Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has commended schools, parents and children across the constituency for once again going above and beyond to mark World Book Bay.
Today, (March 7th) many children throughout the country, including in Denbighshire, have gone to school dressed as a character from their favourite book to celebrate the annual event, which aims to encourage children to read more.
Earlier this week, James attended Publisher’s Parliamentary drop-in to hear more about the campaign and its success in getting increased numbers of children to read.
He is also entering a competition they are holding for an opportunity to win hundreds of world Book Day Books for the Vale of Clwyd.
Speaking after the event, he said:
“It is always a pleasure to support World Book Day and I am so pleased that so many schools in the Vale of Clwyd are doing so too.
“The aim of the day is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.
“It is so important that every child and young adult in the Vale of Clwyd has the opportunity to read and own books of their own and World Book Day helps provide them with that opportunity.
“Each year, World Book Day creates bespoke £1 books for children and young adults across the UK and Ireland, to promote the power of imagination and the importance of reading. I know children enjoy receiving their £1 book token, which they can take to a bookshop or supermarket to pick up their free World Book Day book.
“One in seven pupils said that the book they bought with their World Book Day book token had been their first book of their own. Among children receiving free school meals, this number rose to one in 5.
“When surveyed in 2022, 46.2% of primary children said they read more books as a result of World Book Day and 35% said that they talk more about books with their family and friends. Worlds Book Day is the leading source of book discovery for five to 10-year-olds.
“World Book Day has become an important date on the school calendar and one that children look forward to. I would like to thank all schools and parents in the Vale of Clwyd for making it such a special day for our children, and for recognising that reading for pleasure makes an enormous impact on a child’s future – whether that’s their educational success, well-being or mental health.
“I hope all children in the Vale of Clwyd enjoy reading their new books and let’s hope I can win them some more.”
