10 Fun Facts About World Book Day You Might Not Know!📚✨

World Book Day is one of the biggest celebrations of books, stories, and reading in the UK!

Every year, kids (and grown-ups) dress up as their favourite book characters, swap book recommendations, and discover new stories. But how much do you really know about World Book Day?

Here are 10 fun and surprising facts to get you excited for the big day!

1. World Book Day Started in 1995 – But the UK Does It Differently!

Did you know that World Book Day was created by UNESCO in 1995? The official date worldwide is 23rd April, chosen to honour the legendary authors William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, who both died on that date.

But in the UK and Ireland, we celebrate it on the first Thursday of March – in 2025, that’s 6th March.

Why? Because April is full of school holidays, and we didn’t want anyone to miss out!

2. More Than 100 Countries Celebrate World Book Day 🌍

World Book Day isn’t just a UK thing – it’s a global celebration! More than 100 countries take part every year, with schools, libraries, and bookshops organising special events, reading marathons, and storytelling sessions.

Each country does things a little differently, but the goal is the same everywhere – to get kids excited about books!

3. Every Child in the UK Gets a £1 Book Token 💷📚

This is one of the best parts of World Book Day! Every child in the UK receives a £1 book token, which they can use to buy a special £1 World Book Day book or get £1 off any full-price book worth £2.99 or more.

Some of the past £1 books have included:
📗 Protect the Planet by Jess French
📘 Daisy and the Trouble with Unicorns by Kes Gray
📕 Loki: Tales of a Bad God by Louie Stowell

Top tip – make sure you use your token before it expires!

4. Dressing Up as Book Characters Is a Big Deal! 👗📚

One of the most exciting parts of World Book Day is fancy dress! Schools and nurseries encourage kids (and sometimes teachers too!) to come dressed as their favourite book characters.

Some classic costume ideas include:
🎩 Harry Potter (Harry Potter series)
🦸‍♀️ Matilda (Roald Dahl)
🐱 The Cat in the Hat (Dr Seuss)
🧸 Paddington Bear (Michael Bond)

Don’t want to spend loads of money? DIY costumes are just as fun – a cardboard hat, an old shirt, and a little creativity can go a long way!

5. World Book Day Helps Kids Who Don’t Have Books at Home 📚❤️

Sadly, 1 in 5 children in the UK don’t have a book of their own at home. That’s why World Book Day is so important – it helps all children have access to books.

Thanks to the free £1 book tokens, millions of kids can pick up a brand-new book and start their own mini library at home!

6. The “Share a Story” Campaign Encourages Daily Reading 📖

Did you know that reading for just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference to a child’s learning?

That’s why World Book Day created the “Share a Story” campaign – encouraging parents, carers, and teachers to read with children for at least 10 minutes a day.

A bedtime story, a fun picture book, or even reading signs and labels while out and about – it all counts!

7. It Inspires Future Writers ✍️

Loads of famous authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, and David Walliams support World Book Day every year.

Many schools even run creative writing competitions, where kids can write their own mini stories and become authors themselves!

Why not encourage your child to write a World Book Day story about their favourite character going on a brand-new adventure?

8. Different Countries Have Their Own World Book Day Traditions 🌎

Not every country celebrates World Book Day on the same date.

📖 Spain & Latin America – Celebrate on 23rd April, known as Día del Libro.
📖 Sweden – Moves the date around each year depending on school schedules.
📖 India – Has a National Reading Day instead, on 19th June.

Wherever you are in the world, the love of books brings people together!

World Book Day is for everyone, including children with visual impairments.

To make sure everyone can enjoy reading, special World Book Day books are produced in Braille, large print, and audiobooks.

Did you know? Listening to audiobooks is just as beneficial for literacy as reading print books! So, next time you’re in the car, why not pop on a fun story?

Although it’s called World Book “Day”, the fun doesn’t stop after 24 hours!

Many schools and libraries keep the celebrations going with:
📚 Reading challenges
🎤 Author visits
🎭 Book-themed drama performances
📝 Creative writing workshops

Some schools even run World Book Week, where each day is themed around different types of books – like Monday for adventure stories, Tuesday for poetry, and Wednesday for fairy tales!

Tip: Keep the reading fun going at home by setting a family reading challenge – who can read the most books this month? 📖🏆

🎉 Key Takeaway: Why World Book Day Is So Important

World Book Day is so much more than just dressing up – it’s about inspiring children to fall in love with books.

Whether your child is picking up their first picture book, writing their own story, or discovering a new favourite author, World Book Day is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading!

📢 How Do You Celebrate World Book Day?
Drop a comment and tell us your favourite book or character costume idea! 📖💬

📌 And don’t forget to use your £1 book token! Happy reading! 🎉📚