On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO started the "Book-face-challenge" for readers worldwide.
"In the preparation for World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO encourages you to challenge yourself, to explore new topics, formats, or genres that out of your ordinary. Our goal is to engage people in reading and to have fun doing so!" the UNESCO's website read.
"Take a picture of yourselves with a book cover so that it into your reality," UNESCO said. It urged people to use book covers in as many languages as possible.
On the website, UNESCO wrote that books have proved to be powerful tools to combat isolation during the length of the lockdown last year. People chose reading to release themselves from physical confinement. UNESCO believes that reading reinforced ties between people, expanded their horizons, stimulated their minds and creativity. According to the organisation, the number of books read has doubled through last year in some countries.
UNESCO also shared a toolkit on their website containing quotes, posters etc., in English, French and Spanish, to propagate the importance of reading. In a tweet, UNESCO also shared a link to the World Digital Library for free access.
"Through reading and the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, April 23, we can open ourselves to others despite the distance, and we can travel thanks to imagination," the UNESCO website read.
Meanwhile, the UN shared in their tweet that 33% of people read more books and listened to more audiobooks during the pandemic.
In 1995, UNESCO adopted April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day as the day is a symbolic date for world literature. On this day, in 1616, Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Cervantes died, and some others were born.