The main goal of the event, created by UNESCO, is to promote reading. It was first held on 23 April 1995 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Since then, it is organized annually in more than 100 countries around the world. It was held on March 4 this year and the next will be on March 3, 2022.
Each year, National Book Tokens, in partnership with UK schools, distributes £15 million 1 £ tokens to children and young people (this includes almost every person under the age of 18 in the UK and Ireland). The 1 £ tokens can then be exchanged for one of the books published exclusively for that day. Books can also be purchased online.
I would like to write briefly about the 1 £ books I bought:
Abi Elphinstone: Everdark
The book is a prequel of The Unmapped Chronicles series, and it was later published in a dyslexia friendly edition. In the volumes of the series, we can follow different protagonists in several Unmapped Kingdoms.
Robin Stevens: The Case of the Drowned Pearl
The mini mystery is a companion of the Murder Most Unladylike series. The series started in 2014 and we can follow two schoolgirls who shed light on crimes in England in the 1930s. The series includes 10 volumes and some short story collections.
Laura Ellen Anderson: Amelia Fang and the Bookworm Gang
This book is a supplementary writing to Laura Ellen Anderson’s Gothic-style novels for children. The books have such good humor that I recommend them to adults as well. The illustrations are also incredibly beautiful, made by the author herself. The series ended with volume 7 last year, but in this May the author is already waiting for us with new adventures in a new series (Rainbow Gray).
Katherine Rundell: Skyteppers
Rooftoppers won the prestigious Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year in 2014. This book is an additional volume to the story. The other work of the author, The Good Thieves (already published in Hungarian in May) promises similar adventures. You can read about it here.
Holly Jackson: Kill Joy
The prequel story of the author’s debut novel A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which was published in Hungarian in May. It is not suitable for younger children. The main character Pippa can be followed in another story as well, and the third book will be released in English in this August.
