THATCHAM GOES ALL IN FOR WORLD BOOK DAY® WITH FREE FAMILY TREASURE HUNT DURING NATIONAL YEAR OF READING
From February half term until mid-March, the streets of Thatcham will be transformed into an outdoor treasure hunt in celebration of World Book Day®. This year’s event is especially significant as it forms part of the National Year of Reading.
Thatcham Town Council and Thatcham Library has partnered with High Street Safari, experts in turning public spaces into interactive adventures, to bring an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) treasure hunt to the town centre. This official event is supporting the World Book Day charity’s mission to improve lives through championing the fun of reading and help children to see reading differently.
Families are invited to hunt for 10 ‘Book Zones’ hidden in shop windows. Using only a smartphone, explorers can scan markers to see 3D characters – from brave astronauts to mythical unicorns – leap into the real world. Each stop also features a hidden secret letter, found by taking selfies with the characters; families who find all ten can solve the mystery word and complete the trail.
The experience also allows children to take selfies with each of the 3D characters to create a permanent digital souvenir of their adventure.
Mayor Councillor Petra Pemberton commented:
“We are thrilled to bring this magical experience to Thatcham. By combining the excitement of a digital treasure hunt with the joys of stories and books, we are offering families a fun, free and engaging way for families to explore our high street. It’s a brilliant opportunity to inspire people to go all in this World Book Day, celebrate the National Year of Reading, and support local businesses”.
Stephen Blackwell, Project Director at High Street Safari, added:
“By bringing these characters to life in 3D, we’re helping children engage with reading in a way that feels modern and exciting. We’re proud to work alongside World Book Day® to put books at the heart of the community.”
The Thatcham World Book Day® Treasure Hunt is completely free for all families and will run from 12th February to 15th March. No app download is required – families simply need a smartphone with a camera.
To start the hunt, families should head to Thatcham Library to scan their first marker, before heading into the town centre.