Shanghai Expo organizers yesterday produced English and Chinese editions of a book about the World Expo.

The World Exposition Reader was edited by the Shanghai Information Office and the Information Research Center of the Shanghai Library. It covers the 150-year history of Expo and its development.

The book includes about 300 pictures from previous World Expos and discusses China's participations in the World Expo, including the first London World Expo in 1851. It includes a progress report on the preparations for the Shanghai World Expo.

The 193-page book is the most detailed popular book about the Expo published since Shanghai won the right to host the Expo in 2002, said Song Chao, the director of the Shanghai Information Office and editor-in-chief of the book.

The organizers have published the book to help citizens and people all round world get an "overall and accurate" understanding of Expo, said Song.

The book is also a guide to show how citizens can participate in Expo and welcome visitors, Song added. He believes the book will inspire patriotism and pride among young people.

Both editions of the book are available at Xinhua Bookstores and the Shanghai's City of Books. Readers can also borrow the book from district libraries.

The publication of the book is one of the promotional campaigns for the 600-day countdown of the 2010 Shanghai Expo.