Today is International Literacy Day, which was established by UNESCO in 1965 to focus attention on worldwide literacy needs. On this occasion, we've asked five people who are involved in different aspects of publishing to share their thoughts about why reading is important:
"I clearly remember the child I was, perfectly happy with following the Sunday comic strips in the newspaper without knowing what all those black squiggles in the balloons were about.
"Then I learned to read.
"Suddenly a huge trap door opened. Frame by frame, I couldn't believe my luck: here was the real story, what everyone thought and said. That I had been fine without all that seemed unbelievable to me.
"I know this question should be answered with a litany of every book I've read and loved since. But those great discoveries all hinge on this moment I still recall: as if coming out of a deep fog, words that mysteriously equaled back door, wise guy, pencil, lake." —Marianne Boruch, poet, author of The Glimpse Traveler
"A writer reconstructs the world. To learn to do this one must leave oneself for a moment and enter an enchanted place: the written word. And the magic one finds there is much like the magic of seeing a play. One enters this enchanted place empathetically—one becomes a player. One stands by Enkidu as he insults the Bar Goddess in ancient Mesopotamia. One clings to the sheep’s belly in the cave of the Cyclops. And one draws swords with Hamlet against the agents of an evil king. For the writer the book is school; for the reader, a world of great ideas, great music, high drama, more knowledge than a single life could ever hold, a world of such lofty achievement that its masterpieces are the benchmarks of civilization. And that is a place of great addictive pleasure." —Jim Cohee, author of The Swan
"Reading’s like breathing: It’s so important I don’t even think about it most of the time. It’s a necessary habit. Reading is oxygen for the mind—a breath of fresh air at times when the atmosphere (psychic, political, economic, environmental, cultural) starts to feel stifling." —Jennifer Howard, senior reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education
"When I was young, I loved a couple of YA series, and would re-read them repeatedly (to the concern of my mother). But as an adult, I've discovered the joy of embracing the whole world of imagination and knowledge. I can be reading a YA graphic novel about middle school woes this morning, and tonight I might finish up a collection of urban fantasy stories, while looking forward to starting that hot new baseball novel tomorrow. If I were to read only books from the publishers that I represent, it would not be limiting in any way—I would still be immersed in worlds of history, political science, food, mathematics, best-selling novels and experimental fiction from tiny indie publishers, and award winning children's picture books. But set me loose in a bookstore, and there's no limit to what I might discover." —John Mesjak, sales representative at Abraham Associates
"When I learned to read, I was able to travel—back in time and forward into outer space. I also learned how to love—some of first crushes were dead poets. Their words spoke to me, just me, as though they were whispered in my ear." —R.E. Paris, proprietor of The Book Savoury
Why is reading important to you? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. And for more information on how you can promote literacy in your area, visit the International Reading Association's website.
@iupress
Like us on Facebook
Read book excerpts
YouTube channel 
Podcast feed
