The popular Finnish literacy initiative, Read Hour, is coming to the UK for the first time in 2021, thanks to Finland’s most successful literary export, the Moomins.
Celebrated on UN International Literacy Day, Read Hour was created by the Children and Youth Foundation with a mission to encourage people to spend just one hour of their day on 8 September reading, whether that be a book, magazine or comic book.
Moomin Characters was inspired to help launch Read Hour internationally after seeing its success in Finland first-hand.
In the UK, organisations which have pledged to support Read Hour so far include Waterstones, Macmillan Children’s Books, Sort Of Books, Oxfam, World Book Day, BookTrust and Love Reading among others.
There will be special Read Hour events taking place at Waterstones stores in London and Glasgow on 8 September at 4pm. The Glasgow event at the Sauchiehall Street store will see Moomin storyteller Liz Fost entertain audiences with interactive storytelling and crafts.
In London’s Kingston store, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and have a photo with Moomintroll and hear tales of Moominvalley from children’s author Philip Ardagh, the author of The World of Moominvalley.
“We have made a long-term commitment to helping spark a love of reading and writing in young people around the globe, and are delighted to be bringing Read Hour to the UK as part of that mission,” commented Roleff Kråkström, md of Moomin Characters. “We believe that being able to read and write opens up a world of possibilities for young people, allowing them to communicate their hopes and dreams, relate to others, engage with the big issues of our times and create positive change.”
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