A CUMBRIAN project is encouraging engagement with “global themed” stories this World Book Day, in the hope of supporting “storytelling for a better world”.

The Sankofa Storytelling for the Digital Age project is based in Cumbria, and wants to encourage youngsters to better understand today’s world through the power of stories.

Sankofa is a Europe-wide project funded by Erasmus+, the European Union’s education programme.

The project hopes to encourage exploration of global themes this World Book Day, which falls on Thursday, by getting youngsters to consider books that explore important issues.

Debbie Watson, who leads the Sankofa project and represents it in Cumbria said: “Storytelling is lots of fun.

“We want this to be an opportunity for children to engage deeply with the books they read by being able to retell them to their friend, parent, carer or class.”

Books that Debbie recommends include:

n David Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress for an exploration of LGBTQ and race issues;

n Funny Frank by Dick King-Smith as an exploration of identity;

n Dear Olly by Michael Morpurgo to explore migration;

n Gina Baker’s The Window;

n and Hazel D. Campbell’s Juice Box and Scandal for an exploration of climate change issues.

One year in to its two-year programme, Sankofa – Storytelling for the Digital Age has been working in Cumbria, London, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.