Local school children create a Christmas Book Flood for The BIG Little Library

On Saturday 30 November, the multi award-winning community venture The BIG Little Library is again giving away brand new books for Christmas.

The Christmas Book Flood campaign is in conjunction with BookTrust and Belle Vale Shopping Centre in Liverpool.

There will be 100s of nearly new books which have been kindly donated by the family of a former BIG Little Library volunteer, Peter Morgan, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Belle Vale Shopping Centre has kindly given The BIG Little Library a second shop unit to hold the Book Flood. It will be held in the old Marie Curie shop, next door to Greggs in the centre of the shopping mall.

In Iceland, books are exchanged on Christmas Eve and people spend the rest of the night reading. The Christmas tradition, known as Jolabokaflod, which means ‘Christmas Book Flood’, dates back to WWII when foreign imports were restricted but paper was relatively inexpensive.

Lisa Mitchell, community co-ordinator at Gateacre School, who heads up The BIG Little Library explains: “The books are for all ages, from babies up to young adults, and we hope that not only will this event help ease the monetary pressure of Christmas, but it will also start a tradition with families and friends to give and receive books at Christmas and spread the love of Reading for Pleasure. This is the third time we will be holding a Book Flood, and myself and the Gateacre students can’t wait to spread some Christmas cheer again and get as many children as possible excited about reading this festive season.”

The Book Flood will be open from 12-4pm on Saturday 30 November.

The BIG Little Library is the multi award-winning community venture by Gateacre School in Liverpool. The idea for the library came about from a simple idea; wanting to help improve literacy within the community.

BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, has donated hundreds of brand new children’s books of all ages to The BIG Little Library initiative, in order to support and encourage reading in the local community.

Diana Gerald, CEO, BookTrust says: “BookTrust is delighted to once again support The BIG Little Library with its Christmas campaign to get children in Liverpool reading. The Book Flood is a fantastic initiative following the Icelandic tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, ensuring as many local children as possible have something special this festive season.”