World Book Day Around the World + Fun Bee Activity for Kids
- David Salariya
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Celebrate World Book Day with Activities and Ideas from Around the World
World Book Day is a global celebration of books and reading. But did you know that it’s celebrated in different ways all over the world? From books and roses in Spain to manga and poetry in Japan, each country has its own unique way of honouring the power of stories. In this blog, we’ll take a whistle-stop tour of international World Book Day traditions — and then offer a buzzing classroom activity that turns children into bee-loving book makers!
Here are some of the ways world book day is celebrated:
Global World Book Day Traditions
How are Books selected for World Book Day in the UK?
World Book Day in the UK is managed by a registered charity that collaborates with publishers, booksellers, educators, and literacy advocates to select a diverse range of books that inspire children to read for pleasure. Here is an overview of the selection process:
World Book Day Around the World
How Countries Celebrate World Book Day
Spain – Sant Jordi’s Day (23 April)
In Catalonia, Sant Jordi’s Day is both romantic and literary.
People exchange books and roses.
Barcelona bursts with bookstalls and flower markets.
United Kingdom & Ireland – World Book Day (March)
Held on the first Thursday in March.
Children receive £1 or €1.50 book tokens.
Schools host dress-up days and author visits.
France – La Fête du Livre
Includes book fairs, author meet-ups and reading marathons.
The Prix Sorcières children’s book award is announced.
Libraries host creative workshops.
Germany – Welttag des Buches
Pupils receive free books via "Ich schenk dir eine Geschichte."
Bookshops organise storytelling contests and readings.
Italy – Libriamoci Initiative
Nationwide school reading campaign.
Encourages reading for pleasure and participation.
Colombia – FILBo (Bogotá Book Fair)
Latin America’s major literary event.
Public libraries set up outdoor reading spaces.
Mexico – Día Mundial del Libro
Book swaps, discounts and school literacy activities.
Japan – Manga and Literature Promotion
Celebrates manga’s literary value.
Book-gifting campaigns and haiku-writing in schools.
China – World Reading Day
Includes online reading festivals and poetry recitals.
Digital platforms give away free e-books.
United States – National Reading Month
World Book Day is part of the wider celebration.
Features book giveaways, crafts and storytime sessions.
Note: Please check official links each year for up-to-date event details.
Publisher Submissions
UK publishers submit proposals for books they wish to be considered.
Books must cater to different age groups, from pre-schoolers to teenagers.
A mix of genres is encouraged, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels.
Review by Selection Panel
A panel made up of industry professionals reviews the submissions. This panel includes:
Representatives from the World Book Day charity
Children’s book experts
Booksellers (e.g., Waterstones, WHSmith, and independent retailers)
Educators and literacy charities
Selection Criteria
Books are chosen based on the following factors:
Appeal to children – Engaging, fun, and accessible.
Diversity and inclusion – Representation of different backgrounds, abilities, and cultures.
Quality of storytelling – Strong writing, illustrations, and design.
Balance of genres – A mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels.
Encouragement of reading for pleasure – Books should be exciting and motivating for young readers.
Final Selection & Publisher Agreements
The panel selects books that best fit the criteria.
Publishers collaborate with booksellers to ensure the books are available for £1 or free with a World Book Day token.
Selected books are announced in the autumn before World Book Day to allow
preparation time for schools and retailers.
Funding & Distribution
Publishers cover production costs, ensuring affordability.
Booksellers sell the selected books at a discounted rate.
The World Book Day charity raises funds to distribute free books to disadvantaged children.
School & Library Participation
Schools distribute £1 World Book Day tokens to students.
Libraries and schools host reading events, book fairs, and author visits to celebrate and promote reading.
The World Book Day selection process is a collaborative effort that ensures children across the UK have access to high-quality, engaging books that foster a lifelong love of reading.
World Book Day
World Book Day - "Books & Bees"
Theme: How Would You Survive as a Bee? + The Joy of Books
March - World Book Day
Activities: Book-making, and fun bee-related storytelling
Age Group: Adapt activities for different age groups
Schedule & Activities
What is World Book Day?
Introduction and explain about books and bees, write a poem or use this one. To set the tone, your poem should celebrate books as living things - full of adventure, wisdom, and voices from the past and future:
Books will whisper, books will teach,
A spark, a flame, within your reach.
Read, then write - your story grows,
Write, then read - the world still knows.
Books endure when voices fade,
Their words the light that time has made.
This poem can lead into a discussion about How books are like beehives: full of buzzing ideas, carefully constructed, and home to something sweet (knowledge)!
What is World Book Day?
A day to celebrate books, reading, and storytelling.
Encourage children to think about why books are important.
What’s your favourite book?
How Would You Survive as a Bee?
Joining the swarm
Bee Babies
Bee Family Tree
Bee Facts
Bees Have Five Eyes!
They have two large compound eyes and three small simple eyes (ocelli) on top of their heads to detect light and movement.
Bees Use the Sun as a Compass
Even on cloudy days, bees can navigate using polarized light from the sun.
Bees Talk Through Dancing
The waggle dance tells other bees where to find flowers with nectar and pollen.
One Bee Can Visit Up to 5,000 Flowers a Day!
They work hard collecting nectar and pollinating plants.
A Honeybee's Lifespan is Short, But Their Work is Vital
Worker bees live about six weeks in summer and four months in winter.
A Queen Bee Can Lay 2,000 Eggs a Day
She is the mother of the entire hive and can live for several years.
Bees Make Hexagon-Shaped Honeycombs
The hexagonal pattern is the strongest and most efficient shape for storing honey.
Bees Have Electric Hairs!
Their tiny hairs detect static electricity from flowers, helping them collect pollen more efficiently.
Bees Can Recognize Human Faces
Studies show they can remember and recognize patterns, just like we do!
Without Bees, Our Food Supply Would Be in Danger
Bees pollinate about one-third of the food we eat, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Making a "Bee Book" – Hands-on Activity
How to Create the Booklet:
Format: A3 folded in half, then again (to A5 size), stapled at the fold.
This creates an 8-page book.
Book Sections:
Each page could have a prompt for children to fill in:
Flat Plan of the Bee Book
Page 1: Cover Page "My Bee Book - think of a title" (Decorate & Write Name)
Page 2: What Do Bees Do All Day? (Facts & Drawings)
Page 3: If I Were a Bee… (Creative Writing/Drawing)
Page 4: The Sweetest Things I Know (Link Between Honey & Books)
Page 5: A Bee Poem (Write a short rhyming poem about bees)
Page 6: Books & Bees Connection (How books, like bees, collect knowledge)
Page 7: The Buzzing Adventure (Mini Bee Story)
Page 8: Back page. Buzzing with Ideas! (Free doodle & thoughts section)
#WorldBookDay #ReadingForPleasure #BooksMatter #GlobalBookCelebrations #SantJordi #BookFestivals #LiteracyMatters #ReadMoreBooks #BookLovers #ReadingCulture #Bookworms #BookishCommunity #ChildrensBooks #AuthorVisits #StorytellingMagic #BooksAndBeyond #MangaFans #DigitalReading #LibraryLove #BookTok #SchoolReading #EducationalBooks #NationalReadingMonth #WorldBookTraditions #BookFair #BookAwards #BookSwaps #ReadToLearn #SupportBookstores #LoveBooks
Comments