writers and celebrities for adults who have lost the reading habit, struggle with reading, or simply want a fast fun read.
Ten new books are available for World Book Day 2010.