Local celebration of World Book Day

World Book Day, the greatest annual celebration of books and reading on the planet, takes place tomorrow and the good news is that all school children can get a token to be exchanged for a special free publication in their local bookshop.

“We’re really excited about it,” says Bob Johnston, chair of the Booksellers’ Association Ireland. “Now is the perfect time for kids to experience the magical journey of reading.”

Indeed, the benefits of extra-curricular reading for young people have already been proved to be considerable for their academic development.

Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries. It’s a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books with the aim of encouraging children to explore the pleasures of reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.

Irish author Mary Arrigan has written a book exclusively for this year’s event, Ireland, Milo and the Long Lost Warriors. This is the second in a series of Milo books for O’Brien Press, with a third to be released shortly. In this one, Milo and his best buddy Shane are on a school trip to a museum and a mock battle. So far, so cool. But then Milo’s ghostly friend Mister Lewis joins in. He wants to help three lost warriors who are trapped in the museum. They’re from the real Battle of Clontarf, 1,000 years ago. However, at the crucial moment, the two school bullies, Crunch and Wedge, turn up.

Arrigan, whose awards include the International White Ravens, Bisto Merit, The Sunday Times Crime Writers Association, and The Hennessy Short Story, originally got the idea for the Milo books when she visited a strange garden near Roscrea, full of ancient stones. One particular monolith caught her eye, since it was clearly half of a much larger original. What had happened to the other half, she wondered, and from that thought came Milo And One Dead Angry Druid. O’Brien Press loved the idea and the book proved a great success.

“I was completing the second Milo adventure when my editor at O’Brien Press asked if I would be interested in writing a shorter Milo story for World Book Day,” explains Arrigan. “I had no hesitation agreeing to this, provided that the publication day of the next Milo adventure could be pushed forward to April.”

And so Milo and the Long Lost Warriors will shortly be followed by Milo and the Raging Chieftains — perfect timing for those who enjoy the escapades of the energetic schoolboy and his friends.

A host of exciting events are taking place in bookshops and other venues throughout the country, including a reading from Milo and the Long Lost Warriors by Arrigan in Dublin, and free bookmaking workshops in the National Print Museum, as well as a books tour featuring 12 authors visiting five venues around the country in five days.

World Book Day is also supporting St. Michael’s House Bring a Book Buy a Book campaign, which raises money to support their services for people with intellectual disabilities.

Arrigan loves being involved in World Book Day as she also participates in the Writers in Schools scheme, which takes her all over the country.

“One of the great joys of being a writer is experiencing the infectious enthusiasm of so many young people who are interested in reading, and indeed writing. It is a rare privilege.”