World Book Day – 23rd April 2026
WORLD BOOK DAY, established by UNESCO on April 23, 1995, is an annual event promoting reading, publishing, and copyright worldwide. This date was chosen to honour the memory of literary giants like William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, both of whom passed away on April 23, 1616.
Many countries mark the occasion with book fairs, reading events, and storytelling sessions. Schools often organize activities where children dress up as their favourite literary characters and bookshops offer discounts to promote accessibility to literature.
PHRASAL VERBS related to reading
– Pick up – To start reading a book or to buy one.
– Read through – To read something from beginning to end.
– Dive into – To start reading something with enthusiasm.
IDIOMS related to reading
– a bookworm = someone who loves reading and spends a lot of times with books.
– don’t judge a book by its cover = don’t judge someone or something based on appearance.
– to be in someone’s good/bad books = to be in favour or disfavor with someone.
Discussion
- What was the last book you picked up. What made you choose it?
- Have you ever read through a book in one sitting? If so, which one and why?
- Is there a book or genre you’ve been meaning to dive into but haven’t yet? Why?
Recommendations
Beginner:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
Intermediate:
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins
Advanced:
The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
*** Remember that a lot of English books are available as “graded readers” which can help you to read great novels at a level you can understand. You can find many of them online.***
FUN FACT!!!!
The longest novel ever written is “À la recherche du temps perdu” (In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel Proust. It has about 1.2 million words across seven volumes! If you were to read it at an average pace of 250 words per minute, it would take you 80 hours to finish—without breaks!
