Great giveaway to make book event smiles better
The Reading Agency, in partnership with Specsavers, has revealed writer, comedian, TV personality and literacy advocate Sandi Toksvig will be lead ambassador for World Book Night 2021.
World Book Night, the annual celebration of reading, will take place on Friday April 23 and this year’s theme Books To Make You Smile is a response to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, highlighting the proven power of reading and the benefits it brings to wellbeing.
This also coincides with the launch of Stories To Make You Smile – a new collection of short stories compiled by The Reading Agency together with Specsavers.
Celebrations on World Book Night will be marked by a livestreamed event in partnership with the British Library, hosted by Sandi Toksvig and featuring best-selling authors David Nicholls and Bolu Babalola, and World Book Night founder and Canongate chief executive Jamie Byng. This will run from 8 to 9pm.
The Reading Agency is inviting the nation to join the #ReadingHour from 7 to 8pm, when everyone is encouraged to spend time with a good book. Nobel Prizewinner Kazuo Ishiguro will be in conversation with author Kate Mosse from 6 to 7pm.
Sandi Toksvig said: “I am so excited to be the lead ambassador for The Reading Agency’s World Book Night 2021 campaign, bringing the nation together to celebrate the power of books and reading.
“This year marks the campaign’s 10th anniversary, and it feels more important than ever to celebrate the power of reading to inspire, entertain and challenge.
“We all could do with some light relief from reality which is why this year’s theme Books to Make You Smile is so perfect.
“It’s great to have the support of Specsavers on this vital campaign, who have teamed up with The Reading Agency as they pursue their mission to improve lives through reading.”
The Reading Agency has commissioned a new collection of short stories exclusively for World Book Night 2021.
Stories to Make You Smile features contributions from Richard Madeley, Jenny Éclair, Helen Lederer and Mark Watson.
Stories to Make You Smile will be released on World Book Night, with 3,000 copies of the book being given out to customers through Specsavers competitions and giveaways,
a free e-book version available to download on the day and the audiobook narrated by Hugh Bonneville is available for pre-order now.
On World Book Night, The Reading Agency will be giving away 100,000 books in various formats. World Book Night 2021 titles are: A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi Common People: An Anthology of Working-Class Writers by various authors, ed. by Kit de Waal
Ask a Footballer by James Milner
Elevation by Stephen King Emma by Jane Austen, narrated by Tanya Reynolds
Faking Friends by Jane Fallon Good Food for Bad Days by Jack Monroe
I Will Not Be Erased: Our Stories About Growing Up as People of Colour by gal-dem
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, narrated by David Tennant and Samantha Spiro Pocket Book of Happiness Reasons to be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain
Stories to Make You Smile by various authors, ed by Fanny Blake
Taking Up Space: The Black Girl’s Manifesto for Change by Chelsea Kwakye and ‘r’ Ogunbiyi
The Anxiety Survival Guide by Bridie Gallagher, Sue Knowles and Phoebe McEwan
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary The Kindness Method written and narrated by Shahroo Izadi
To Sir With Love by ER Braithwaite
Up in the Attic by Pam Ayres We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
Where Are We Now? By Glenn Patterson
Karen Napier, chief executive of the Reading Agency, said: “We’re hugely excited to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of World Book Night with such a fantastic array of events.
“Given the challenges of the past year, our theme feels particularly resonant, and we’re immensely grateful for the support from authors, publishers, bookshops and libraries to help spread the proven power of reading.
“We plan for this year’s World Book Night to be the biggest and best yet, and look forward to celebrating the Reading Hour with people across the country, ahead of what we’re sure will be a brilliant livestreamed event at the British Library .”
Waterstones will also be supporting the #ReadingHour on social media and offering prize giveaways.