World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books which takes place on 23 April. It sees passionate volunteers give hundreds of thousands of books away in their communities to share their love of reading with people who, for whatever reason, don't read for pleasure or own books.

The traditional way to take part in World Book Night is as an Edition Book Giver where individuals and institutions apply to receive a set of 18 copies of a book from our list of 20 titles to give to people who don't regularly read. The deadline to be an Edition Book Giver has now passed but this year we've introduced a new way of getting involved - as a World Book Night Community Book Giver.

Community Book Givers

We're looking for tens of thousands of Community Book Givers who will commit to, at the very least, giving a single book on 23 April.

You can give away any book - one you already own, or one you buy specially, new or second-hand. You can also choose whoever you want to give the book to - a friend, a member of your community, a complete stranger. 35% of the population don't regularly read so we'd like you to give your book with the aim of helping someone develop the same love of reading that you have.

Branded stickers and book plates will be available from participating bookshops and libraries or available online to download so that Community Book Givers can show that their book is part of World Book Night. The above images show how the process works.

What the World Book Night edition title authors say

Author Sathnam Sanghera says: "I'm very proud that my book, The Boy with the Topknot, is to be part of World Book Night and part of The Reading Agency's important efforts to target those who don't currently enjoy reading for pleasure - prisons, young men, people with low literacy rates and little access to reading. I am the son of an illiterate father and grew up in a household with no books, but my parents nevertheless wanted more for me and insisted I went the local library once a fortnight. The books I read changed my life, and it's amazing to think something I wrote might now touch someone in a similar position."

Our Ambassador and author Adele Parks says: "I've always believed a happier and more equitable society would be achieved if we were all secure and enthusiastic readers. Reading is a basic human right; whether reading for education or entertainment it leads to increased knowledge, confidence and therefore opportunities. World Book Night is a strategic, effective and fun programme that will reach out to less willing or confident readers and will change the world we all live in - a word, a line, a chapter at a time. It is a very great honour to be included on the list."

Author Matt Haig says: "The wonderful thing about World Book Night is that while everyone talks about getting books into the hands of people who probably wouldn't read them otherwise, the World Book Night programme goes out there in the real world and does exactly that. It brings communities and people together via the power of books, encourages reading in a massive way, and is an indisputable force for good. I've been a fan since the start so it's a true honour to be included in this year's list."

Get involved

To become a Community Book Giver, please register on the World Book Night website. Registration is open until 23 April.

Everyone who registers by 31 March will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three pairs of tickets to the Letters Live on World Book Night event taking place at the Southbank Centre. Read our prize draw terms and conditions.

Already signed up to be a World Book Night Community Book Giver? Tell us via twitter or facebook which book you're planning on giving away and to whom.

Download the Community Book Giver book plate and sticker to put in the book you've decided to give away on 23 April.