As far as I remember, as soon as I could distinguish my ABC's from my XYZ's I was reading. Though English wasn't my first language, reading came fairly easily to me, which may explain why I grew so fond of books. Culturally, I was still learning the ins and outs of American classrooms- but with books, I could be whoever from wherever.  

I only recently discovered that April 23rd is International Day of the Book. April 23rd marks Shakespeare's birth and death as well as Miguel Cervante's (of Don Quixote fame) death. The day also ties into a nearly century old tradition in Catalonia, where on St. George's Day, men give women a rose in exchange for a book. So popular is this tradition that half the yearly sales of books in Catalonia occurs during this period. Similarly, in March, the UK and Ireland recognizes World Book Day by providing tokens to every child in school, which he or she may then use to purchase a book or audiobook (Wikipedia.org).

Why does the book deserve such global recognition? As a valuable commodity that can be bought, sold and traded, it is also a symbol for literacy and the educated. Literacy is of course an essential component of education and education encourages the poor to confidently seek jobs, medical care and their basic rights as human beings and civil citizens. In fact promoting illiteracy is one method by which dictating governments have prevented revolution and unrest in the past.

In developed nations goliath bookstores with their in-store cafes, compete against one another on the same neighborhood block and structurally symbolize their predominantly literate population. However, in the developing world, there is minimal access to literature or other informational resources. In fact one in four adults is illiterate – that’s 872 million adults (Oxfam). Eradicating illiteracy will not only empower the poor, but it will also equalize the opportunities available to all nations in an exceedingly economically globalized, knowledge- based and communications dependent world.