Our Read: Today’s the Day…!

It’s been months in the making, involving lots of preparation, planning and a whole load of printing (not to mention the unloading of many a van), but now the big day has arrived – Our Read is finally here!

The prospect of distributing a brand new and specially written book across not just Liverpool, not just the UK but around the whole world for what is our biggest shared reading experience to date has been incredibly exciting for all of us at The Reader Organisation. And that excitement is running to fever pitch as Our Read’s official launch day gets well underway...

At this very moment, members of TRO staff are on their way to London to launch Our Read, accompanied by 25 very special guests from Liverpool schools. The Unforgotten Coat will get its premiere en route to the capital, being read aloud to the children by its author Frank Cottrell Boyce - a treat indeed! It’s fitting that Our Read is setting out on its shared reading adventure on board the train journey which first brought its story to life. We wish the very best of luck to everyone going to London on what promises to be a memorable journey for all.

Here in Liverpool, Our Read will be launched as a part of a celebration of World Book Day at The Bluecoat. Members of Get Into Reading groups, volunteers, TRO staff and trustees will be partaking in a chain-read of The Unforgotten Coat. The event is underway right now and goes on until 6pm tonight.

Our Read is all about encouraging as many people as possible to share the same story and get real pleasure from doing so. It’s already been engaging imagination and garnering some very high profile support. Here are just a few messages from Our Read and TRO supporters:

“The story-train is a wonderful idea - fun and exciting, but sensible and necessary too. Climb aboard!XA” – Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate

“A BIG WELCOME TO LONDON, AND THE START OF YOUR NEW READING ADVENTURE! All best, Joanna.” – Joanna Trollope, author

“Best wishes for your day in London. It’s a great opportunity to raise the profile of World Book Day and The Reader Organisation. Thanks for all the support The Reader Organisation continues to give to improve health and wellbeing for people in Liverpool. Paula” – Paula Grey, Liverpool PCT

The biggest reading adventure has begun – make sure you get your copy NOW, get reading, and get involved! As well as sharing the story with those around you, we want you to share your experiences with us: come and follow and tweet us (@our_read) or log on and ‘like’ the Our Read Facebook page.

Happy reading!