World Book Night celebrated across the UK

A range of events around the UK took place on Sunday (23rd April) to mark World Book Night, with supporters from many parts of the trade doing their bit to champion the love of reading.

Librarians in Staffordshire gave out copies of The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan (Mulholland Books), while youngsters at The Manchester College were enthralled by a giveaway.

Head of creative responsibility for Penguin Random House, Siena Parker, dropped a copy of Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo (Hamish Hamilton) in Walthamstow, joining other PRH staff as they gave out books across London.

Vintage senior marketing executive Candice Williams shared her World Book Night selection, The Love U Give by Angie Thomas (Walker).

Meanwhile, Rochadale Libraries hosted a talk with author David Mark and Unison Learn staff organised their own book giveaway.

Over in Falkirk Library, author Helen MacKinven hosted a reading event for the public.

Also taking part in the national event was Glasgow Women’s Library, which wrapped-up copies of Ayisha Malik’s Sofia Khan is Not Obliged (Twenty7) and authors Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee hosted a literary evening at St Mary’s Church in Manor Park, Little Ilford.

A recent survey from The Reading Agency, commissioned to mark World Book Night, found that UK adults would like to read more but are being held back by their busy lives. In response to the findings of the survey, The Reading Agency called on "book lovers" across the country to give great books to people who don't read often, in recognition of the challenges many people face when it comes to finding the right book.

Debbie Hicks, creative director at The Reading Agency, said: "On World Book Night, thousands of books donated by publishers were given away in prisons, colleges, public libraries, homeless shelters and health settings to get people reading. There were also lots of celebratory events  up and down the country. It's been fantastic to see some of the wonderful images and stories coming in from organisations as well as individuals who gave out their own books, which show that World Book Night has really got people celebrating and sharing reading. More events are planned this week so there's still lots of excitement to come."