Today is World Book Day 2019, an annual ode to reading, celebrated by more than 100 countries across the globe. It’s now in its 22nd year. Children and teachers across the UK dress up as their favourite book characters and the children each receive a book token so they can buy a book from a selected list of titles.

The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own and it has a very positive impact.

In fact, according to research by the National Literacy Trust, six out of ten KS2 children said they were inspired to read more by the campaign. What’s more, the book that 1 in 4 children ‘bought’ with their 2016 £1 book token was the first they have ever personally owned!

According to various studies, reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator for success in life – more than family circumstances, educational background or income. But it’s in decline.

That’s why World Book Day’s ‘Share a Story’ campaign aims to turn the tide.

Says a representative from the charity, “Sharing stories together – anywhere, anytime – for just ten minutes a day has long-lasting effects on a child’s future. Being read to is critical in igniting enthusiasm for reading and creating lifelong readers.”

For this year’s World Book Day, some of the most influential people in the country – high-profile ambassadors, diverse authors, politicians, and prominent champions – are coming together to ask the nation to ‘Share a Story’ and help change our children’s future.

Stories help us relate to and understand each other (and ourselves) better. As models of the world, stories enable empathy. They teach us about reactions and behaviours that are different from our own and give us clarity and guidance when interacting with others. Stories motivate us and teach us and influence us.

At UnitedGhostwriters.co.uk, when we capture other people’s stories onto pages of the books we ghostwrite, we give them the chance to motivate, teach and influence. We also give them the chance to learn more about themselves than they realised, for reflecting on what we’ve learned from our own true stories can be cathartic and, at times, surprising.

Our clients don’t always end up with the story they think they will. Yet, in sharing their stories (and hiring one of us to help make it as compelling and empowering as possible), our clients give the world a gift – they enable many others to learn from their stories, including us.

www.worldbookday.com

Cheryl Rickman is the author/ghostwriter of 15 self-help and business books. Her latest book, The Happiness Bible, (Octopus Books, January 2019) tells the story of happiness and how to gain and sustain wellbeing.