Celebrate World Book Day (From The Northern Echo)

Celebrate World Book Day

11:01am Saturday 27th February 2010 in

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WORLD Book Day on Thursday is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK. And to celebrate, publishers Little, Brown have joined up with The Northern Echo to offer 15 sets of four paperback novels by well-known authors.

The paperbacks are thriller Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell, Buried by Mark Billingham, Blue Shoes And Happiness, another adventure at The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, and Testimony, a story of sexual scandal by Anita Shreve.

To win a set of four paperbacks, just answer the f o l l o w i n g question: In which country in Africa has Alexander McCall Smith set The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series?

This year’s World Book Day aims to encourage readers young and old to share their love of books with others with new online and in store initiatives.

Read to a Million Kids is an online initiative in which top children’s authors will read extracts from their stories for children to listen to online.

World Book Day £1 flipbooks are back for their second year, with two new stories by two authors in one book-double the fun for young readers to enjoy when they redeem their free World Book Day £1 Book Token.

Darcey Bussell, Philip Ardagh and Chris Higgins are among the ten authors who have written new stories for this year’s five flipbooks. There is also a stand-alone picture book for early years featuring a new Thomas the Tank Engine adventure in his 65th anniversary year.

Adults will be encouraged to give and share books on World Book Day with special offers and events in participating retailers.

This year also marks the fifth anniversary of Quick Reads, ten books published on World Book Day which provide a fast-paced read for adults looking for an introduction to reading or a bite-sized book for regular readers.

Best-selling authors Andy McNab, Val McDermid and Cathy Kelly, together with television personalities Rolf Harris and Alvin Hall, are among the authors who have written a Quick Read for 2010. This year all new titles are also being made available to download.

Hundreds of book events take place up and down the country to celebrate World Book Day. Visit worldbookday.com to find an event near you.