Spreading The Love For Reading On World Book Night With The Van Meter NHS

I was a Book Giver at my very first World Book Night last night.  

I put books into the hands of others every single day but at World Book Night these books are given to others to keep....or even pass onto someone else when finished reading them.  These books were given to others to encourage and inspire them to read.  

On this night we were giving books to others and "Spreading the love of reading, person to person".

                                     

Just as our banner says.  

And as the World Book Night US website says, 

"World Book Night is a celebration of books and reading held on April 23, when 25,000 passionate volunteers across America give a total of half a million books within their communities to those who don’t regularly read. In 2012, World Book Night was celebrated in the U.S., the UK, Ireland, and Germany and saw over 80,000 people gift more than 2.5 million books."

The Van Meter National Honor Society and I were the givers, the ones spreading the love of reading at the Barnes & Noble in Jordan Creek Mall....not too far from Van Meter.  

We had about a dozen of our members meet at B & N to pass out the book we received for World Book Night.  

                                        

When we received word that our group was selected to be "Givers" for this years World Book Night, we were so excited.  Especially when we found out we would be giving John Green's Looking For Alaska.  One of my all-time favorite YA novels and one that I think every young person should read....and even have their very own copy too.  

This is the book that I have had more copies come up missing from our library shelves.  I know the impact that it has on young people so to give Looking For Alaska to others meant something to me.

 We created handmade bookmarks and flyers to put inside of the books.....I love the message,

"Brought to you by the Van Meter NHS.  Please continue to read and encourage others as well.  Pass it on."  

That is what it is all about.

They had a fun time walking around Jordan Creek Mall talking to people about reading and World Book Night.  They were encouraging, listened to stories and most of all shared their love for reading by sharing the Looking For Alaska with 20 people they met.

It was fun to listen to their stories after they came back from giving out the books.  

They caught some people off guard and even got turned away from a few.  But the overwhelming presence in their stories was the happiness they brought by giving others the book.  

They brought smiles, thanks, curiosity, generosity, and most of all.....

Kindness and love in sharing something wonderful with someone else to make a difference in their lives.  

You can read more about World Book Night US on their website.   I love the map on the homepage that shows several places who gave books too.

It has also been a lot of fun reading through the tweets on World Book Night, USA Twitter page @wbnamerica and visiting the World Book Night USA Facebook page.

This is the best quote that I heard....and one that really sums up what World Book Night is all about.

"I always think to myself that I should read more.  And not just read, but read books.....really good books.  Now I even get to pass this really good book onto someone else too."

I love that.  It is so true.

So if it is World Book Night or even just an ordinary day or night....pass it on.  Pass on a book....when you finish find someone to give it to.

Pass on the love that you have for reading.  It will make a difference in the lives of so many.