The theme for 2010 is Tolkien's Seafarers.

Reading Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to read together and share their thoughts about the story. As 2010 is the International Maritime Organization's Year of the Seafarer the theme chosen gives people a chance to read and think about exploring the undercurrents in the Numenorean romance the Tale of Aldarion and Erendis from Unfinished Tales, the journeys and ships of the Teleri, the flight of the Noldor, and the voyages of Tuor and Earendil in The Silmarillion. In LotR the topic might include Bilbo's poem about Earendil, the story of Amroth and Nimrodel and even the journeys and adventures that take place at the mouths of the Anduin. Among the shorter poems there are Errantry, The Sea-Bell, The Happy Mariners, and The Last Ship and at a pinch Bombadil Goes Boating.

Reading Day is an opportunity for people to read together and share their thoughts about Tolkien's works. You can read an old favourite or maybe discover new ones. Ideas for exploring Tolkien's books together are available online and in hard copy Education Home Page

or

Tolkien Reading Day Page

There is a blog created for the day at: http://jrrtseafarers.blogspot.com

J.R.R. Tolkien's books appeal to all ages and readers worldwide find pleasure, entertainment and deep significance in his work. Reading together is fun, for both children and adults, and reading on a theme stimulates good conversation and vocabulary development.

Reading together is fun, for both children and adults, and reading on a theme stimulates good conversation and vocabulary development. There is much more to Tolkien than The Lord of the Rings though as the list above shows. Families or library reading groups can enjoy these stories and poems or for the younger readers there are the travels and travails of the dog Roverandom which include a journey under the sea

Schools and Libraries can contact the Society for education packs, bookmarks and posters. Members of the public, libraries, or reading groups wishing to hold an event near to rather than on the 25th can contact the Society for free posters to help with publicising their event.

Requests for posters or queries regarding this Press Release should be addressed to:

TS Publicity Officer, 22 Oaklands Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 0DS UK

e-mail publicity AT tolkiensociety DOT org

Launched in 2003 the reading day event has sparked interest in reading and reading groups across several nations and ages from Primary schoolchildren to University students and library users of all ages. Hence the circulation of this release to the media, educational press and county library services. 25th March has significance to Tolkien's readers, as it is the day of the Downfall of Sauron at the conclusion of the 'War of the Ring' in The Lord of the Rings.