|  The
annual World Book Day celebrations will take place tomorrow,
Thursday 4th March 2004, in the UK and Ireland.
World Book Day was established in 1995 by UNESCO General
Conference. It is a worldwide celebration of books and reading
and was marked in over 30 countries around the globe last
year.
The origins of the day we now celebrate in the UK and Ireland
come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as
gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a
tradition started some 80 years ago.
The day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and
interested parties who work together to promote books and
reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all.
To mark the event there are two website's, www.worldbookday.com
and www.worldbookdayfestival.com. Readers across the world
will have the opportunity to chat online with Harry Potter
author JK Rowling on the www.worldbookdayfestivalwebsite
from 10am on Thursday 4th March.
The bestselling author will talk to children about her
books, her writing and the kind of books she likes to read.
Twelve other bestselling writers, including Kes Gray and
Nick Sharratt, Jacqueline Wilson, Benjamin Zephaniah and
Jamila Gavin, will join JK Rowling for a mixture of specially-commissioned
films, online chats and a discussion forum for readers of
every age.
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