World Book and Copyright Day, History, Theme and Books That You Must Try

World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated every year on 23rd April to promote the spirit of reading and love for books. The day holds equal importance for both authors and readers. The theme of World Book and Copyright Day 2024 is “Read Your Way”. This year the theme aims to inspire people of all ages across the globe to start the habit of reading.

Why 23rd April as World Book Day?

In the year 1995, UNESCO decided to celebrate April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day. The day marks the death anniversary of important literary figures like William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes, etc. and the birth anniversary of prominent authors like Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla, Haldor K, and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.

World Book Capital 2024: Strasbourg, France

UNESCO and the three major sectors of the book industry international organizations i.e. publishers, booksellers, and libraries, select the World Book Capital for one year, effective from 23 April of every year. In 2024, the city of Strasbourg in France has been chosen as the World Book Capital 2024. The title was attributed to Accra in Ghana last year.

Did you know?

Madrid, Spain was the first city to be named the World Book Capital in 2001.

World Book Day Theme 2024: Read Your Way

This year UNESCO has decided the theme of World Book Day as “Read Your Way”. This theme highlights several ways of reading. People of all ages, cultures, nations and linguistic backgrounds, have different ways of interpreting what they read. There are also numerous genres and styles of books, stories, poems and more that authors and readers can choose from.

There is also a new revolution as some people prefer to read E-books, audiobooks, interactive books, etc. The World Book Day theme for 2024 encompasses all such readers from varied backgrounds. It encourages the readers to read in their own distinctive way to enhance their knowledge and stay connected with their passion for reading.

World Book Day 2023 Theme: “Indigenous Languages”

Some Books That You Must Try

On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, we are suggesting a few books that you must try reading:

• Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee
• Wings of Fire by APJ Abdul Kalam
• Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• Not Without My Daughter’ by Betty Mahmoody
• Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac