The magical world of books

Can books really improve your life?

According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed.

Many people perceive reading as an introverted hobby, for the feeble, anti-social. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that reading has numerous positive effects on your emotional, intellectual and psychological state of mind.

Memory enhancing

Every time you read something new, your brain ‘makes room’ to fit it in. With these new spaces, you can take advantage of any new information that may arise.

Expand your vocabulary

The more you read, the more words you will come across. The more often you read these words, the more likely you are to understand them, and use them in your own writing and speaking.

Reading can be therapeutic

Reading can help with any stress or turmoil occurring in your life. If you’re going through a break-up, or simply just need to relax, try a new book.

Book lovers are celebrating their favourite stories once again as World Book Day (1st March) is back! It is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and – most importantly it is a celebration of reading and is marked in more than 100 countries around the world.

World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate storytelling and there are many ways in which you
can participate. . .

Storycraft

Do you ever get stuck when you are writing a story? Don’t know where to start (or end for that matter)? Not sure how to make your readers laugh? Need to cut it down but don’t know what to cut? Getting stuck will be a thing of the past, because Storycraft is here!

Storycraft is World Book Day’s web-based storytelling tool, which takes children on a unique step-by-step journey to writing and sharing stories in different genres. All with the help of more than 50 top author Storyguides, who share their top tips and inspiration with budding young writers at every stage.

Visit the website today for more inspiration. . . To find out more www.worldbookday.com

Countries who celebrate World Book Day. . .

Spain

To celebrate this day, Cervantes’s Don Quixote is read during a two-day ‘readathon’ and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize is presented by the Spanish king in Alcalá de Henares.

Sweden

In Sweden, the day is known as Världsbokdagen and is celebrated on 23rd April.

America

In Kensington, Maryland the International Day of the Book is celebrated with a street festival on the Sunday closest to April 26.

Encourage young reading

Reading is important because it develops the mind. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language skills. You can help by. . .

1. Read to your child starting at an early age.

2. Fill your child’s room with books.

3. Be a good reading ‘role model’ for your children.

4. As your children grow, introduce them to books that match their interests and hobbies.

5. Encourage your child to find new books on their own to read.

William Shakespeare

26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616

Shakespeare – regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613.

His early plays were primarily comedies and histories, which are regarded as some of the best work ever produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language.

Shakespeare’s The Globe Theatre opened in autumn 1599, with Julius Caesar one of the first plays staged. Most of Shakespeare’s greatest post-1599 plays were written for the Globe, including Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear.