World Book Day 2014

Reading with children is very important, I have read to my children since birth. They now both love to read. I enjoy reading with the children at work, I absolutely love reading a story out loud and enthusing them to read. If you can read you can learn so much.

For me world book day is perfect for supporting this. Every year children attending schools across England receive their £1 book token which can be exchanged in participating book shops. Details of this years £1 books are here.

WORLD BOOK DAY COMES TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UK

WITH

THE BIGGEST BOOK SHOW ON EARTH

Brand new pre-record format makes taking part even easier!   -
Authors and illustrators share tips, give readings and answer questions for budding writers and illustrators -

Building on the success of last year’s The Biggest Book Show On Earth, World Book Day 2014 sees the launch of an exciting and brand new pre-recorded TV show format. Available online for the whole of March it includes all the wonderful World Book Day authors and illustrators.
Schools, parents and children across the nation can register to register, log on and enjoy watching it together at a time that suit.
Compared by CBBC’s Dick and Dom, the show features World Book Day authors and illustrators:

• James Patterson
• David Melling
• Emily Gravett
• Jill Murphy
• Jim Smith
• Lauren St John
• Terry Deary
• Martin Brown
• Alex T Smith
• Sarah Lean
• Robert Muchamore
• Maureen Johnson

How does James Patterson keep people turning the page? What does Terry Deary recommend for making facts fun?  How does David Melling decide what his characters should look like?  All this and more will be answered along with other fun and useful hints and tips.
Filmed at Stanley Park High School, each of the £1 authors also answer questions submitted from children across the country as well giving an excerpt from their World Book Day book and talking about their inspirations.
 
Kirsten Grant, Director of World Book Day, said: "We are very excited about yet another fantastic line up for this year’s show, which will now be even more accessible with the new download option that’s lets schools, parents and children watch together at a time that works best for them. The Biggest Book Show on Earth is a great way to introduce children all over the world to some of the country’s best authors and illustrators. We can't wait to spark the creativity of millions of children!"
For the second year running The Biggest Book Show On Earth will also be broadcast, into Picturehouse Cinemas across the UK. Schools who go along to one of the screenings will also be treated to an extra special 20 minutes of exclusive content, including readings and a Q&A session.
Marc Allenby, Head of Commercial Development at Picturehouse, said: “We are delighted to bring World Book Day to cinemas up and down the country once again. Engaging with local schools and the community is key for our cinemas.”
Schools, groups and parents can find out more by registering to watch on www.worldbookday.com/biggest-book-show. 
Half a million children from more than 75 countries logged on to watch the Show in 2013, which this year is just one of a number of events and activities in schools, bookshops and libraries set to excite youngsters about books and reading for World Book Day 2014.
Ten new books including titles by performers from this year’s Biggest Book Show on Earth line-up can be exchanged for free with a special £1 World Book Day Book.
 
Visit www.worldbookday.com for more information, the latest news and to subscribe to the free monthly World Book Day e-newsletter.

As a teacher I have encountered many children who want to write and do so at every opportunity, but there are also some who are more reluctant. I was lucky enough to take my class to the library local to our school to meet an author who really inspired some of the children from my class. For those who have not been as lucky to have an opportunity like this I have been sent some tips for writing I have been sent via Jenny from Lauren St John, the author of Midnight Picnic

Tip 1:

One of the first things children will ask an author is, 'Where do you get your ideas?' I always answer: 'Ideas come from everywhere. Your problem should never be finding ideas. It should be that you have too many.' Since life is infinitely stranger than fiction, newspapers and magazines are a good starting point. A news item about a stowaway boy or a dog that has turned up alive after two years, for instance, could give rise to any number of storylines.

Tip 2

When I get children to invent stories out loud, something that is as much fun for me as it is for them, I first ask them to create a couple of characters. What do they look like? What type of people are they? What are their interests? Next, we need an Event. Something happens. A volcano, a fire, an alien abduction, a school trip that goes wrong. The characters then go on a journey, which is as much about personal discovery as it is about location. Are they brave? Cowardly? How do they figure out an escape route? Lastly, we need a happy ending. Naturally.

Tip 3
As a child, I was obsessed with reading and I'm convinced that there are no good writers who are not good readers. Forget the Government nonsense about whether or not to read Dickens. Get your kids reading. It doesn't matter if it's comic books or JK Rowling or War and Peace. All that matters is that they learn to love reading. Of course, you could always consider Dead Man's Cove, The One Dollar Horse or my World Book Day short story, The Midnight Picnic!

I have been lucky enough to be contacted by Jenny who has asked me if i would be willing to run a giveaway on my blog in support of World Book Day. This is the deal. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning 1 set of the world book day books for 2014 all you need to do is leave a comment below, i will draw a winner at random on Thursday eve, the 13th March at 20:00 hrs uk time.
Good luck!!

For those of you who follow me on twitter please retweet the link for this blog/ giveaway and help to spread the word.