The Postbox topper on the Market Place has been changed to celebrate World Book Day on 2nd March 2023. As Abingdon has three bookshops, it is well placed to support children in choosing and owning a book.

Mostly Books is among 59 bookshops nominated to become Independent Bookshop of the Year.

The Bookstore has been serving customers for nearly twenty-five years in Abingdon – since November 1998. I see they have, local author, Steve King’s book, ‘Now I grow Oranges’, in the window.

World Book Day primarily aims to encourage children to read books, but there is nothing to stop adults from getting a new book on World Book Day. There are £1 books available, especially for World Book Day.

There is also W H Smith.

A few weeks ago, Steve King told me he would soon have a book out and now has more details. It will be available from 25th January, and this is an early tip-off.

Steve King’s previous book, Fifty Six, told The stories behind the fifty-six men of World War II remembered on Abingdon’s War Memorial (plus other heroes).

Mick Herron was at Abingdon Library for a question and answer session about: his books, the spin-off TV series, and writing generally. The event had a sell-out audience and could have been sold out three times. Mick says that he likes to do events in libraries. He used libraries and read a lot when he was young and wants to support libraries for future readers.