World Book Day - 7 March 2024

Exciting events, activities and partnerships will encourage more children to enjoy reading, however they choose to!

The charity World Book Day® is holding its annual celebration on Thursday 7th March right across the UK and Ireland.

World Book Day 2024 will celebrate that children are more likely to enjoy reading when their choices are championed and we make reading fun.

Reading for pleasure improves children’s life chances across a range of social, educational and well-being measures. However, research from National Literacy Trust found that fewer than 1 in 2 (47.8%) children now say they enjoy reading; this is the lowest level since 2005, and reading enjoyment is lowest among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Read Your Way calls on everyone to let go of pressure and expectations, giving children a choice – and a chance – to enjoy reading.

Young voices are at the heart of the campaign, with World Book Day’s selection of £1/€1.50 books chosen with the help of children, while children’s everyday – and exciting – reading lives are brought to life through the dynamic imagery of World Book Day illustrator Vivian Truong.

The authors and illustrators of this year’s £1/€1.50 books will also be found at events and activities across the country during the campaign.

One million children in the UK currently do not have a single book of their own at home, and World Book Day’s £1/€1.50 books are often the first book many children will own.

Supported by long-term sponsor National Book Tokens and working alongside publishers and booksellers, World Book Day distributes over 15 million £1/€1.50 book tokens across the UK nations and Ireland every year through schools, nurseries, libraries, prisons and other charities.

World Book Day have developed six evidence-based principles that can be implemented easily by families to support children in adopting a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure:

1. Being read to regularly
2. Having books at home and at school
3. Having a choice in what to read
4. Finding time to read
5. Having trusted help to find a book
6. Making reading fun!

With twice as many children from disadvantaged backgrounds reported not owning a book, World Book Day will also reach more in-need communities in 2024, ensuring the excitement of choosing a book, hearing from authors and seeing illustrators reaches more children than ever.

Finally, 2024 will see the launch and evolution of a number of new exciting partnerships, including new ways to fundraise, to ensure more children and families can experience and benefit from the joy of reading.

Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day comments:
“Our aim for World Book Day 2024 is to bring the fun of reading to more children, to celebrate their choices and encourage everyone to Read Their Way! Fewer children and their families are enjoying reading, just when the life-changing benefits are needed most.

“The World Book Day £1/€1.50 authors and illustrators will be out and about at bookshops, libraries and schools across the country encouraging children to read for pleasure and we’re excited that a fantastic array of partners and supporters are making it easier than ever to get involved with activities, fundraising or simply choosing a £1/€1.50 book for free with our £1/€1.50 tokens.”

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