The Bookseller recently reported on developments for World Book Day 2012, which will be taking place on 1 March.

We’re delighted that a graduate of Stirling Centre for International Publishing and Communication, Kirsten Grant, is leading the developments as WBD’s new director. Before heading the WBD team, Kirsten worked as campaigns director at Penguin Children’s Books. Along with the WBD committee, Kirsten will be implementing lots of exciting plans, including ‘The Biggest Book Show on Earth’ (an event at London’s South Bank with nearly 1000 children), a WBD app, WBD Ambassadors (including Peter Andre), and a tie-in with the Blue Peter Book Awards.

Kirsten commented to The Bookseller: ‘The marketplace has changed a lot since WBD was launched and there hasn’t been a real root and branch overhaul of the initiative for a long time. My aim is to reconnect WBD with today’s consumers. That means reimaging the whole of WBD; what it looks like, what it says to people and how we can get children and adults committed to it.’

World Book Day focuses exclusively on children’s and young adults’ books and reading. World Book Night, to be held on 23 April this year, extends the focus to adults.