A total stranger may hand you a book on Wednesday. Don't be alarmed.

The day marks the annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading - World Book Night.

Celebrated internationally, 25,000 book givers passed out 500,000 copies of books during World Book Night U.S. on April 23. Worldwide, more than 2 million books were given away.

There is no catch.

Books selected for World Book Night U.S. are chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The titles had to be an accessible book of quality and available in paperback. All genres are included, with the final mix being a combination of recently published books and established classics.

People who want to give books in their community fill out an application on the World Book Night U.S. website, sharing how they'd distribute their books and identifying their top three title choices. Those whose applications are selected are contacted by World Book Night U.S. before the event.

Each giver receives 20 copies of a book title. The books, which are a special publication for the event, are delivered to various pickup sites across the country, including book sites and libraries. Book givers pick them up the week before the event, but aren't allowed to give any until April 23.

The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold.

Dozens of givers have signed up from all across Eastern Iowa. In Cedar Rapids, NewBo Books is participating. In Iowa City, givers plan to pass out books at the Shelter House, on the downtown Pedestrian Mall and elsewhere.

World Book Night will cap off UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day, which will be celebrated in Eastern Iowa with several events and other activities.

The day begins at 10 a.m. at the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center in Iowa City with a program designed to promote reading to children. Experts will speak with those in attendance about the benefits of reading to children in their early learning years, while readers will read books to children. The event will close with a bi-lingual family literacy activity. Tour the center and enjoy snacks at the close of the event.

This year World Book Day is also the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday. To celebrate, the City of Literature is teaming up with a graduate acting class to stage flash Shakespeare performances in various locations throughout downtown Iowa City starting at 3:30 p.m.

Every Bloomin' Thing is sponsoring the event by providing roses that will be handed out after each performance.

Several Iowa City book stores are also offering special treats and giveaways to celebrate the day.

In another partnership with the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, special sessions will be held during the After School Program at Mark Twain elementary starting at 4 p.m. Several stations will be set up throughout the school that focus on various aspects of reading and literacy.

These will include sessions with LaDonna Wicklund of I Can Read, volunteers with the Iowa Youth Writing Project, a presentation about the Antelope Lending Library, a Little Free Library build, visits from children's librarians and more.

Former Gazette reporter Meredith Hines-Dochterman contributed part of this story from her experience as a giver in 2013.