World Book Day 1 March 2012

As well as being St David's day, today is World Book Day.


Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world, this is the 15th year there’s been a World Book Day.


Children of all ages will be coming together to appreciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. 


The 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. This fits in very well with the Dundee Born and Read campaign led by the Dundee Evening Telegraph.



Nobody really knows exactly how we learn to read, but everybody agrees that reading is a very important skill. Parents and carers can do so much to help children become readers. Read Together is a website with lots of ideas to help promote the sharing of reading between adults and children.

Supporting Dundee Born and Read

On Friday morning, I visited my local library in Broughty Ferry and showed my practical support for the Evening Telegraph's Dundee Born and Read campaign by donating some children's books.


I know from personal experience how important it is to grow up in a home with books and have access to a local library.


I hope the Dundee Born and Read campaign encourages more children in our city to read for pleasure.


I also hope that it will help build links between children and their local libraries where a wonderful range of books is available.


Links to Leisure and Culture Dundee - listing of Library Opening hours.

Support Dundee Born and Read

The Evening Telegraph is running a great campaign,

Dundee Born and Read

They are trying to collect over 5000 books for school children in Dundee.

Too many children in our city are growing up in homes with few if any books. This is important. We know that children who grow up in households where books are plentiful go further in school than those children growing up without books. Developing good reading habits at home, which starts with being read to, helps children get ready for school and not start school at a disadvantage. Having books at home helps enhance literacy and learning.

I want to not only congratulate D C Thomson on this public spirited initiative but to also to urge Ferry folk to generously support it.

Donations of new or second hand books suitable for youngsters aged 3 to 12 are wanted. Please deposit these in the drop off boxes at our Branch Library in Queen Street. Schools in the city will then distribute the books.

Jenny Marra MSP is also supporting the campaign and drawing attention to it in the Scottish Parliament.