Design a National Book Token Competition 2025

Time for children to get creative and DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN for our annual competition! Our sponsors, National Book Tokens, are inviting children of all ages to share their creativity – and their love for books and reading – by designing their own fabulous gift cards.

Six winning entrants will bag HUNDREDS of pounds worth of National Book Tokens for their schools and themselves – find out more below!

PRIZES

ONE OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the first prize winners in each category) will receive a £10/€12 National Book Tokens gift card in their design for every child in their class,* and the opportunity for their class to visit a real bookshop, virtually or in person, to spend their National Book Tokens.

FIRST PRIZE in each age range wins:

£350/€400 National Book Tokens for the school

£100/€115 National Book Tokens for the pupil

SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins:

£200/€230 National Book Tokens for the school

£50/€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil

*Up to 35 gift cards; see terms and conditions for home-schooled students

 

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, children should design a National Book Tokens gift card on the theme of Read Your Way. Here are some tips to bear in mind:

  • What does ‘read your way’ mean to you – and how can you explain this in pictures or designs?
  • What would make someone want to buy your gift card as a gift for someone else?
  • Look at real-life examples of gift cards in supermarkets and other shops – what do they have in common? Which ones do you like best and why?

A panel of judges will select a winner and runner-up in each of three age categories: up to 8 years, 9-12 years and 13-16 years.

All entries should be produced on A4 paper using the template. Please ensure you provide the child’s name and age, and your contact details, on the second page of the form.

Please send entries to:

World Book Day Design a National Book Token Competition

Book Tokens Ltd.

6 Bell Yard

London

WC2A 2JR

If you’re unable to post your entry to us, please complete the online form for the relevant age range (online entry will open on 3rd February 2025):

Up to 8 years

9-12 years

13-16 years

As well as teachers, the competition is open to home-schooled children and, if you’re a parent or guardian, you’re welcome to submit your child’s entry individually. Take a look at our terms and conditions to find out more.

The closing date for entries is Sunday 6th April 2025. Winners will be announced in May 2025.

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP

Overall winner:

Congratulations to Jodie, age 8!

Winners in each age category:

Up to 8 Years category

Winner: Jodie, age 8 (Thorpe Acre Junior School, Loughborough)

Runner up: Isaac, age 7 (Brooklands Primary School, Sale)

9-12 Years category

Winner: Emmeline, age 10 (The Aldgate School, London)

Runner up: Olesia, age 10 (Hearsall Community Academy, Coventry)

13-16 years category

Winner: Alisa, age 15 (St Louis High School, Dublin)

Runner up: Isabelle, age 13 (Bullers Wood School For Girls, Kent)

 

INSPIRE, REWARD… AND SUPPORT READING FOR PLEASURE!

National Book Tokens have been inspiring booklovers since 1932. We work with our charity partners at World Book Day, Book Aid International and Read for Good – and through the thousands of people who give National Book Tokens as gifts and rewards to children and young adults each year – to encourage a lifelong love of reading among children everywhere.

Accepted in hundreds of bookshops across the UK and Ireland, and online with bookshops big and small, National Book Tokens are the perfect way to reward and inspire learners of all ages.

Did you know…

  • National Book Tokens can be spent in bookshops everywhere and online.
  • National Book Tokens don’t expire for 8 years, and all expired gift cards are replaced.
  • National Book Tokens come in a range of brilliantly booky designs, can be personalised with your school’s crest or image, and are available as e-gifts and special presentation cards!

Want to know more about how schools use National Book Tokens to inspire, reward and motivate their learners? Visit nationalbooktokens.com/learning