The Books Council of Wales is encouraging people across Wales to share a story in celebration of World Book Day 2021 on Thursday 4 March.

Sharing a story could include reading at home with the family, sharing a story with your pet, reading in your favourite place, reading in an unusual location and more!

With only a week to go before the big day, the Books Council is also asking people to share their reading photos on social media during March, using the hashtags #ShareAStory #WorldBookDayWales. Prizes for the best pictures will be awarded at the end of the month.

The winners of a special competition organised jointly by the Books Council and Huw Aaron will also be announced on 4 March on BBC Radio Cymru’s Aled Hughes programme between 9 and 11 a.m.

The challenge for contestants was to identify as many characters as possible from Welsh children’s books and television programmes in a colourful poster designed by Huw Aaron for his book Ble mae Boc? Ar goll yn y chwedlau, published by Y Lolfa in November 2020.

Meet the Authors

World Book Day celebrations look very different this year with a number of author sessions happening in a virtual way. The past year has shown the need for flexibility and also the value of having quality material to promote reading in a digital format. To help inspire young people to pick up a book and read for pleasure, the first in a series of videos with some of Wales’ leading children’s authors will be released on the Books Council’s website and social media channels on 4 March, featuring short readings as well as activities.

The main aim of these resources is to support families and schools whilst they are distance learning but they will also be a valuable resource for classroom use once schools re-open for all ages.

The authors include Huw Aaron, Lund Aaron, Myrddin ap Dafydd, Huw Davies, Nicola Davies, Malachy Doyle, Valériane Leblond, Lucy Owen and Manon Steffan Ros. More videos featuring authors from Wales will be published over the coming months.

Books and writing from Wales will also be showcased on the cultural digital platfform AM on World Book Day.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “World Book Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate our love of books but the transformative power of reading is with us all year round. Although we may not be able to hold our usual events this year, the message is the same – that reading for pleasure does us all a world of good, in these difficult times perhaps more than ever. So celebrate with us by sharing a story on the 4th of March as a family, with friends from afar, or even your cat or dog!”

Angharad Sinclair, Project Manager in the Books Council’s Department of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion, added: “Reading can open the door on new worlds and experiences, and we are delighted to be able to offer a great range of £1 books once again this year ensuring that a choice of Welsh-language books is available alongside the English. Research shows that spending 10 minutes a day reading with a child makes a big difference to their future success and the aim of this special day is to ensure that all children have access to the world of books and the benefits they bring.”

£1 Book Token

World Book Day is now celebrated in 100 countries across the world and aims to promote reading for pleasure, offering all children and young people the opportunity to have their own book.

As part of the annual event, children in the UK and Ireland receive a £1 book token which they can either exchange for one of the £1 World Book Day books or use towards buying another book.

Ha Ha Cnec! Jôcs Twp a Twpach (Broga) by Huw Aaron is the brand new £1 Welsh-language book for World Book Day 2021 and is available now through bookshops across Wales.  

Three other Welsh-language books are available for £1 this year namely Stori Cymru – Iaith a Gwaith (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch) by Myrddin ap Dafydd, Na, Nel!  (Y Lolfa) by Meleri Wyn James, and Darllen gyda Cyw (Y Lolfa) by Anni Llŷn.

The World Book Day £1 books are a gift from booksellers, who fully fund the cost of the £1 book token redemptions. The £1 books are also available in braille, large print & audio via Guide Dogs and RNIB. 

World Book Day book tokens are valid from Thursday 18 February – Sunday 28 March 2021 but participating booksellers will honour the tokens beyond the 28 March while stocks last. Please contact your local bookseller to check if they are able to offer £1 off other titles. Read the full terms and conditions here. 

While bookshop doors are temporarily closed, they are still open for business online and over the phone offering a click-and-collect or mail delivery service. Details of all independent bookshops in Wales can be found on the Books Council’s website.

Further information

• The World Book Day campaign in Wales is coordinated by the Books Council of Wales and supported by the Welsh Government and Waterstones.
• Every year, with a host of publishers and booksellers, World Book Day curates a list of bespoke £1 books for children and young people across the UK and Ireland.
• World Book Day’s mission is to encourage children and young people to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.