World Book Day: In the age of Ipad, Kindle, & Nook

(PHOTO: @HUMBOOKS)Today, March 1st, is the 15th year of World Book Day - a global celebration of authors, illustrators, books & reading. Designated by UNESCO, the day is marked in over 100 countries.  The main aim of WBD is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books & reading. Also known as `World Book & Copyright Day', the day was 1st celebrated in 1995 on April 23 because the date is also the anniversary of the birth & death of William Shakespeare, the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega & Josep Pla; & the birth of Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mejía Vallejo & Halldór Laxness. WBD is also a day to remember that many people in the world - notably children - do not have access to books; a basic learning tool (let alone an Ipad, Kindle or Nook).  According to the reading advocacy group `Room to Read', over 300 million children around the world will never learn to read or write because they don't have access to books.   (Read more at Room to Read)