POULSBO — That shirt you saw World Book Night U.S. executive director Carl Lennertz wearing on the Today Show April 23 was printed by Madison Butler, who co-owns IndiPrints Screen Printing in Indianola and works at Liberty Bay Books.

Liberty Bay Books owner Suzanne Droppert sent World Book Night shirts to Lennertz and World Book Night staff, and he wore it on the Today show during his interview with Al Roker.

Liberty Bay Books is a World Book Night participant.

Droppert purchased shirts and gave one to each book giver for free, something extra that the book store has done the past two years as an incentive for volunteers. The shirts are printed on bright neon colors to attract attention to the cause.

According to www.us.worldbooknight.org: Each year, 30 books are chosen by a panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing editions for World Book Night U.S. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for volunteer book givers.

After the book titles are announced, members of the public apply to hand out 20 copies of a particular title in their community. World Book Night U.S. chooses givers based on their ability to reach light and non-readers. The selected givers choose a local participating bookstore or library from which to pick up the 20 copies of their book, and World Book Night U.S. delivers the books to those host locations.

On April 23, volunteers nationwide give books to those who don’t regularly read or have access to printed books. In Poulsbo, approximately 40 book-givers participated this year.

“People are often hesitant to accept free items, thinking that there is some sort of catch, but it’s wonderful to see the enjoyment on their face once they realize that this isn’t some sort of scam,” Butler said.