Happy Valentine's/International Book Giving Day!

Tomorrow being the 14th February it's  going to be a day that's all about luuuurve! Yep ok classically it is a day for sweethearts and couples but it will also be a day for lovers of a different kind - book lovers. It is International Book Giving Day, a day designed to get new, well loved or borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible. You are asked to give a book to a child you know, maybe leave one in a waiting room somewhere or to find some other way to surprise a young person with something new to read. 

When I was a child my dad worked in London Bridge train station and every now and then he would pop into Smith's on the way home and buy me a new book, often on the subject of animals. Wonderful books he bought, full of bright pictures and information and they meant even more to me because they were presents from my beloved parent. We would look through the books together and I still have most of them, and will never part with them. When my own children were small my husband and I didn't have much money and toys were usually kept as birthday/Christmas treats but both of the kids knew that their chances of getting mum to buy them a new book or comic whilst out shopping were very good! Sweets - often no, reading matter - always yes! 

Tomorrow I intend to gift some books to my local public library for local children to enjoy and also will send a couple in with my husband for a work colleague's very young daughter. After nearly 25 years of marriage Valentine's day is perhaps not as exciting as in my younger years but the thought of encouraging young people to share my book love is always thrilling!

(Information about International Book Giving Day can be found on the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookGivingDay or you can follow @bookgivingday on Twitter). 

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