top of page

World Book Day Thursday 6th of March 2025

Writer's picture: David SalariyaDavid Salariya
2 days ago4 min read

How World Book Day is Celebrated Around the World


I'm visiting a school in East Sussex for World Book Day this year - to fit in with what children are working on this term I decided to use my book "How Would You Survive as a bee?' as a starting point for activities to make a book about bees.




World Book Day is a global book celebration and is celebrated differently around the world, with book festivals, literary events, with each country adding and creating it's own unique reading traditions and customs.


Here are some of the ways world book day is celebrated:


Global World Book Day Traditions


Spain (Sant Jordi’s Day - The Origin of World Book Day)

• April 23rd is a major literary festival in Catalonia, known as La Diada de Sant Jordi (St. George’s Day).

• In the past, men gave roses to women, and women gave books to men, although today, books and roses are exchanged by everyone.

• Barcelona’s streets are filled with bookstalls and flower vendors, creating a spectacular literary and cultural festival.

• Inspired by this, World Book Day was established on April 23rd to honor literature and encourage reading.


United Kingdom & Ireland – School-Focused Celebrations

  • In the UK and Ireland, World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of March to avoid conflicting with Easter.

  • £1 and €1.50 book tokens are given to children, allowing them to buy a special World Book Day book or get a discount on other books.

  • Schools hold dress-up days, where children dress as their favorite book characters.

  • Authors and illustrators visit schools for live storytelling and activity sessions.


France – La Fête du Livre

  • Known as La Fête du Livre, France's version of World Book Day includes book fairs, author meet-ups, and literary events.

  • The Prix Sorcières, a prestigious children’s book award, is announced around World Book Day.

  • Schools and libraries host reading marathons and book-themed workshops.


Germany – "I’ll Give You a Story"

  • "Welttag des Buches" (World Book Day) is celebrated across Germany, particularly with school children.

  • The "Ich schenk dir eine Geschichte" (I'll Give You a Story) initiative gives free books to students to encourage reading.

  • German bookstores participate by gifting books and organizing storytelling competitions.


Italy – Libriamoci (Let’s Read!)

  • Italy has integrated World Book Day into Libriamoci, a national campaign to encourage reading in schools.

  • Libraries, bookstores, and schools give free books to children.

  • Literary events and storytelling competitions are held across the country.


Colombia – Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo)

  • Bogotá, named UNESCO World Book Capital in 2007, hosts the Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo) in April.

  • Schools hold storytelling competitions and author talks.

  • Public spaces are transformed into open-air libraries, where people can read and exchange books.


México – Día del Libro

  • Schools encourage student-led book swaps and storytelling competitions.

  • Libraries and bookstores offer free books and discounts to encourage reading.


Japan – Celebrating Manga & Literature

  • Japanese bookstores create special promotions encouraging people to buy books for friends and family.

  • The event highlights manga’s literary value, with major manga publishers participating in reading campaigns.

  • Schools and libraries feature poetry and haiku-writing contests.


China – Digital Reading & Storytelling

  • China’s celebration includes reading festivals and poetry recitals in schools.

  • Digital book platforms offer free e-books for a limited time.

  • Some schools integrate AI-powered storytelling and digital books into their World Book Day activities.


United States – National Reading Month

  • April is National Reading Month in the U.S., so World Book Day is often folded into that celebration.

  • Schools, libraries, and bookstores hold book-themed craft activities, author visits, and literacy events.

  • Independent bookstores organise book giveaways and live readings.



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:



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.









 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page