Today is World Book Day! Did you know that World Book Day is designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading? Or that World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe? Now you do.

World Book Day is special for me on many levels. Today, I am the proud co-author of two books, The Power of Visual Storytelling and The Laws of Brand Storytelling. But, even before I became a published author, books have played a prominent role in my life.

I know my love of books and reading comes from my Mom. Growing up, my Mom always read to us. I remember loving The Polar Express, The Secret Garden, the Eloise books, the Madeline book series, plus the American Girl book series, among many others. I also remember that my childhood dream was to be either an author or an artist! 

As I grew older and became able to read on my own, I remember my Mom telling me that I learned to read early for my age – and was a bit of a brat about it. Apparently, I told my teacher in school that I was bored because the other kids were not at my reading ability. Not my humblest moment, but it did result in more challenging books being put in front of me, which I loved.

Now that I am an adult, I love to give children books as a gift, as a way to inspire a love of reading and storytelling in the next generation. My niece and nephew love the Noisy London book, which has beautiful illustrations, a good storyline and great sounds of the iconic London landmarks. Another great find was when I gifted my nephew a personalized book called “Lost My Name,” which is a fun story of a child who lost their name and goes on an epic adventure to find it. As the child encounters different characters along the way, each one gives them a letter, which eventually spells out the child’s full name. I also love the personalized children’s book from Papier on “All The Things I Wish For You,” which has beautiful illustrations, personalization options and a lovely storyline. My co-author, Ekaterina Walter, also has an amazing children’s book, Amber and Sapphire: The Magic Spell, that she wrote with her daughter that is an absolute must-read and a great gift idea!

I strongly believe that my love for books, which started in my childhood and has continued throughout my life, was what propelled my love for writing and eventually working up the courage to write one book…and then another book on the topic of storytelling! Before you can even think about writing a book, you need to appreciate and experience firsthand what a great book – and story – can do for you. Whether it’s escapism, inspiration, education, a well-written book truly stays with you. And candidly, even if you’re looking to educate in a business book, there’s no reason why you cannot do so in a way that inspires and entertains too! 

In the busy-ness and craziness that is life, I really enjoyed how World Book Day made me pause for a moment and appreciate the role books have played in my life. It’s amazing how a childhood dream became a reality and to reflect on all of the hard work and passion that made both of our books and audiobooks a reality. 

I’m so blessed to have embarked on this journey with my dear friend and co-Author, Ekaterina Walter. A huge thank you to our publisher McGraw-Hill and our many amazing friends who have supported us along the way. And to our amazing readers, especially the ones who take the time to reach out to Ekaterina and myself. I cherish each and every message from you.

So, what is next for this author and avid reader? Well, I’m currently reading Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss and loving it. I absolutely want to write more business books in the future. I also dream of writing a novel one day. Lockdown life has shown me that we also need books that provide escapism and bring incredible stories to life.

What are your favorite books? What are you reading now? Leave a comment below!

Jessica Gioglio is the co-author of The Laws of Brand Storytelling and The Power of Visual Storytelling. Professionally, Jessica has led innovative marketing and public relations programs for Dunkin’ Donuts, TripAdvisor, Sprinklr, and more. Today, Jessica is the founder of With Savvy Media & Marketing, a strategic branding, storytelling, and content strategy consultancy.