World Book Day

What Is World Book Day? (Definition & Examples)

World Book Day is an annual celebration of books and reading, marked in the UK each March. The event encourages children and young people to discover the joy of books by providing free book tokens and access to special £1 titles.

Detailed Explanation

World Book Day was first established by UNESCO in 1995 and has been celebrated in the UK and Ireland since 1997. Unlike the international date in April, the UK observes the event in early March to fit the school calendar. Its aim is simple: to promote reading for pleasure among children and young people.

Every year, publishers release a new selection of exclusive £1 World Book Day books, which can be bought with book tokens distributed through schools. These titles often include popular children’s authors and series, ensuring they appeal to a wide range of readers. Teachers and schools frequently use World Book Day as an opportunity to run literacy activities, encourage costume events where pupils dress as their favourite characters, and organise reading challenges.

At Fox & Fable Booksellers, we support schools and communities by providing bulk orders of children’s books around World Book Day. From classroom sets to literacy packs, we help teachers ensure that every child has a book to enjoy—not just on World Book Day but throughout the year.

Examples of World Book Day Books and Authors

  • Supertato: The Great Eggscape! by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet – fun and accessible for early readers.

  • Skulduggery Pleasant: Apocalypse Kings by Derek Landy – popular for older primary pupils.

  • Bedtime for the Burpee Bears by Joe Wicks – engaging picture book for younger children.

  • Kay’s Brilliant Brains by Adam Kay – a humorous non-fiction choice for schools.

  • Luna Loves World Book Day by Joseph Coelho – a celebration of books themselves.

Why World Book Day Matters

World Book Day matters because it makes books accessible to all children, regardless of background. For teachers, it provides a valuable opportunity to promote literacy and reading for pleasure. For schools and libraries, bulk orders of children’s books ensure no child is left out of the celebration. For book clubs and communities, it’s a chance to spotlight new titles and bring people together around the love of reading.

At Fox & Fable Booksellers, we make it easy for schools, parents, and organisations to prepare for World Book Day with affordable book bundles, bulk classroom sets, and curated literacy packs.

Relevant Tags

World Book Day UK
children’s books bulk orders
£1 World Book Day books
school reading packs
UK literacy events
Fox and Fable bulk books
children’s book tokens
classroom book sets UK
reading for pleasure
Fox and Fable glossary