Stars open up on the books that enchanted
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Stars open up on the books that enchanted
https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/stars-open-books-enchanted
The trio are among a collection of celebrities recruited to promote World Book Day on April 23. The organisers hope role models from the worlds of television, sport, pop and politics will persuade children, particularly boys, to read for fun.
In a specially commissioned #163;1 book - The Children’s Book of Books - children can discover what their favourite star’s favourite stories and poems are. The organisers hope the book will encourage children to then go and read the whole text.
Spokesperson Liz Sich said: “The book shows that everyone reads and reading is enjoyed by people children look up to and admire. It’s a book which children of all ages can dip into and get inspiration from.
“We hope it will encourage them to read books and authors they might not have tried before.”
Other celebrities in the book likely to have genuine role model appeal include Jarvis Cocker of Britpop band Pulp who chose The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier - the story of a real-life account of four children in Nazi Poland. Apparently Jarvis liked “doing all the foreign accents” out loud in class.
Actor Stephen Fry and Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, both chose Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
And DJ Chris Evans, together with Clare Short MP, singled out Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.
Among leading political figures, Tony Blair’s favourite was Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, whereas David Blunkett remembers how White Fang - Jack London’s story of an orphaned wolf cub’s fight for survival - taught him a life-long lesson about “the cruelty of man and the majesty of animal life”.
But it is yet to be seen whether Jeffrey Archer’s choice of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen (because he proved “you don’t have to be a great writer to be a good storyteller”) will set the kids alight.
On World Book Day, 23 April, #163;1 book vouchers will be distributed to every complusory school age child in Britain. The vouchers can then be exchanged for the ‘Children’s Book of Books’ or part exchanged in major bookstores.
For more information call the World Book Day helpine on 0171 565 7496 or website at www.publishers.org.uk
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