Libraries to Celebrate World Book Day with Specially Commissioned Poem

Staffordshire's Young Poet Laureate Erin Gascoigne-Jones

Staffordshire libraries are joining in the celebrations for this year’s World Book Day on Thursday 3 March with a specially commissioned poem by the county’s Young Poet Laureate.

To help celebrate the day and encourage a love of reading, 15-year-old Erin Gascoigne-Jones has put pen to paper in 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.”

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 is “You are a reader!"  

Library staff are working with local schools to promote reading for pleasure and there will be an opportunity for people to pick up a book token from libraries which can be exchanged for a free book from selected booksellers.

Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council 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.

"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’s poem: ‘I have lived a thousand lives’

 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.

 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.

People can find out more about Staffordshire Libraries here.

Click here for further details on World Book Day.