Books did not always look the way they do today, with their glossy covers and creamy pages. When writing systems were invented in ancient civilisations thousands of years ago, clay tablets were used. Later, humanity moved on to using papyrus. In the 3rd century, the Chinese were the first to make something that resembled today’s books in that they consisted of numerous thick, bamboo pages sewn together. Then, in the mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenburg’s printing press brought books into the industrial age, making them readily available to anyone who wanted to read them. It is thanks to than ingenious invention that we are all able to enjoy the works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy and many others in the comfort of our own homes today. World Book Day was created on April 23rd, 1995, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The connection between that date and books, however, was made in Spain in 1923, as it is the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, prominent Spanish Chronicler. It's also VAR Day
I’ve just driven past a load of primary kids coming out of school in their outfits I’m at book club tonight. I will go as one of Jacqueline Wilson’s characters that she may not yet have written about
