Discover their love for books and World Book Day
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We spoke to the World Book Day authors and illustrators about their love of World Book Day and all things bookish.
Peter Bently, author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians: Cruella and Cadpig
“Stories were one of the best parts of my childhood. My dad would tell me tales of a boy called Moberley, who once dug a tunnel to Australia, or read from my favourite books with pictures, like Rupert Bear or Winnie the Pooh (I liked bears). Nothing feeds a child’s imagination like sharing a story, and I’ll be delighted if Cruella and Cadpig helps more children to grow up with a love of reading.”
Lauren Child, Waterstones Children’s Laureate and author of Hubert Horatio
“Sharing stories is fundamental to who we are. It is how we make sense of the world and understand ourselves. A book can satisfy our curiosity, give us comfort or hope, escape and joy. Above all books remind us that we are not so different one from another.”
Steven Lenton, illustrator of The Hundred and One Dalmatians: Cruella and Cadpig
“My parents read to me for at least ten minutes a night and this made me fall in love with stories and pictures. I’m so thrilled that our book will help to encourage children and families to read together – Cruella and Cadpig is the perfect ten minute tome! You might need an extra ten minutes to find all the ladybirds though…”
Patrice Lawrence, author of Snap
“I feel so proud and privileged to be part of World Book Day. I was a child bookworm but never believed that people like me could be in or write books. I hope that Word Book Day inspires young people both to read and to tell their own stories.”
Malorie Blackman, author of Nought Forever
“I’m thrilled to be a part of World Book Day 2019 with my book Nought Forever. Year after year, World Book Day books are instrumental in actively encouraging children to read for pleasure. This year’s selection truly has something for everyone.”
Mike Brownlow, author of Ten Little Bookworms
“Picture books have a special role to play in the development of children’s learning. They’re the enticing gateway to full literacy, fostering both a love of reading and of inspiring imagery. And of course they’re also the perfect vehicle for adults to share stories with the children in their care. Everything changes when we learn to read. We learn empathy, gain knowledge and nourish the imagination. It’s how minds connect and people understand each other. We need literate citizens more than ever.”
Paula Regan, DK Managing Editor and author of LEGO® Minifigure Mayhem
“For World Book Day 2019, we’ve created an exciting book for young readers based on their favourite LEGO® minifigure characters. It ’s fantastic to be able to offer a fun reference title as part of the World Book Day curated list, in order to give children the opportunity to discover a non-fiction reading experience, alongside the fictional stories they encounter. We are truly delighted to be part of this wonderful celebration of books and reading!”
Alex T. Smith, author of Claude: Best In Show
“I’m delighted to be part of World Book Day 2019 with Claude: Best in Show. My favourite aspect of being an author-illustrator is meeting families and schools who read my books together, and World Book Day truly is a celebration of the excitement and joy that books bring, especially when shared.”
Sibéal Pounder, author of Bad Mermaids Meet the Witches
“I’m beyond delighted to be contributing to World Book Day 2019 – it ’s an incredible initiative championing the fun of reading in wildly imaginative ways and ensuring every child can take home a book. The most frequent request I receive from readers is to have the witches from Witch Wars and the mermaids from Bad Mermaids meet, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to make that happen.”
Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo
“I love World Book Day! I’m delighted to have Percy Jackson back at the forefront of this year’s event. I encourage everyone to Share a Story with a young person for World Book Day 2019. Reading is the best way to share an adventure!”
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of The Great Rocket Robbery
“WORLD BOOK DAY… When all your favourite characters come tumbling off the shelves and into the street and the classroom in their suits of armour, witches’ hats, Harry Potter specs, Hobbit feet, Wonka top hats, Poppins brollies, Elvish cloaks and duffel coats… THE DAY AFTER WORLD BOOK DAY… When they’ve all gone back inside their covers… follow them and see what adventures you’ll have…”
Jeff Kinney, creator of Diary of a WimpyKid
“I’ve long admired the inventive and ambitious efforts World Book Day go to year after year to switch kids on to reading. And this year’s ‘Share a Story’ theme felt like the perfect opportunity to join in the fun by sharing the Wimpy Kid universe from Rowley Jefferson’s point of view. It ’s been very energizing for me to have the opportunity to write from the perspective of Greg Heffley’s best friend, and I hope that readers who choose this story enjoy this whole new insight into the Wimpy world.”
Abi Elphinstone, author of Everdark
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“ The stories I discovered as a child taught me to believe in dragons, wizards and worlds behind wardrobes but they also taught me to believe in myself. They showed me that at 8 years old, I was a match for The White Witch and a hall full of armoured polar bears. Stories are infinitely powerful and I am thrilled to be a part of World Book Day – one of the biggest, most dynamic and most influential campaigns celebrating the joy of stories. I hope that Smudge’s tale in Everdark shows kids from all walks of life that sometimes the truly extraordinary people in this world – the ones who defeat harpies and save kingdoms – are the ones that nobody notices at first…”
Visit worldbookday.com for more on World Book Day this year.
