World Book Day

Specially commissioned poem for literature day

Staffordshire libraries joined in on the celebrations for this year’s World Book Day in March with a specially commissioned poem by the county’s Young Poet Laureate.

To help celebrate the literature day and encourage a love of reading, 15-year-old Erin Gascoigne-Jones put pen to paper for her latest poem entitled ‘I have lived a thousand lives.’

Talking about her poem, the Year 11 pupil from Sir Thomas Boughey Academy in Newcastle-under-Lyme said: “World book day is a great chance to promote a love of reading and books which is why I decided to write this poem.

“Books and reading are so much fun, and there’s a book for everyone out there. I love being Staffordshire’s Young Poet Laureate and I hope everyone enjoys my poem.

“I also hope that it encourages other young people to put pen to paper and try writing their own poetry.”

The annual World Book Day aims to get youngsters to explore the pleasure and benefits of reading books, by giving them the chance to own a book of their own.

This year’s theme was ‘You are a reader.’ Library staff worked with local schools to promote reading for pleasure and there was also an opportunity for people to pick up a book token from libraries which could be exchanged for a free book from selected booksellers.

Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, councillor Victoria Wilson, said: “It’s great to get budding bookworms buzzing about World Book Day and I’d like to thank Erin for her fantastic poem.

“World Book Day is a celebration that our libraries, staff and volunteers look forward to every year.”

She added: “Good reading starts early and we know that children who read are more likely to develop better language skills and more advanced reading levels throughout school.

“It’s also a fun way to get young people’s imaginations fired up and encourage them to read more and to spend more time in their local library.”

Erin was appointed to the role of Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate at a special poetry event organised by Staffordshire County Council’s Libraries service and WORD Stafford in October 2021.

Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate Erin Gascoigne-Jones ‘I have lived a thousand lives’ by Erin Gascoigne-Jones I have lived a thousand lives Doesn’t that sound fun? All of them are different and there’s even more to come! I have sailed in bookmarked gutters And trod the spines of dinosaurs. I’ve uncovered long lost treasure and played a role in every war. We’re all friends on the bookshelf With so many tales to tell Abounding worlds on every leaf and through the branches I fell. Into the Whomping Willow Or the Magic Faraway Tree, In every ring of these tree trunks there is a piece of me. So, ask me any question On these books and I can say Exactly what had happened because I lived there every day.