To celebrate World Book Day, Shrewsbury Town in the Community have distributed 200 free books to local primary school pupils

Shrewsbury Town in the Community have given 200 free, brand new books to 4 primary schools in their local area to support young readers as part of an exciting partnership between the Premier League and the National Literacy Trust to celebrate World Book Day. In total, nearly 25,000 free books will be given away to children who need them.

Pupils taking part in the Premier League Primary Stars education programme, delivered by professional football club community organisations across England and Wales, will each receive a free copy of Football School: 20 Fantastic Football Stories. The book, by authors Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton, is also a £1 World Book Day title.

National Literacy Trust research has found that children who have their own books are nearly three times more likely to enjoy reading. The partnership will help support children whose access to physical books has been made difficult due to school and public library closures during the national lockdown.

‘Adam Jones from Shrewsbury Town in the Community said: “It’s fantastic for us to be involved in such an iconic event and using the power of football to encourage children to read’

To further support pupils on World Book Day, the National Literacy Trust will host a fun-filled Premier League Primary Stars Facebook Live event, featuring the authors of the Football School title being distributed, Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton. The one-hour event will include a quiz featuring a special round of questions set by players from the Premier League, the EFL, and the Women’s Super League.

Jim Sells, Sport and Literacy Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust said: “World Book Day promotes reading for pleasure to improve all children’s life chances, and we are so pleased to support the charity behind the initiative. We know that children who have books at home do better in school, so we are delighted to be able to distribute such an incredible number of books to schools across the country with the help of the community organisa0ons. I’d also like to thank our partners at Walker Books and the Morrisons Foundation for making this possible.”

“I’m also very excited for the Facebook Live event with Kenzie Benali, Ben Lyttleton and Alex Bellos, three brilliantly energetic personalities who inspire children to get into reading through their love of football.”