Getting into character for World Book Day 2021

You might have noticed that today was World Book Day, and though many children are still at home due to lockdown, with the help of our LOOP team and local reading organisation Read With Me, local children still got to enjoy the day with new free books.

Willy Wonka and Peter Rabbit made special guest appearances, handing out age-matched books on pre-arranged COVID-safe visits to households in Robinswood and Matson in Gloucester.  

Mr Wonka said: "There is nothing like a book to open up a world of pure imagination.  Living there you'll be free, if you truly wish to be."

His alter-ego Debbie said: "It was wonderful to see the happiness on children's faces.  We've been in lockdown for a long time and with shops closed, you could see it was a real joy to have something new to read.  We know lots of the families in the area so made sure we picked suitable books for children's ages, the selection we had to choose from was fantastic."    

The books were provided by Read With Me, a local organisation who train and support teams of volunteers to go into schools and hear children read.  They have also been working tirelessly to get books and craft packs out to families throughout the latest lockdown.  

According to Read With Me, there are serious underlying messages about the importance of ensuring children have the opportunity to read regularly:

• 1 in 5 children leave primary school unable to read.
• These children do less well at school, have dramatically reduced employment choices and earning opportunities, and a greater chance of going to prison.
• The UK has the worst literacy rates in the developed world.

Read With Me are currently on a recruitment drive for volunteers who are keen and willing to help make a difference by committing to reading with a child in school, ideally twice a week.  If you would like to know more, or feel you would like to help in the future, please contact Linda on 07791 110906 or email linda@readwithme.org.uk.