To celebrate World Book Day a week full of book-tastic activities will take place in Manchester’s Libraries for children and young people from 28 February to 7 March.
Thousands of school children across the city will dress up as their favourite book characters and will be given vouchers to claim their own free copy of one of twelve special edition books that have been produced for World Book Day this year.
For the first time ever, as well as exchanging their World Book Day vouchers at supermarkets or bookshops, Manchester children will be able to take their voucher along to one of four libraries in the city to claim their free book. As well as handing out free books, library staff will be on hand to help youngsters join the library if they aren’t already members, and to recommend other good reads for them.
As well as a fantastic book exchange programme, Manchester City Council and Read Manchester have organised an engagement program to keep children entertained throughout the week leading up World Book Day.
Other highlights of the story-filled week include:
- 28 February: Online meet-the-author session with children’s author Kristina Stephenson. With storytelling, puppets, songs, movement, music and a special magic measuring machine that needs to be filled, this is a lively, interactive online event with author and illustrator Kristina Stephenson, based on her new picture book ‘The Museum of Marvellous Things’.
- 2 March: In person event at Central Library with Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola, award-winning authors of World Book Day title ‘Rocket Rules’. Find out how small changes can make a BIG difference, even if it’s just something super small with this inspirational and engaging event. All children who attend the event will receive a free copy of the limited edition Rocket Rules, written for World Book Day 2022.
- 3 March: In-person event with Illustrator Lynne Chapman. Lynne will host a live drawing session for the children and demonstrate how she creates her characters. She will talk about how she comes up with story ideas and how she brings her characters to life through illustration.
- 7 March: Online event and performance by poet and playwright Joseph Coelho. Joseph will be performing his poetry for the children who attend this session and, will be encouraging them to write their own poetry and bring it off the page.
There’s also lots of reading and story fun planned for Manchester’s youngest readers as selected libraries in the city will be hosting baby and toddler story-time sessions throughout the week to help introduce even the tiniest tots to books and start them off on a lifetime love of reading. Everyone attending will be gifted a World Book Day token and a free book.
“World Book Day is an event that is much loved by children and young people all around the world. It’s a time to celebrate the rich characters, stories, and plots that are born out of novels written by amazingly talented writers, as well as the incredible work of illustrators that can really help bring stories to life especially for younger readers, and poets who can make thoughts and feelings dance off a page with just a line.
“We’ve got a fantastic programme of events for children of all ages to enjoy throughout the week, and with our libraries part of the book token scheme this year for the first time, it’s the perfect chance for them to come inside and discover for themselves the reading treasures that fill our library shelves.”
Councillor Rabnawaz, Executive Member for Libraries
The four libraries taking part in the book voucher exchange scheme are: Central Library, Forum, Longsight and North City Library
Read more about information on World Book Day events in Manchester.