World Book Day
We're proud sponsors of World Book Day, a charity that changes lives through a love of books and reading.
Other ways we support reading
World Book Day® is a charity with the mission to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. The charity distributes more than 15 million £1/€1.50 book tokens across the UK and Ireland each year. 1 in 4 children receiving Free School Meals say the book they 'bought' with their £1/€1.50 book token was the first book they had of their own.
The next World Book Day takes place in the UK and Ireland on Thursday 5th March 2026.
National Book Tokens are proud to sponsor World Book Day for 28 years. 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. Research has found that 35% of children make more time to read as a result of World Book Day.
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. But last year, fewer than 3 in 10 children said that they read daily.
As part of their fantastic 'Read Your Way' campaign, World Book Day encourages children to discover reading on their own terms, and adults to let go of pressure and expectations to give children a choice – and a chance – to enjoy reading. World Book Day supports children to read for pleasure by encouraging 6 behaviours:
- Being read to regularly
- Having books at home and school
- Finding time to read
- Having trusted help to find a book
- Giving children a choice in what to read
- Making reading FUN!
Find out more about the charity
Source: National Literacy Trust, Annual Literacy Survey 2024
Our gift cards
We know that having a choice in what to read, and trusted help to find a book, are two key components of children enjoying reading. That's what makes a National Book Tokens gift card the perfect gift: children can choose the books they want, from bookshops whose expert booksellers are on hand to provide brilliant book recommendations.
Design a National Book Token 2025
This World Book Day, we invited children of all ages to get creative and share their love for books and reading by designing their own fabulous National Book Tokens gift cards! To help us judge the fantastic entries, we were joined by Jamie Smart, author-illustrator of the hilarious Bunny vs Monkey graphic novel series.
The winning entrants received HUNDREDS of pounds worth of National Book Tokens for their schools and themselves. The overall winner also received a £10 National Book Tokens gift card in their winning design for every child in their class… and the opportunity to visit to a real bookshop to spend their National Book Tokens!
Congratulations to all of this year's winners, below – and well done to everyone who sent in an entry. The judging panel loved to see all of the incredible creativity on show!
"Whilst the challenge of falling child reading levels is a real one, whenever I see children’s artwork at my signing events I am always reminded of the mind-blowing creativity, imagination and talent on display. Often, and especially for those who may be struggling initially with reading, illustration and drawing is a wonderful and accessible gateway for those children to overcome these initial struggles and find a way of reading that works for them. Therefore, I was delighted to be invited by National Book Tokens to judge this award, which so perfectly marries drawing and reading in a way that both excites and inspires children, but also facilitates them getting into bookshops, experiencing the unique wonder they have (literally) instore, and crucially concludes with them leaving with a book in their hands they may otherwise not have." Jamie Smart, guest judge and bestselling author of the Bunny vs Monkey series
Up to 8 Years Winner
Reva, age 8
Up to 8 Years Runner-Up
Grace, age 7
9-12 Years Winner
Jasper, age 9
9-12 Years Runner-Up
Harriet, age 11
Overall Winner
13-16 Years Winner
Ethan, age 15
13-16 Years Runner-Up
Ankita, age 15
Prizes
OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the three first prize winners):
- a £10/€12 National Book Token for every child in their class, featuring their winning design – plus the opportunity to visit a bookshop, in person or virtually, to support them in choosing which books to buy with their prizes!
FIRST PRIZE in each age range wins:
- £350/€400 National Book Tokens for the school
- £100/€115 National Book Tokens for the pupil
SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins:
- £200/€230 National Book Tokens for the school
- £50/€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil
World Book Day® is a registered charity, company and trademark. Illustrations © Vivian Truong 2025.
Supporting reading for everyone
We've been proud sponsors of World Book Day for 28 years. We also support other literary charities and prizes, work with schools to promote reading for pleasure, and invest in high street bookshops.
Who we work with
