Tag Archives: World Book Day

Just in Time—World Book Day

In an instant of time, a tiny speck of living matter—a virus—has deprived us of many of our closest physical connections. No handshakes, no hugging, and no breathing the same air. The pestilence has isolated us, separated us, left us alone and lonely.

We do have our electronic links, our e-handshakes and e-hugs, if you will. We can see each other through a camera lens, hear others’ voices with that brief but annoying delay. These amazing technological connections are better than nothing, but just aren’t the same as face-to-face presence.

We turn on the news only to see other people, also sitting in their homes staring at their computers’ camera eye, telling us of mounting death tolls, of the disease’s pattern of spread. They warn us to stay in our homes, wear a mask, wash our hands, and remain apart and disconnected.

Is there no escape from the bad news? No spark left of human resilience? No positive examples of people using ingenuity to solve problems? Are there no tales of women or men standing and facing danger with bravery?

Yes, there are. The Coronavirus has taken many things from us, but not our books. Today is World Book Day, and we still have books.

Sure, a TV show or movie can entertain for an hour or two, but a book will enthrall you for days. Moreover, it will engage your imagination to conjure your own images from the words, not spoon-feed ready-made video pictures.

I’ll bet you’ve often thought, “I’ll read that book someday when I have time.” Now, you have time.

Read that book. Let it transport you away from this place of isolation and quarantine. Lose yourself in other lands, other times, and join up with fascinating people, many of whom cope with far greater difficulties than yours. Maybe these characters aren’t people at all, but we all know the literary metaphor—animals, robots, or aliens in stories are really stand-ins for people. They may prevail in their struggle; they may not, but their will to strive onward may inspire you to endure the worst that COVID-19 can inflict.

It’s a fine day to read a book, don’t you think? Happy World Book Day, from—

Poseidon’s Scribe

April 23, 2020Permalink

23 Ways to Celebrate World Book Day

Time once again to celebrate World Book Day. What’s with the blank look? Did the holiday sneak up on you this year? Wait—you say you’ve never even heard of World Book Day? Well, this is the right blog post for you.

According to Wikipedia, World Book Day (WBD) was “organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to promote reading, publishing and copyright.”

Now that you know that, let the celebrations begin!

Um…you don’t know how to celebrate WBD? Okay, let us count the ways:

  1. Buy a book. Ever the helpful blogger, I’ve included a suggested list in the right column of my website.
  2. Give a book as a gift to someone else. New of course, unless you make it clear the book is used.
  3. Peruse a bookstore. Best to carve out the whole day.
  4. Visit a library. Again, you can get lost there, so allow time.
  5. Get a library card. Mine gets more use than my credit cards.
  6. Help a child get a library card. Open up endless new worlds for the kiddo.
  7. Buy an ebook reader. A lot lighter to carry than hundreds of hardbacks.
  8. Bake a book-shaped cake. You’ve heard of devouring books. Do it literally!
  9. Sing a traditional WBD song. What? There are no songs for this holiday? Then…
  10. Compose a song for WBD. There’s definitely a need there.
  11. Create a dance for the WBD song. Start the tradition of dancing around a bookshelf.
  12. Dress up as a book character. Pick your favorite. Spend the day talking and acting like that character.
  13. Tour a book printing factory. It there’s a book printer near you, it would be fascinating to learn how they make the darn things.
  14. Buy or build a bookshelf. Fill it with books.
  15. Write a book review. Post it on Goodreads, Amazon, BN.com, etc.
  16. Email an author. They all love to hear from fans. Hint: pick a living author.
  17. Set a reading goal. How many books do you think you can read between now and the next WBD?
  18. Attend a WBD Festival. There’s one in Kensington, Maryland. If that’s too far away, then…
  19. Plan a WBD Festival in your town. It will breathe life into the place.
  20. Commit to reading the classics. Hate it when your friends quote some classic, and you don’t get the reference? You either admit ignorance or pretend you know it.
  21. Write a book. You’ve been wanting to. I’ve seen your bucket list. You can’t finish what you don’t start.
  22. Answer David Filby’s three-book question. See below. *
  23. Read a book. Escape all TV, radio, and video games. Make it just you, your favorite drink, and your book.

* Near the end of the 1960 movie, “The Time Machine,” David Filby finds that George has left in the time machine.
David Filby: “He’s gone back to the future, to begin a new world. But it’s not like George to go off without a plan. He must have taken something with him. Is anything missing?”
Mrs. Watchett (George’s housekeeper): “Nothing…[sees blank space on bookshelf]…except three books.”
Filby: “Which three?”
Mrs. Watchett: “I don’t know… is it important?”
Filby: “Oh, I suppose not. Only, which three books would you have taken?”

 

I hope World Book Day will be as enjoyable for you as it will be for—

Poseidon’s Scribe

April 23, 2017Permalink