Buffalo is extremely lucky to be positioned as one of 2o cities selected to host a 2014 World Book Night kick-off event. On the evening of April 22, Talking Leaves book store on Main Street will introduce author Vincent Pratchett (a Toronto firefighter and accomplished martial artist) whose first novel Raven’s Warrior has been chosen as one of the 37 books to be given away as part of this international effort to promote the reading of books.
World Book Night launched in the UK three years ago, and has since spread quickly around the world. World Book Night takes place the day after the launch, on April 23 – a date that also happens to be Shakespeare’s birthday.
Today the World Book Night effort is able to provide a half million free, specially printed paperbacks to people who are either interested in reading but don’t have access to books, or people who have given up on reading for myriad reasons but may be inspired to pick up a book once more.
In order to get all of those books into the hands of potential readers, the organization counts on 25,000 volunteer book lovers who spread out into 6000 communities delivering the paperbacks. The target neighborhoods are selected due to their limited access to reading materials – lack of libraries, book stores, etc. Many of the places that are visited are hospitals, under funded schools, military bases, women’s shelters, nursing homes, community centers, among others.
World Book Night has been held in the U.S. every April 23 since 2012. Talking Leaves has been a participant since the beginning of the project.
The World Book Night launch event begins at 7pm on April 22, 2014 | Vincent Pratchett will speak briefly about reading and giving
Talking Leaves Books
3158 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 837-8554
All attendees at the event will receive a free copy of Shakespeare’s Sonnets in a special WBN edition. And, of special importance, all local givers are welcome to come share their giving stories.