Let's Celebrate World Book and Copyright Day!

A Special Day for Readers, Writers, and Bookworms of All Ages

Hey there, book lover! 📖 Have you ever snuggled up with your favorite story and felt like you were zooming off into a whole new world? Maybe you’ve sailed the seas with pirates, visited magical kingdoms, or even traveled to outer space—all without leaving your cozy reading corner. That’s the magic of books! And guess what? There’s a very special day every year just for celebrating the wonder of books and the amazing people who create them. It's called World Book and Copyright Day, and it’s on April 23!

So, get comfy, grab a snack (maybe some bookworm gummies 🪱😉), and let’s learn all about this awesome day made just for readers like you!

🌍 What is World Book and Copyright Day?

World Book and Copyright Day is like a birthday party for books! It’s a special time when people all over the world come together to celebrate reading, writing, and the people who help bring stories to life—authors and illustrators. It’s also a day to learn why it’s super important to respect something called copyright—we’ll get to that in a minute!

On this day, libraries, schools, bookstores, and families host fun events like book fairs, storytime sessions, costume parties (dress as your favorite book character!), and even read-a-thons. It’s all about showing love for the written word and encouraging kids (and grownups!) to pick up a book and READ!

📖 How Did This Day Get Started?

The history behind World Book and Copyright Day is pretty cool—it goes all the way back over 100 years!

It started with a man named Vicente Clavel Andres, a book publisher in Barcelona, Spain. He loved books and wanted to find a way to honor authors and make reading more popular. In 1922, he came up with a big idea: let’s have a day just for books! Four years later, in 1926, the very first book day was celebrated on October 7, which people thought was the birthday of a famous writer named Miguel de Cervantes (he wrote Don Quixote, one of the most famous books ever!).

Later, people realized Cervantes’ birthday was actually in September—but something else amazing happened. He, William Shakespeare, and another important writer named Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all passed away on the same date: April 23. How incredible is that? So in 1995, a group called UNESCO (which helps protect education, science, and culture around the world) decided April 23 was the perfect date to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day.

📚 Why Do We Celebrate? (The following paragraphs are possible script of things to say to your students)

You might be thinking, “Why does a book need its own day?” Well, books are powerful. They do more than tell stories. They:

- Help us learn new things 📘

- Spark our imagination ✨

- Teach us about different people, cultures, and ideas 🌎

- Make us laugh, cry, think, and dream 💭

- Bring people together through shared stories ❤️

And books don’t just appear. Writers spend hours (sometimes years!) creating their stories. Illustrators add beautiful pictures. Editors help polish the words, and publishers print and share the books with the world. It’s a BIG team effort!

🛡️ What Does “Copyright” Mean?

Okay, now let’s talk about a funny-looking word: copyright.

Imagine you drew the coolest dragon ever or wrote a poem about a dancing potato. You worked hard on it, right? Well, copyright is like a magical shield 🛡️ that says, “This idea belongs to YOU!”

When an author or artist makes something original—like a book, a song, or a drawing—copyright protects it so no one else can copy it and say it's theirs. It makes sure the people who create things get credit for their work. That’s super important, because without copyright, it would be really hard for authors and illustrators to keep doing what they love—making stories for you to enjoy!

So when we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, we’re also saying THANK YOU to authors and artists—and reminding everyone to respect their hard work.

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📦 What Happens on World Book and Copyright Day?

All around the world, people get involved in exciting ways. Here are just a few things that happen:

🌟 Storytelling Events – Teachers, librarians, and authors read aloud to kids (sometimes even in fun voices or costumes!).

📦 Book Donations – Schools and groups give books to kids who need them, spreading the love of reading.

📚 Reading Challenges – Some classrooms challenge students to read a certain number of books or minutes.

🎭 Character Dress-Up Days – Kids (and teachers!) dress as their favorite book characters—hello, Harry Potter and Fancy Nancy!

🏆 Awards and Prizes – UNESCO even gives a special prize for children’s books that promote peace, kindness, and understanding.

🌍 World Book Capital – Each year, one city around the world is chosen as the “World Book Capital.” That city gets to host tons of book-related events all year long. Cool, right?

It’s a day for everyone—whether you're just learning to read or already devouring big chapter books.

💬 Let’s Hear From Some Young Readers! (Ask your students why they read and record their responses!)

> “I love reading because I get to go on adventures without leaving my room!” – Lily, age 9 

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> “Books help me when I feel sad. They’re like a big hug!” – Amir, age 7 

> 

> “I want to write my own stories someday, just like my favorite authors!” – Zoe, age 10

See? Reading makes a big difference in kids’ lives. And you can be a part of the magic too!

🪱 Meet Benjamin – A Bookworm with Big Dreams

Speaking of loving book, have you met Benjamin yet?

Benjamin isn’t just any worm. He’s a bookworm—who would rather read about adventiures in a giant peach than eat one! He lives with his family in a back lot of a grocery store. The problem is his family doesn't understand him and the only readable material he finds are old magazines and newspapers covered in tomato splotches. He longs for real books and set out to find them. 🐛

As Benjamin faces challenges along the way, he doesn't give up on his quest for books and finds unexpected friends along the way. And the best part? Benjamin learns that it's ok to be different and follow your passion.

Books for Benjamin is a book for everyone, no matter who you are or what you love, and is

 the perfect story to read for World Book and Copyright Day because it shows us why books matter, how they help us grow, and how every reader—big or small, squirmy or wiggly—can find joy in turning the pages. The back matter in the book even has a section about the history of libraries and why we have the copyright symbol.

🌟 How Can YOU Celebrate?

You don’t have to be a grown-up to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day. Here are some fun and easy ways YOU can join the fun:

- 📖 Read a book you’ve never read before 

- ✍️ Write your own story or poem 

- 🎨 Draw a picture of your favorite book scene 

- 🧠 Make a quiz about your favorite book and challenge your friends 

- 👯 Trade books with a friend or sibling 

- 📣 Say thank you to your favorite author (you can even write them a letter!) 

- 🧥 Dress up as a character and put on a mini play 

- 📚 Ask your librarian for a book recommendation 

- 🐛 Introduce someone to Benjamin! 

Remember: every time you open a book, you open a door to a new adventure.

💡 Final Thoughts: A Day to Remember

World Book and Copyright Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a celebration of imagination, creativity, and kindness. It’s a reminder that words have power—that they can comfort, inspire, teach, and connect us. And it’s a way to say THANK YOU to all the incredible people who bring books to life, from the writers and artists to the librarians and teachers who share them.

So, whether you're reading about dragons, dinosaurs, detectives, or dancing worms, remember: you are part of a great big reading family. And as Benjamin the bookworm would say, there’s always room for one more story.

Happy World Book and Copyright Day! 🥳📚

P.S. Want to celebrate in the best way ever? Grab a copy of Books for Benjamin, find a cozy corner, and let Benjamin remind you why books are the best friends a worm—or kid—could ever have. 🐛❤️📖

Head over to: https://www.rgderouen.com/books for some FREE printable bookmarks and coloring sheets with Benjamin and his friends.  There’s even a maze for your kids as well!