World Book and Copyright Day at school : resources

credits : Unesco

http://www.unesco.org/

A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.” 

Madeleine L’Engle

World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity to recognise the power of books to change our lives for the better and to support books and those who produce them.

As global symbols of social progress, books – learning and reading - have become targets for those who denigrate culture and education, who reject dialogue and tolerance. 

In recent months, we have seen attacks on children at school and the public burning of books. In this context, our duty is clear – we must redouble efforts to promote the book, the pen, the computer, along with all forms of reading and writing, in order to fight illiteracy and poverty, to build sustainable societies, to strengthen the foundations of peace."

Irina Bokova, Director-General Unesco

UNESCO is celebrating World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April for 19 years now. 

World Book Day and Copyright takes place today, as organised by UNESCO, with festivities such as the Catalan Sant Jordi – to mark Saint George's day, in honour of Catalonia's patron saint. 

This "day of the book and the rose" is a Valentine's day of sorts in which streets are packed with stalls, and couples demonstrate their love by exchanging roses and books – giving publishers a massive boost along the way.

http://wa1.www.unesco.org/

UNESCO is leading the fight against illiteracy, to be included as a crucial ingredient of the Sustainable Development Goals to follow 2015. 

Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here. 

With 175 million adolescents in the world - mostly girls and young women - unable to read a single sentence, UNESCO is committed to harnessing information and communication technologies, especially mobile technology, to support literacy and to reach the unreached with quality learning.

credits; UNESCO

https://www.facebook.com/unesco

"Books are invaluable platforms for freedom of expression and the free flow of information – these are essential for all societies today. 

The future of the book as a cultural object is inseparable from the role of culture in promoting more inclusive and sustainable pathways to development. 

UNESCO is seeking to promote reading among young people and marginalised groups. "

Irina Bokova, message (excerpts)

Education:

April is a month full of good things to celebrate about literature.

Not only is April 23 Shakespeare's death and April 22 Cervantes' death. It's a day when books are the centre of activities in schools and events all around the world. 

April 2nd is Christian Andersen's birthday and International Children's Book Day

Reading a book is in our days a large concept. All formats are available for those who love to read.

• Activities:

A range of activities to promote reading and the cultural aspects of books are held in schools all over the world. 

Many of these emphasize international cooperation or friendships between schools.

My usual readers knows that I write so often on G-Souto's Blog about the importance of reading in school. I have a Master in Literature and Linguistic. So, Humanities are my priority and the love of books is enormous. No matter the format. However I prefer printed books. What can I say?

You wii find so many posts about books, reading, literature! If you search you will find a great number of authors and books in different languages and to different ages.

From Harry Potter digital to classical author Leo Tolstoi, science-fiction  or comics, educators will find interesting resources.

And some good apps, animated movies and games that help students to read. 

Almeida Garrett : A Viagem e o Património,

nos 160 anos da morte

http://patrimoniocultural.pt/

Last post, April 17 I wrote about Almeida Garrett, one of the greatest Portuguese writers who consecrate the theatre in Portugal. He is the herald of the Portuguese literary movement Romanticism.

Arthur Rimbaud

illustrations : Fabien Montes

http://fabienmontes.canalblog.com/

On April 14, I wrote about the French poet Arthur Rimbaud who has been the herald of the French literary movement Surrealism.

But if you continue to search you will find a great list of writers, resources and activities on on this blog along the years. 

You will find different ideas and some funny activities to motivate your students to read and to love books.

You can also organize different events at your school: relay readings of books and plays; the distribution of bookmarks; the announcement of the winners of school literary competitions; 

If your students are kids, don't forget some actions to promote the understanding of laws on copyright and the protection of authors' intellectual property if your students are younger.

http://wa1.www.unesco.org/

Incheon, Republic of Korea, has been designated World Book Capital 2015, in recognition of its programme to promote reading among people and underprivileged sections of the population. 

This designation takes effect on World Book and Copyright Day and will be celebrated with participants from the previous title-holder, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

"With Incheon and the entire international community, let us join together to celebrate books as the embodiment of creativity, the desire to share ideas and knowledge, to inspire understanding, dialogue and tolerance."

UNESCO’s message on World Book and Copyright Day

• Other activities:
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Reading in the mobile era infographics
credits: UNESCO

http://www.unesco.org/

• Take this opportunity to discover something new from what you're used to read and share it with your students;

• Share your passion for an author and offer his book to the best reader among your students;

• Write a note in a book saying “Happy Book Day!” drag one bookmark in it, and leave it on a park bench or a metro seat;

• Ask your students to give a book that they are no longer using to disavanteged school libraries;

• Print out some Unesco campaign materials and organize a book fair at your school library. Students love this activity;

• Plan local reading events at your school and visit the national library in your city or go to a bookstore with students;

• Encourage famous guest writers to get involved in a workshop on creativity with students. They love to talk and share their thoughts with writers they have read.

• Finally, Register your celebration for World Book and Copyright Day 2015 and share your plans with the world! 

 https://www.ilab.org/

• Alternative Activities : Pop up Book Fairs

From Sydney to Tokyo to Cape Town, from Moscow, London and all the major European capitals to New York, Washington, Chicago and the Pacific Northwest of the United States ILAB Pop Up Book Fairs, organized by the world’s expert antiquarian booksellers, will appear on 23 April, 2015. 

"We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and don’ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever.”

Philip Pullman

G-Souto

23.04.2015

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