How are the £1/€1.50 books chosen?
World Book Day offers every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. The £1/€1.50 tokens and £1/€1.50 books give all children the chance to experience choosing and owning a book – for free. The World Book Day books are a gift to children from booksellers and publishers.
How the £1/€1.50 books are chosen, published and distributed?
The pitch
Publishers pitch £1/€1.50 book ideas to the World Book Day Selection panel using our guidance. The selection panel includes a range of expert voices from libraries, communities, partner charities and retailers. Contributing publishers to World Book Day can put forward books for selection. Find out more about how we work with publishers.
The children’s panel
The suggested titles are shared with children across the country and they select their favourites. These selections are combined with the adult selection panels choices to make up the final list.
The decision
World Book Day chooses the £1/€1.50 books
Publishers create the books
Publishers produce and pay for the costs of producing the £1/€1.50 books
Booksellers gift the books
Bookshops buy the £1/€1.50 books from publishers to gift to children in exchange for their £1/€1.50 book token
How children choose and own a £1/€1.50 book
World Book Day sends £1/€1.50 book tokens to children via schools, and early year settings. Tokens are also available through magazines, McDonalds and community partnerships.
Child goes to a participating bookshop, supermarket or high street retailer with their £1/€1.50 book token.
Bookseller gifts a £1/€1.50 book in exchange for their £1/€1.50 book token.
Child chooses and owns a book
£1/€1.50 Book FAQs
Can we order the £1/€1.50 books from you?
World Book does not carry any stock of the £1/€1.50 books. Booksellers buy the books directly from publishers or wholesalers.
Our participating retailer map will be available in December.
Can I submit my book to be published as a £1/€1.50 book?
We work in collaboration with publishers, who support World Book Day by making a financial contribution to our work as a charity. These publishers are eligible to pitch content for World Book Day’s opportunities to encourage reading for pleasure. These include the £1/€1.50 books, and our Share a Story Corner video books.
If you are interested, please discuss with your publisher. For more information visit our authors and illustrators page.
How long is the £1/€1.50 token redemption period?
Children and families can start using their £1/€1.50 token from 12 February – 15 March 2026. Visit our £1/€1.50 token page for more information.
How are the £1/€1.50 books being made accessible and inclusive?
All the World Book Day £1/€1.50 books are available in braille, large print, and audio with help from RNIB, Guide Dogs, Calibre Audio, Vision Ireland and ChildVision.
We aim to support readers who are dyslexic by asking publishers to ensure the books are printed on off-white paper with a high opacity to ensure all our books are accessible to all. If you’d like to know more or require one of these formats find out more on our diversity and inclusion page.
What are the age ranges for the World Book Day £1/ €1.50 books?
World Book Day’s aim is for the books we present to be for all children and families, and particularly to offer a gateway into reading for those who don’t currently see themselves as readers.
Find your local bookseller.
If you are a school, you can get in contact with your local bookseller to talk through options for the £1/€1.50 token exchange. Some can arrange for the books to be brought or sent into school.
Your local bookseller might be on a high street or a supermarket. If you have any questions, please email wbd@education.co.uk.
How the World Book Day £1/€1.50 books are chosen and published.
World Book Day offers every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. The £1/€1.50 tokens and £1/€1.50 books give all children the chance to experience choosing and owning a book – for free.