Bookworm: More than a token

WHEN Bookworm was growing up, there was no such thing as World Book Day, which rolls round again on Thursday. We might have had free milk (yes, it's that long ago), but specially produced free books, for all ages, every school in the country – well, that probably struck politicians of the day as a tad too idealistic.

Actually, World Book Day, which is now in its 13th year, has nothing to do with politicians and everything to do with publishers and booksellers doing their bit to make children realise what a vast amount of enjoyable stuff there is out there to read.

It's a great idea. Every child in the country gets a 1 book token they can use toward the cost of a book they might have set their heart on (provided it costs more than 3). If they don't want a book token, they can get one of five "flip" (or double) books that have been specially produced for different age ranges for World Book Day.

These are all excellently produced and by interesting authors (Darcey Bussell, Philip Ardagh), but Bookworm found himself drawn to one of the non-flip ones, Thomas to the Rescue, a new Thomas the Tank Engine story. The engine being rescued this time is Emily. Bookworm didn't remember Thomas associating with any female engines, but he does these days, even though Emily is still the only female member of the "Steam Team". Apparently Daisy the Diesel paved the way for gender equality on the Isle of Sodor's railtracks way back in 1986.

This year, for the first time, children will be able to enjoy all of the 1 WBD books being read to them by actors. Schools will be able to view the special programmes made by Renaissance Learning, complete with a Q & A and a quiz, for its Read to a Million Kids Programme – a target it hopes to have reached by the end of World Book Day.

A host of events are being planned in Scotland in the run-up to WBD. A quick trawl through worldbookday.com where many are listed, reveals the nation's literary hotspots as being East Lothian, Aberdeen and Edinburgh and (helped by Alexander McCall Smith's sold-out events at Mainstreet Trading in St Boswells) the Borders.

HAITI APPEAL

Tomorrow's Poets for Haiti event at the Queens Hall (6pm) only has a few upstairs seats left, but it would be a shame not to raise the absolute max for a good cause – and see the best-ever bill of living Scottish poets (Carol Ann Duffy, Don Paterson etc) into the bargain. Phone the box office on 0131-668 2019 for tickets.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

FINALLY, congratulations to Glasgow University honorary professor David Crompton, whose book Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter (12.99, Glenstrae Press) is shortlisted for the Bookseller's Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year. Good as it undoubtedly is, Prof Crompton's worm-hunting travel memoir faces the challenge of such tomes as Collectible Spoons of the 3rd Reich and Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes. We wish him luck.