World Book Day

World Book Day

Books are like a window onto another world – with each new page, they introduce us to new people, new cultures and new ideas. 

Every year, on 23 April, the book lovers celebrate World Book Day to recognize the power of books as a bridge between generations and across boundaries and cultures. World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April in 1995.

UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, because this date is also the death anniversary of some famous literary figures like William Shakespeare (he was born also on the same date); Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, William Wordsworth and Josep Pla and many others including date of the birth of several other prominent authors like Vladimir Nabokov and Miguel de Cervantes.

World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe and date 23rd April was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to poets and authors born or died on this date, encouraging everyone to access books. World Book Day is a perfect opportunity to remind children; the next generation of the humanity; of the importance of reading and it really helps to spark their enthusiasm and get them excited to pick up a new book. Stories offer a child so much and play a vital role in their growth and development.

Reading is important because it develops our mind and gives us excessive knowledge and lessons of life. It helps us understand the world around us better. It keeps our mind active and enhances our creative ability. Reading improves our vocabulary and develops our communication skills; which is fundamental to our lives as human beings. The theme of world Book Day for the year 2025 is 'Read Your Way' and being able to read for pleasure. 

The "Dark Ages" and the Renaissance represent a period of transition in European history, often seen as a bridge between the Roman Empire's decline and the rise of the Renaissance. The Renaissance is marked as a "rebirth" of learning, art, and culture, influenced by classical antiquity. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440, was a major turning point during the Renaissance. It enabled the mass production of books, making them more accessible and affordable, profoundly impacting knowledge sharing, education, and the spread of ideas thus fueling the Renaissance's intellectual and cultural flourishing. 

Woodblock printing was initially used to print onto textiles, like linen or silk, but was later used on paper. The Diamond Sutra, created using woodblock printing, is considered the world's earliest dated printed book. The full meaning of "book" can be understood as a structured collection of pages, whether printed or digital, bound together and often protected by a cover, that contains written, graphic, or other content. It can also refer to a major division of a long written work, or a written record or compilation.

Books are important because they offer a wealth of knowledge, enhance imagination, improve cognitive skills, and provide entertainment. They also foster empathy, encourage critical thinking, and can even boost longevity. World Book Day is important, because it reminds us that everyone has a story to tell, everyone has an experience we can get joy and learn from, and perhaps most the most important of them all, is that every reader has a story that shows them that they are not alone.

To date, UNESCO has designated 25 World Book Capitals, from Madrid, Spain, in 2001, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2025. This year, the Brazilian city is implementing a project that underlines how books can bring about social change – for example, through literacy, education and poverty eradication – and create sustainable economic benefits.

Reading skills are built on five separate components: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. These components work together to create strong, rich, and reliable reading abilities, but they're often taught separately or in uneven distribution. The best time to develop reading habits and skills is childhood age as early as possible. The book reading ability is formed by doing it and it helps long way till death of the person. 

Lets take an example; the book "Think and Grow Rich" written by by Napoleon Hill contains 176 pages, with Wordcount of 89,175. An average person with a reading speed of 250 WPM can finish reading this book in 6 hours. But the author took 20 years in research and to finish the book. The book reading ability can almost provide gain of knowledge and experience of a person's 20 years of research. Vera Nazarian said that "Whenever we read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light".

Books are gateway to human inherent and outward development. Books enlighten a person to grasp his realistic strengths and weaknesses. A well read person's wealth is knowledge and his mind is his weapon. A knowledgeable person doesn't need to yield sword, as his pen can be mightier than that. A man of letter has a mind which need reading books more often than a swordsman practicing his skills; because the mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.

Abraham Lincoln said that "Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all"; and Frederick Douglas is quoted to have said "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free" and "A book is a dream that you hold in your hand"; said by Neil Gaiman. Ralph Waldo Emerson has differentiated by saying "If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads". 

There is a film released in 2007 named “The Jane Austen Book Club”. In the film, the club members get together to discuss the six books by Jane Austen. As they delve deep into her literature, the club members find striking parallels between their lives and those of the characters in the books. What would be the best to influence children's future than giving them book reading as a habit?

Once a heart throb of USA Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis said that "There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all". Finally, Maya Angelou is being quoted here who said that "Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him". Book reading will be good for children and for the future of the world. 

There is one friend; Mr "ئاوات ئاغا" who wrote on face book the following lines for World Book Day:-

The International Book Day is celebrated on 23rd Aril of every year.

1- The dignity of a trader is in his pocket and the dignity of scientists is in his books. Zamakhshari, Nawabgh Al-Kalm.

2- They asked someone who will be happy with your heart and he said to my books, they said we mean those who are in those books. 

3- Depend on books when you are alone and away because it is a language of the eyes of the people who see. Al-Khayib Al-Baghdadi, the prophet of the world.

4- Whenever I saw a new book I thought of eating and I didn't remember until I read the book. To the prophet, to the moon and back.

5- No one will reach a scientific level if the money he spends on books is not more enjoyable than buying life's goods and necessities. Al-Jaah, the book of Al-Hiwan.

6- The Chinese say that the book is a second that we look at the world.

7- They asked Aristotle; how do you evaluate a human being" he asked him how many books do you read and what do you read?

8- Ahmad Shawqi says: Book is the friend that does not oppose your cheating.

9- The most beautiful gift is of books.

10- The family of Mohammed the son of Shahabi Zuhri told his wife: Your books hurt me as much as three times. Fiat Al-Tayan.