Every year schools across the world celebrate World Book
Day, which this year falls on 1st March 2018.
Most schools (not all) decide to celebrate books and reading
during this time of the year and on the day itself, children and often teachers
dress up as book characters too.
For writers like me who go into schools to talk about
writing and reading for pleasure, this is the busiest period of our annual
schedule. I wrap up all my writing the week before the World Book Day and I
cannot get back to my desk for almost a month. 
It is amazing to visit schools, to meet with children and
introduce my stories to them. It is heartening to see how schools practice
reading for pleasure and incorporate books into their daily lives. Often the
teacher or librarian (if the school still has one) who organises these events is
doing this over and above their day job.
However many writers like me do wonder if there are
alternatives to this adrenalin charged 2-3 week period of WBD tour most of us
embark on. So if you’re a teacher or a librarian who organises events for
schools, maybe some of these other ideas might appeal:
a)
A Day a Term – perhaps it would give a lot of
focus and help with planning if there was one day in every term focussed on
books and reading for pleasure where the school can come together. Or this
could be a week.
b)
Alternate Days to WBD – As a writer from Asian
background, I pulled together a list of dates where it would be lovely to bring
in authors and books from different perspectives. Click here to download.
c)
Virtual visits – some of us visit schools via
Skype too. But it is tough to do virtual visits during the same week as WBD
celebrations. Planning ahead will help you get both paid and free events with a
multitude of authors into your schools. Check out Virtual Authors here.
d)
Patron of Reading – as Patrons of Reading, we
visit our schools 3-4 times a year and use a whole day to connect with children
about stories they love. Find out more here.
As a children’s writer, one of the biggest rewards of the
job is to be able to go into schools and meet with children. It is a way to
connect with our audience and also share the love of stories and reading. It is
fabulous when we can inspire new writers and storytellers.
But it would be good that we can do this all through the
year and not just during late February to early March. We do love to get away
from our desks, washing-up and filing other times of the year too. So ring me
right after Easter and we can get plan a school visit.
Are you a writer or a librarian or a teacher who has a
different idea? Do you already do something amazing in your school that
involves author visits but on different parts of the year? Tell us about it in
the comments below.
