A World Book Day event is a simple, joyful way to show children that reading is fun. It brings people together, encourages choice, and helps every child feel part of a reading community. You can find more ideas and resources on this website.
This guide supports anyone running an event in schools, bookshops, libraries, or community spaces. You can choose the ideas that work best for your setting and your readers.
Step one: Introduce World Book Day
Begin by sharing what World Book Day stands for. World Book Day champions reading for fun. Reading for fun supports confidence, wellbeing, and future success. Today, only one in three children enjoys reading. World Book Day works to change this by giving every child the chance to choose a book they want and by helping families see that all reading counts.
If you are speaking to families or community groups, you can add:
World Book Day is not about pressure. It is about choice and enjoyment and when children choose their own books, they are more likely to read for fun. Reading for fun has a lasting impact and can make children feel happier.
Step two: Introduce yourself
Next, help children get to know you as a reader. This shows that reading looks different for everyone and every kind of reading counts. You could share:
- A favourite childhood book
- A book you are enjoying at the moment
- When and where you like to read
- Formats you enjoy, such as audiobooks, magazines, or online reading
Step three: Choose activities that support reading for fun
All the ideas below link to the six reading for fun principles that support children to read by choice.
Being read to
Read a story or share an extract. You can read from a favourite book or choose one of the World Book Day £1 /€1.50 books. Extracts are available on our website from December.
Having access to books
If your setting has books available, invite children to swap their World Book Day token for a £1/€1.50 title during the event.
Choosing what to read
Create time for free choice reading. Celebrate the books children choose and support them to explore the new £1/€1.50 books. You can find activities that introduce the titles on our website.
Finding time to read
Invite children to talk about when they enjoy reading. You could ask:
- What do you read at bedtime?
- What do you read on holiday?
- Where do you read after a busy day?
- What do you read while you have a snack?
This helps them notice when reading feels enjoyable.
Getting Trusted Help To Find a Book
Encourage children to recommend books to each other or if you want to add a creative element, invite children to dress as a favourite book character or bring a prop that links to a book they like. You can find costume ideas and non-dressing-up options on our website.
Make reading fun
Try a quick game to spark book conversations:
Never Have I Ever
Children try to name books that fit unusual or surprising categories. For example:
- A book set in a school
- A book set in a library
- A book set in a bookshop
- A book with a vampire main character
- A book set in the future
- A book with no adults in it
Award a point for categories where no one can think of a title. It’s a fun way to share recommendations and spark new reading ideas.
Charades
Ask children to write book titles on slips of paper. Pull from a bowl and act them out.
Step four: Close your event
Thank everyone for taking part and remind them that their World Book Day token can be swapped for any £1/€1.50 title. Encourage them to keep exploring books they enjoy and wish them a happy World Book Day.
Extra ideas for schools
- Display the £1/€1.50 Look Inside extracts to support choice before World Book Day
- Use your reading area to highlight books linked to this year’s authors and illustrators
- Invite pupils to vote for a “book we should read aloud today” using the £1/€1.50 list
- Run a quick peer-to-peer recommendation wall: pupils add a sticker to the World Book Day title they think friends will enjoy
- Host a reading moment using one of the World Book Day classroom activities, such as reading mood badges, reading habit trackers, or character cards
Extra ideas for bookshops
- Feature the £1/€1.50 World Book Day books prominently, with easy-to-browse displays
- Add a “Staff Love These!” shelf with quick handwritten reasons to help children choose
- Run a two-minute recommendation challenge where booksellers suggest a title based on three things the child enjoys
- Create simple trails between the World Book Day books and related reads in store
- Offer a “book tasting” table where families can browse the £1/€1.50 World Book Day book extracts
Extra ideas for libraries
- Display books by this year’s World Book Day authors and illustrators to support book discovery
- Create a mini display for each £1/€1.50 book, using “If you liked this, try…” pairings from your shelves
- Highlight formats that support reading for fun, such as audiobooks and graphic novels
- Offer a short “ask a librarian” moment where children can request a book that matches their reading mood or interests
Use of World Book Day resources
These resources are free to use for schools, early years settings, libraries, charities, and community groups celebrating World Book Day. Commercial organisations must have a partnership or licence agreement in place before using World Book Day assets. If you are interested in working with us, please contact partnerships@worldbookday.com.