It wouldn’t be World Book Day without National Book Tokens’ Design a National Book Token competition, the annual nationwide contest that encourages children of all ages to share their creativity – and their love for books and reading – by designing their own fabulous gift cards!
The winning entrants can bag HUNDREDS of pounds worth of National Book Tokens for their school or early years setting – including, for the overall winner, a £10/€10 National Book Token in their winning design for every child in their class, and the opportunity for their class to visit a bookshop, virtually or in person, to spend their National Book Tokens.
To take part, download the gift card template and get your child to design a brand new National Book Tokens gift card – something that would really jump out at booklovers from the till point of their favourite bookshop. 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.
This year the theme of the competition is ‘Choosing to read’. Children can interpret this any way they like to celebrate and communicate the joy that comes from choosing to read, as well as choosing which books to read.
To enter, children should design a National Book Tokens gift card with this theme in mind – and thinking about what might make their gift card appeal to customers if it was on display in a real shop.
Tips for creating your design:
- Discuss what it’s like when the children make the choice to read – use what, where, who with, when questions to gather ideas about what a good reading experience looks and feels like. Where do you choose to read? Who do you most like to read stories with?
- Discuss what it’s like to choose a book to read. How do you choose a book? How do you feel when you read a book that you’ve chosen yourself? What books do people think you like, and what books do you actually like?
- Discuss why someone might give a gift card as a present – would you choose this design to give to a friend?
- Remember not to confuse it with your £1/€1.50 World Book Day book token!
Prizes
FIRST PRIZE in each age range wins:
- £350/€380 National Book Tokens for the school
- £100/€110 National Book Tokens for the pupil
All the National Book Tokens prizes will feature the winning designs!
SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins:
- £200/€220 National Book Tokens for the school
- £50 /€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil
All the National Book Tokens prizes will feature the winning designs!
ONE OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the three first prize winners) will get a £10/€10 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.
(*Up to 35 gift cards; see terms and conditions for home-schooled students)
How to enter:
Just download the entry form and get your child to create their National Book Tokens gift card design using the template provided.
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:
- Submit an entry for the UP TO 8 YEARS category
- Submit an entry for the 9-12 YEARS category
- Submitting an entry for the 13-16 YEARS category
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 2nd April 2023. Winners will be announced in May 2023.
