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World Book Day

On Thursday 2 March, city-wide project to promote reading, Liverpool Reads, celebrated World Book Day with a reading of Frank Cottrell Boyce’s Millions, by local school children, students, and people working in the arts sector. 

The event was held at Out of the Bluecoat, a temporary exhibition space on Paradise St, and ran throughout the day from 12.30 until 5.30.  Readers included Wayne Clarke from “BBC Radio Merseyside” and Peter Elson, Senior Features Writer at “The Daily Post” as well as a number of students from the University of Liverpool.  The programme was introduced by Council Leader Warren Bradley who also did the first reading.  Readers then continued throughout the day, each reading either five or ten minute sections until the book was finished. 

The event was well attended.  Posters on the windows attracted several passers-by in from the cold Thursday afternoon in Liverpool city centre (the free refreshments may also have played a part!).  People were able to come in and stay as long as they liked, and some even stayed for the entire day!  The event was particularly successful as several of the school children who attended have now decided to read the book themselves. 

Bea Colley, co-ordinator of the Liverpool Reads scheme said, “Liverpool Reads chooses one book every year and tries to get the whole of Liverpool to read it.  Millions, by local author Frank Cottrell Boyce, has been a popular choice as it is very accessible and funny.”

She continued, “Events such as the one held last week bring the benefits of reading home to people and also show how it can be something people can enjoy together, and as a community, not just privately.”

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