World Book Day in Locks Heath: Meet Bestselling Author Roma Tearne at Southampton Library

Thursday 4th March is World Book Day - the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland.

Designated by UNESCO, World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and reading that takes place in more than 100 countries around the world. Every year thousands of events are organised in schools, bookshops, libraries and other venues celebrating books and reading.

The origins of the day come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day, 23rd April, a tradition started over 80 years ago. The day was changed in UK and Ireland so that it falls during term time.

In this country World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and National Book Tokens, amongst others, who work together to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the chance to own their own book. All school children receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token issued by National Book Tokens, which they can either exchange for one of the six specially published World Book Day £1 books (listed on the World Book Day Website) or redeem against any book or audiobook at participating bookshops or book clubs (listed on the Booksellers Association Website).

Book tokens are valid from Monday 1st March until Sunday 28th March.

'Read to a Million Kids', sponsored by Renaissance Learning, is a brand new initiative for World Book Day 2010. All the £1 Book stories will be broadcast online read by either their authors or actors during World Book Day. This will be available exclusively to schools and libraries at first but the films will be available for all to see for a month afterwards via the World Book day website. If you would like to see them, visit the website after 4th March.

So what’s going on locally?

From 6.30pm onwards on 4th March bestselling author of ‘Mosquito’ and ‘Bone China’, Roma Tearne, will be at Southampton Central Library. She will be talking about her family's escape from war torn Sri Lanka and why she made Britain her new home. She will also be discussing her highly successful writing career and her latest novel ‘Brixton Beach’.

For more details contact: Allison Kirby on 023 8083 3304

Southampton Central Library, Civic Centre Southampton SO14 7LW

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Most Tesco, Sainsbury’s, WH Smiths and Waterstone’s stores are participating on the Book Token Scheme. The closest of these to Locks Heath are the following:

Tesco

Hamble Lane

Bursledon

Hampshire SO31 8GN

Sainsbury's

Tollbar Way

Hedge End

Hampshire SO30 2UH

Waterstone's

West Quay Shopping Centre

Southampton

Hampshire SO15 1QE

WH Smith

32-34 Above Bar

Southampton

Hampshire SO14 7LE

Have a look at the Booksellers Association Website for the full list.