Libraries across the borough are running a variety of reading events for Islington Reads Week until Saturday 9 March.
The 11 libraries in Islington are putting on live performances, storytelling sessions and family activities throughout the week to encourage the community to read.
Between Monday and Friday 600 £1 book tokens will be given out to celebrate the 22nd year of World Book Day. The tokens can be collected at all Islington libraries during Baby Bounce and Under Five sessions.
A story writing activity, The Finsbury Tale, is being written throughout the week at Finsbury Library, with the public being encouraged to add a sentence or paragraph to the story.
Islington residents can also sign up to the Reading Ahead, which continues until the end of June. Those who complete the reading challenge are in with a chance to win an e-reader and shopping vouchers.
To mark International Women’s Day on Friday, the week also includes live poetry and music performances by Islington young women on Saturday at The Gallery in Central Library. This will be followed by creative activities, stories and poetry performances for young families with singer and songwriter Cecilia Knapp.
A dual language picture book project will be taking place during the Under Fives morning session on Thursday. Two new under-fives story time sessions will also be launching as part of Islington Reads Week on Saturday at North Library.
Other events include; a mindfulness taster session on Thursday at Central Library, a book display called Woman who Changed the World at Finsbury Library on Friday and a make your own banner session at North Library on Friday.
To encourage reading week across London, 560 Penguin Random House employees are volunteering at 120 schools and venues across the city this week, including several in Islington.
Harriet Peel, rights acquisitions at Penguin Random House, said: “It is a great opportunity to volunteer our time, to help spread enthusiasm for books and reading.
“Especially as we will be working in some of the most literacy vulnerable parts of London. It is fantastic to see so many boroughs and schools engaging with world book day.”
