MORE than 100 countries are celebrating for the 24th time World Book Day this year on March 4, another special day to recognize the benefits reading gives to children.

World Book Day was created by UNESCO or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It started on April 23, 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. Some countries still celebrate World Book Day on April 23, which is also the death anniversary of famous playwright William Shakespeare.

“We wanted to do something to reposition reading and our message is the same today as it was then – that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives,” said World Book Day Founder Baroness Gail Rebuck.

For World Book Day organizers, reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success, and so it has become its ardent mission “to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and improved life chances this brings them.”

In observance of World Book Day, let us recall the benefits your very young children can get out of reading books:

Reading books develops your child’s imagination.

Reading books improves your child’s focus and concentration.

Reading books helps children develop empathy.

Reading helps improve your child’s vocabulary and language skills.

Books help build stronger relationships between children and parents.