At a time of reading crisis, the charity’s ‘Read Your Way’ campaign will encourage more children and young people to read for fun to seriously improve lives.
On 6th March 2025, World Book Day® is back across the UK and Ireland.
World Book Day’s evidence shows that children are more likely to read if they enjoy it, so this year the charity will encourage them to ‘Read Their Way’ and celebrate children’s choices.
World Book Day is partnering with a number of exciting brands and organisations, including the National Trust, Magic Breakfast, Rubies and McDonald’s, to get its vital message about the fun of reading to as many children and families as possible. This includes:
- Teaming up with Rubies and Parentkind to give even more children the chance to experience the joy and excitement of dressing up
- Improving access to books, with McDonald’s Happy Meals®
- Bringing the World Book Day celebrations to up to 80 National Trust places
- Inviting children to swap books at two Magic Breakfast schools in Salford, with special guests to be announced…
With levels of reading enjoyment currently at an all-time low*, it’s more important than ever to get young people excited about reading for fun, unlocking the proven benefits it brings, including better wellbeing and improved learning across the school curriculum.
One in 10 children aged 5 – 18 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; in 2024, one in four children receiving Free School Meals said their £1/€1.50 book was the first they had ever owned. Fifteen new books will be available in the UK and Ireland for children to choose for free, in exchange for their £1/€1.50 book token.
Cassie Chadderton, World Book Day CEO says: “At the heart of World Book Day is the belief – backed by evidence – that children are more likely to read if they enjoy it and have a choice in what and how to read.”
“Graphic novels, comics, or one of our amazing £1 books – free in exchange for a World Book Day book token – can help unlock the power of reading. We’re excited to be working with so many partners to reach even more children and families, and to invite everyone to join the party and ‘Read Their Way’ this World Book Day.”
Supported by long-term sponsor, National Book Tokens, and working alongside publishers and booksellers, the charity World Book Day will build on its work to improve access to books and encouraging everyone to give children the choice – and a chance – to enjoy reading.
The World Book Day £1/€1.50 books will be available from the 13th of February – 23rd of March at more than 400 independent bookshops and 4,000 major retailers.
Here’s a taster of what else to expect in the World Book Day 2025 programme…
National
- Rubies, the renowned global costume manufacturer, will be the official dress up partner for World Book Day 2025. As part of an All Dressed Up donation scheme, Rubies, in partnership with Parentkind, will donate up to 100,000 costumes to children in deprived areas.
- National Trust are joining the fun for the first time, with a range of World Book Day celebrations taking place at up to 80 places across the UK.
- McDonald’s will continue to support World Book Day and help provide access to books, with the World Book Day £1 token available on Happy Meals®.
Booksellers and retailers
- Over 400 independent bookshops across the UK alongside Waterstones, WHSmith and The Works will help bring the selection of £1 books to local communities.
- Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl will continue to support families to discover the many wonderful ways to read with books available across their UK stores.
Entertainment
- Yoto, the award-winning screen-free audio platform for children will continue to be World Book Day’s Official Audio Partner, bringing the joy of storytelling to children through audiobooks.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are offering a secondary school the chance to win a class trip to see the show in London’s West End. Members of the cast will also visit a local secondary school to celebrate reading for fun.
Charity
- Magic Breakfast are hosting two special events, bringing reading enjoyment to families in the community of Manchester.
- RNIB will provide Braille and audio versions of the World Book Day £1 book selection and Guide Dogs will provide large print texts.
- The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, The Foyle Foundation, Arts Council England and Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust have all provided funding to support the charity’s work with more than 40 libraries.
- The National Literacy Trust will provide lots of opportunities for schools to get involved in the hugely popular annual ‘The Great Big Footy and Booky Quiz’ this World Book Day.
Shop to support
- Select a limited-edition GoHenry x World Book Day prepaid debit card to help support your child’s money journey and all proceeds from this card will go to World Book Day. Available from Wednesday 12 February 2025.
- Support the charity by purchasing World Book Day merchandise with Pawprint Family badges and patches and exclusive apparel from TeeMill, designed by some of this year’s illustrators.
- Grab your last chance to get hold of the exclusive Tatty Devine x World Book Day jewellery collection.
Keep your eyes peeled for more partnership announcements in the lead up to World Book Day 2026.
Visit the website for more information and don’t forget to
Read Your Way this World Book Day!
