SLOUGH is celebrating the joy of reading this month.

The town is participating in Cityread London, a celebration of the power of reading to bring communities together, with libraries at its heart.

Running every April, the Cityread festival aims to engage residents, workers and visitors with reading for pleasure, focused around the shared experience of a single book.

This year’s book is Prophecy by SJ Parris, a gripping Elizabethan spy thriller and the second of a series of five books making up the Giordano Bruno series.

Readers can pick up free copies in libraries across Slough and discover the programme of exciting events Cityread London has planned throughout the month.

Cityread 2017 will also include a specially produced Quick Reads title aimed at engaging people who struggle with reading.

Historian Onyeka Nubia will visit The Curve on Tuesday, April 18 at 6.30pm to talk about the untold story of people of African descent who lived and worked throughout England – not as slaves, but as members of society.

Based on his books of the same name, Onyeka will be sharing his discoveries made researching more than 250,000 artefacts from archives and parish records.

The Curve will host SJ Parris, the author of this year’s Cityread title, on Friday, April 28 at 2pm, as she talks about her works and research in writing Prophecy, engaging in a Q&A session with readers.

Councillor Sabia Hussain, commissioner for life-long learning, said: “We’re encouraging Slough residents, from 1-101, to get excited about reading this April as part of the Cityread literature festival.

“Reading is an essential skill; a tool for communicating that allows people of all ages to learn new things, boost their imagination and creativity – and it’s a wonderful form of entertainment.”

“Cityread celebrates the joy of reading and supports the vibrant libraries that play a vital role within our local community and we’re proud to be involved.”

Bookings can be made at: http://www.thecurveslough.com/