World Book Day

Proud Sponsors of World Book Day

World Book Day is a charity that changes lives through a love of books and reading.

National Book Tokens have been proud to sponsor World Book Day for more than two decades and counting. Our sponsorship helps the charity to encourage more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to have a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them. 

The next World Book Day will take place in the UK and Ireland on Thursday 7th March 2024.

Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child's future success – more so than their family circumstances, their parents' educational background, or their income.

World Book Day offers every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. 

1 in 5 children receiving free school meals say the book they receive with their £1/€1.50 book token was the first book they had of their own. Last year, World Book Day distributed more than 50 million £1/€1.50 book tokens across the UK and Ireland through schools, magazines, and partnerships.

For more information visit worldbookday.com.

The annual nationwide contest that encourages children of all ages to share their creativity – and their love for books and reading – by designing their own fabulous gift cards!

This year, the theme of the competition was choosing to read. Children could interpret this any way they like to celebrate and communicate the joy that comes from choosing to read, as well as choosing which books to read.

The panel of judges selected a winner and runner-up in three age categories: up to 8 years, 9-12 years and 13-16 years.

FIRST PRIZE in each age range won:

• £350/€380 National Book Tokens for the school
• £100/€110 National Book Tokens for the pupil

All the National Book Tokens prizes will feature the winning designs! 

SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins:

• £200/€220 National Book Tokens for the school 
• £50 /€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil 

All the National Book Tokens prizes feature the winning designs! 

ONE OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the three first prize winners) also won a £10/€10 gift card in their design for every child in their class, and the opportunity for their class to visit a real bookshop, virtually or in person, to spend their National Book Tokens.

Overall Winner

Annabel, age 8 (Somerhill School, Tonbridge)

Up to 8 years

Winner: Annabel, age 8 (Somerhill School, Tonbridge)

Runner-up: Morgan, age 8 (Parkside School, Cobham)

9-12 years

Winner: Madeline, age 11 (The Magna Carta School, Staines)

Runner-up: Harsheini, age 12 (St. Raphaela's Secondary School, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin)

13-16 years

Winner: Alma, age 16 (St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy, Sunderland)

Runner-up: Georgia, age 13 (Thurso High School, Caithness)