World Book Day is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than by sharing the joy of reading with your local community! This year, we’re encouraging everyone to take part by organising an event inspired by our very own Not So Secret Book Clubs!

What Are Not So Secret Book Clubs?

We created the Not So Secret Book Club at the start of the Covid pandemic to provide outside activities for children when all other provision had disappeared. We have been running the half-day events ever since and they are extremely popular with children of all ages – from tinies to teens! Not So Secret Book Clubs are always free to attend and usually have a themed treasure hunt (fun with some facts thrown in – lots of charging about), art and craft activities, storytelling and story creating plus a huge selection of free books from which children can choose a couple of titles to take away with them. This encourages children to continue reading for pleasure in the comfort of their own home.

Why World Book Day Matters

World Book Day is not just a celebration of books; it’s a celebration of the power of reading.

“Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.”

WorldBookDay.com.

At Read With Me, we not only recognise but see first-hand the positive impact that reading for pleasure has on the literacy levels and communication skills of children in Gloucestershire. That’s why this year, on the 7th of March, we’re asking you to come together and celebrate reading in style!

How can I get involved?

Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds! You’ll need to find a venue: you could use your own garden, a local park or even a village hall. Round up your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances to celebrate World Book Day together!

Here are some tried and tested activities to enjoy on the day:

• Run a book swap – ask your guests to bring a handful of pre-loved books and get swapping!
• Host a storytelling session – all you need is a good book and someone who loves telling stories. You can even make your own puppets (just like the one pictured below!)
• Organise a treasure hunt – these are a great way for children to learn new things whilst letting off some steam!
• Hold a bookmark-making workshop – old greetings cards and postcards make great bookmarks; you can even add your own embellishments!
• Set up a community bookshelf – there is no better way to enjoy new books, and it’s sustainable!
• If you won’t have a chance to attend or organise an event, then you can always create a doorstep library and share your unwanted books with those around you!

There is no specific theme for this year’s celebrations, so the sky’s the limit! However, our top tip would be to choose a broad theme – like space or nature – and get creative! Most importantly, these events are about coming together, sharing books, creating memories, and inspiring a lifelong love for reading in our community.

If you host an event, we’d love to hear all about it! Send us any pictures or use the #RWMWorldBookDay – we can’t wait to see what you get up to!