IN PICTURES: Whitchurch children dress up for World Book Day

THIS year is the 25th anniversary of the first World Book Day.

Since 1995 the UNESCO created day of celebration has grown in 100 countries around the globe.

World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading.

The day is geared toward promoting reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.

"Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income," said organisers. "We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them."

As World Book Day founder, Baroness Gail Rebuck, recalls “We wanted to do something to reposition reading and our message is the same today as it was then – that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives.”

Spending just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories with children can make a crucial difference to their future success and it’s fun for all involved.

That’s why World Book Day continues to encourage children and young people to read for pleasure through its work with authors, illustrators, publishers, bookshops and libraries.

Whitchurch Herald: World Book Day 2022.