📚 In schools and at home

World Book Day books for kids: what it is and how to celebrate

When is World Book Day? Thursday 4 March 2027. In the UK and Ireland World Book Day is on the first Thursday in March. UNESCO's World Book and Copyright Day is on 23 April.

What is World Book Day?

World Book Day celebrates reading. In the UK and Ireland children often dress up as a book character, swap books, and get a token to spend on a book.

Who celebrates World Book Day, and books for each

In schools and at home

Children dress up as a favourite character, share their favourite books, and many schools hold book swaps, readings and character parades. It's a chance to make reading feel like a treat.

📖 Free guide
A Child of Books
Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
a love letter to stories and imagination
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
The Book With No Pictures
B. J. Novak
a book that makes grown-ups say silly words, perfect for reading aloud
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
Lulu Loves the Library
Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw
Lulu's weekly library trip
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
Luna Loves Library Day
Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers
a special day at the library with Dad
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
Otto the Book Bear
Katie Cleminson
a bear who lives in a book
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
This Book Just Ate My Dog!
Richard Byrne
a book that swallows things, with an interactive twist
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
I Don't Like Books. Never. Ever. The End.
Emma Perry and Sharon Davey
for children who say they don't like books
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →
📖 Free guide
The Day the Crayons Quit
Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
a favourite for easy costumes and letter writing
Questions, activities and a printable sheet →

Questions to ask while you read

Use these with any of the World Book Day books on this page. Pick two or three, and there are no wrong answers.

What is the family in the story getting ready for?
Which part of World Book Day would you most like to try, and why?
How do the people in the story show they care about each other?
Is anything in the story like something your family does?
What would you like to ask a friend who celebrates World Book Day?

Ways to celebrate World Book Day with children

Dress up as a book character (easy ones: a crayon, the Gruffalo, a bookworm).
Swap a book with a friend.
Make a bookmark for a favourite story.
Read a book to someone younger.

World Book Day picture books at a glance

All the World Book Day books on this page: A Child of Books (Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston), The Book With No Pictures (B. J. Novak), Lulu Loves the Library (Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw), Luna Loves Library Day (Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers), Otto the Book Bear (Katie Cleminson), This Book Just Ate My Dog! (Richard Byrne), I Don't Like Books. Never. Ever. The End. (Emma Perry and Sharon Davey), The Day the Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers).

Questions parents ask about World Book Day

When is World Book Day?

In the UK and Ireland it's the first Thursday in March: Thursday 4 March 2027.

What are easy World Book Day costumes?

Choose a character with one strong feature: a crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit (a coloured T-shirt and a paper label), the Gruffalo (a brown top and paper warts), or a bookworm (a green top and a book).

Related festivals: Mothering Sunday · Pancake Day

All festivals, by month and by faith →

Traditions vary between families, places and communities; ask your child's friends and their families how they celebrate. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.