Penguin Random House | Munich/London/New York/Toronto/Mexico City/Barcelona/Madrid, 04/24/2017

A Day For Books and Reading

They take us to foreign worlds. They transport us to the most remote places and introduce us to different people. They enchant us with their words. And, once a year, they are especially honored by the world for doing all that: books.

Yesterday, the annual UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day was celebrated for the 22nd time in over 100 countries. With numerous campaigns, events and readings, the employees of the international Penguin Random House publishing group and of Verlagsgruppe Random House in Germany joined in the celebrations for the large reading festival on 23 April.

There are various reasons UNESCO declared this particular date as the day to celebrate reading in 1995. First, it aims to commemorate the importance of books and literature on the day of William Shakespeare's and Miguel de Cervantes' death. Second, St. Jordi Day is traditionally celebrated in Catalonia on 23 April; couples give roses and books to each other, and large booths with books are set up in the streets on this day.

Germany: "My Gift to You: a Story"

Various campaigns take place in Germany to celebrate World Book Day, many aimed especially at the youngest readers: this year the Random House children's and youth imprint CBJ is publishing a book as part of the joint project "My Gift to You: a Story" that will be given away to school children.

With 1.2 million copies, this year's book for World Book Day – "Das geheimnisvolle Spukhaus" by Henriette Wich – delivers the biggest first edition in Germany's children's and youth book market. Until 13 May, fourth and fifth grade school children and children from integration, special education and welcome classes can receive the book by presenting a gift certificate in one of the 3,500 participating bookstores. Andrea Wolf, Team Leader Press CBJ / CBT, says: "This year, 42,000 teachers ordered the certificates for the World Book Day book by Henriette Wich. A million fourth and fifth graders will therefore receive the book as a gift at their local bookstores."

An ancient treasure inspired the children's book author Henriette Wich to write her first ghost story around eleven year-old Moritz. During a first reading in the beginning of April at the Historical Museum in Regensburg, ghosts did not appear, but actual Roman treasure in the museum lent the appropriate atmosphere to the event and story.

At the end of the month the children's book author, who has also written many books in the crime story series "Die drei Ausrufezeichen", will also read from her World Book Day book in Munich.

A 32-page graphic novel illustrated by Timo Grubing accompanies the text in order to reach non-native speakers in the "My Gift to You: a Story" campaign. Andrea Wolf: "We want to bring the fun of reading to non-German speaking and refugee children and make a contribution to inclusion since the graphic novel is suitable for use in integration, special education and welcome classes. Next year, Timo Grubing will again illustrate 'My Gift to You: a Story'."

Since 1996, CBJ together with Stiftung Lesen, the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Deutsche Post and ZDF have been organizing the "My Gift to You: a Story" campaign to promote reading under the auspices of the education ministers of all German states. The project aims to fascinate children with reading and to promote reading skills.

"Reading Tour" through Germany

In addition, the annual "Reading Tour" will take place for the tenth time this year around World Book Day. 64 children's book authors, including authors of the Verlagsgruppe Random House, will give 129 readings in 100 different locations. For example, Ingo Siegner will read from his book "Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss" on 29 April in Dresden.

World Book Day not only had events for young people but also for grown-ups: for the first time, 100 publishers in Germany opened their doors for the occasion and offered a behind-the-scenes look at their publishing work.

UK: "World Book Night"

In the UK, night was turned into "the day": on 23 April, the Reading Agency has been organizing "World Book Night" for several years now. Books are given away throughout the UK and, for example, not only donated to libraries and universities but also to hospitals and prisons. The Reading Agency invited people to attend readings and other events throughout the country.  

The employees of Penguin Random House UK also participated in "World Book Night" and donated almost 14,000 books to youth centers, nursing homes and prisons. All employees were called on to distribute books in their neighborhoods last Friday on their way home. In addition, the publishing group motivated readers through its social media channels to give away books to people who do not generally read much.

USA, Canada and Mexico: "Readathon"

In the USA, Canada and Mexico, a single day was not enough to appropriately celebrate books. Penguin Random House US, Penguin Random House Canada and the Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial in Mexico honored "World Book Day" with a jointly organized Readathon. 

From 17-23 April, participants were able to read for a good cause by having the number of their reading minutes transformed into book donations to children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on an especially created Internet platform of Penguin Random House. The publisher was able to enlist the children's rights organization Save the Children, among others, as a cooperation partner.

Spain: "La Noche de los Libros"

In Catalonia, where "World Book Day" has its roots in St. Jordi Day, many activities around reading took place. Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial organized numerous book signing sessions with authors, including Agustina Guerrero, Estel Solé, Javier Cercas and Ramon Gener.

In Madrid, the event "La Noche de los Libros" on 21 April also offered a colorful program that included readings, discussion panels and music.