HOLLY: WORLD BOOK DAY IS MAGIC!

Teen bookseller and illustrator Holly tells us why WORLD BOOK DAY on March 5th is so important…

'And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.'
Roald Dahl

Holly says:
On World Book Day, this lovely quote from Roald Dahl suddenly rings true to everybody. You can find escapism and magic in any book, regardless of content or theme - the story is yours, the characters are yours, and you've invited them into your life. You will share moments with them, laugh with them, sometimes cry with them - and when you've finished reading a truly brilliant book, those character will always stay with you. On World Book Day, people all over the country will be remembering their favourite books and sharing stories, helping to keep the magic of books alive.

World Book Day also reminds how important it is to support local bookshops and libraries. Bookshops everywhere work tirelessly to supply customers with great new reads and unique author events - I work at a fab indie bookshop and know just how much work goes into organising an author event and making cool displays to attract the customer. Pop down to your local bookshop today - you might well come out again with a personal recommendation from the bookseller and a shiny new book tucked under your arm - more magic waiting to happen!

World Book Day isn't just about the wonderful world of words, it celebrates illustration too. Illustrators have the ability to make words jump out of a book; suddenly the characters are right there, waving at you, waiting for you to turn the page so you can learn their story. Illustrators like Quentin Blake (who illustrated the Roald Dahl novels) and Axel Scheffler (famous for the Gruffalo and much more) are as much a part of those well-loved books as the authors. My dream is to one day be a children's author and illustrator. I've always loved reading, and when I was younger my favourite authors were Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy. I loved how real the characters felt and how the children in the stories often had true life stories they had to deal with.

I recently illustrated the book A Bushy Tale by Bob Stone (about a daydreaming squirrel called Squish)  and this great opportunity just confirmed for me that this is what I really want to do. I have designed a few World Book Day logos for the bookshop where I work because I wanted to show how important it is for children to read and learn through books. Next time you pick up a book, remember that you're not just reading a story; you're stepping into an alternative world that someone has created, just for you, and that's a lovely thing.

Copies of A BUSHY TALE are available from Amazon for £6.99 and from Formby Books, 5 The cloisters, Halsall Lane, Formby, Liverpool L37 3PX.

Cathy says:
I couldn't agree more! Do YOU celebrate WORLD BOOK DAY? If so, how? COMMENT BELOW and tell us what books and reading mean to YOU!