Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.

Two of the country’s best loved children’s writers, Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and acclaimed author, Cressida Cowell, have teamed up with World Book Day to find the UK’s first Storytelling Superstar, somebody who thrills and charms a young audience when they read to them.

Julia and Cressida have enchanted millions with books such as The Gruffalo and How to Train Your Dragon, and they are now on a quest to find parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters, teachers or librarians who add an extra element of fun when they read aloud to a young audience. 

Julia and Cressida are now urging for video nominations of the country’s most skilled and passionate storytellers in action. It’s simple to enter. Just visit the special Storytelling Superstar page at www.worldbookday.com and follow the instructions to upload a short clip of the storytelling master. Entries close on Sunday 12^th February 2012.

Cressida said: “There are so many wonderful storytellers hidden away in homes, schools and libraries across the country. It’s about time we celebrated their exceptional talents and I’m incredibly proud to act as a judge for Storytelling Superstar. We’re looking for people who bring the reading experience to life and create excitement around story time. It could be they ‘act’ out a story, use funny voices, make tales up or even simply ensure children join in.” 

Julia and Cressida will be joined on the judging panel by Sue Jones OBE, The Reading Agency’s Programme Manager for Young People. Sue heads up the MyVoice project, which gives young people the chance to co-create and produce creative reading events in libraries. Sue said: “Good reading starts early and research shows that children who share a book with others are more likely to develop language skills and advanced reading levels. Libraries across the country will be supporting Storytelling Superstar – it’s the natural place to look for books to inspire children.”

Leading bookseller, Waterstones is also supporting Storytelling Superstar and is helping to recruit entries from across the country.

The nation’s narrating talent will then be scrutinised by the judging panel in time for World Book Day itself, which is on 1^st March, when the winner of Storytelling Superstar will be unveiled to the nation. The winner will also receive a year’s worth of children’s books from National Book Tokens*. For more entry details and terms and conditions please go to www.worldbookday.com.

Now in its 15^th year, World Book Day is celebrated in over 100 countries worldwide with a main aim in UK and Ireland to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading.

World Book Day will this year be celebrated with the first UK-wide literary online festival – The Biggest Book Show on Earth - streamed live from London’s Southbank and featuring some of the country’s top authors and illustrators (register to take part at www.worldbookday.com from 16^th January). A new World Book Day app, featuring exclusive, brand new digital-only downloads from bestselling teen writers such as Anthony Horowitz, Charlie Higson and Malorie Blackman.

School children are all entitled to receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token (or equivalent €1.50 Book Token in Ireland). This can be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books including The What The Ladybird Heard Song by Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl’s Fantabulous Facts and Big Day Out by Jacqueline Wilson. The World Book Day £1 Book Token is also redeemable against any book or audiobook priced £2.99 or more.

Visit www.worldbookday.com for more information and the latest news. The new website will be launching on 31^st January 2012.