Although a recent article in Time Magazine suggests that World Book Day will be celebrated again in 2013, there is no mention of it on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) website. Nevertheless, we still wanted to take time to recognize the importance of celebrating literature and books! Even if there is no official event this year, we’ll happily observe World Book Day on April 23.
“23 April is a symbolic date for world literature, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. 23 April is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
This is why UNESCO chose this date to pay a worldwide tribute to books and their authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and to gain a renewed respect for the extraordinary contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.
The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia (Spain) where it has become a tradition to give a rose as a gift for each book purchased.“
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) partners with Las Comadres para las Americas to promote reading of Latino authors by creating the first national level book club: Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club. Membership is open to anyone, and most of the books also are available in Spanish. The Book Club hosts a series of highly successful monthly teleconferences which we host, featuring a selected Latina or Latino author.
Below is a list of the authors and books that have been featured this year and are scheduled in the coming months:
- January 2013: Have You Seen Marie? / ¿Has Visto a Maria? by Sandra Cisneros
- February 2013: 8 Ways to Say “I Love My Life” by Josefina Lopez
- March 2013: Ink by Sabrina Vourvoulias
- April 2013: Man Up: Cracking the Code of Modern Manhood by Carlos Andrés Gómez (for Dia de los Ninos)
- May 2013: Rebozos by Carmen Tafolla (for Poetry Month)
- June 2013: The Five Acts of Diego León by Alex Espinoza (for Dude Month)
For more information, visit the Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club web page.
Which author or book will you honor on World Book Day and why? Let us know on our Facebook page!
As a symbolic gesture, we’ll also be posting a collage of roses on our blog for each Count On Me book purchased on April 23 – you can order a print or digital copy from the book sellers listed here. If you purchase the book between now and April 23, please let us know by sending an email to countonmebook@gmail.com. We’d love to have at LEAST a dozen roses!
