– National Park hosts enthusiastic World Book Day celebrations
They say you should never judge a book by its cover but the vibrant scenes at Guyana’s National Park during World Book Day celebrations might just prove otherwise.
Scores of children present at the event
From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that the day is all about joy, discovery, and most of all – having your head in a book of some sort.
On April 26, children from all across Guyana gathered under the warm sun, their excitement filling the air as they took part in a wide range of reading and storytelling activities.
The Education Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, made the event possible, aiming to inspire young minds and families alike.
The main message shared throughout the National Park was that reading is not just about turning pages — it’s about sharing experiences, learning from one another, and building connections.
Some of the many books at the event
The purpose of the day is to stimulate people to read more, emphasise the value of books and copyright, and celebrate the joy of reading.
World Book Day is essential because it serves as a reminder that everyone has a story to share, that everyone has lived an experience from which we may benefit, and—perhaps most importantly of all—that every reader has a tale that demonstrates to them that they are not alone.
Speaking to Cindy Singh, one of the key organisers of this initiative from the Education Ministry, she revealed that this World Book Day is a key day in which the Education Ministry has chosen to capitalise on the importance it can have on the lives of students.
“We want to make sure that each person can read by the end of Grade 4, so we thought the best place is the children’s play park, where family love and togetherness is found, and that is what we want to do; to make it entertaining and not just about picking up a book and reading. We had many activities: the fishing game for moral words, the television game that tells five stories — Guyanese stories, in fact — and they had to predict a story. We had sight words to engage with simple words, simple work. We had fun awareness to learn about sounds, letters, blends. We wanted persons to play games that encourage literacy, the five big ideas,” she said.
Television reading activity
“This day is a reminder of the importance of books and the impact they have on our lives. By developing a love for reading, we not only expand our minds and imagination but also become more empathetic, informed, and critical thinkers, which strengthens our brain, helps prevent age-related cognitive decline, reduces stress, and gives us a better night’s rest, as well as pleasure. Let us use this day to inspire and encourage others,” she added.
She also urged that we should work towards promoting literacy, and celebrate this day by spreading the joy of reading to all.
According to Singh, the children at the event demonstrated an interest in reading, in reading-related materials, in learning, and in receiving books of their interest.
“We wanted to encourage others that reading must be done at all times, even at spare time. We want to say special thanks to our donours — the challenges were a bit, but we could overcome any challenges out there.
We are encouraging others to promote reading and storytelling and learning that empowers all learners from all ages — that anyone can write, read. There’s no age limit; it’s unlimited, and anyone can be a part of these events that can promote fun activities. We want the children to understand that learning is fun,” she noted.
World Book Day began in 1922 when its founder, Vicente Clavel, director of the Cervantes publishing business in Barcelona, thought of it as a way to celebrate the writer Miguel de Cervantes while also increasing book sales. Cervantes’ birthday, October 7, 1926, was the first-ever significant celebration.
It was later shifted to April 23, which was also his date of death. It was decided that this date would be better to celebrate because it is a more appealing time of year to go exploring and peruse books outside.
