World Book Day
We're proud sponsors of World Book Day®, the reading for fun charity.
Other ways we support reading
World Book Day champions the fun of reading, because it seriously improves lives. Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.
But here's the challenge, it's at an all-time low, with only 1 in 3 children now saying they enjoy reading. Children are more likely to read if they enjoy it, so together we're on a mission to encourage children to see reading as an entertaining, social and fun thing to do. Our sponsorship helps the charity to encourage more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to grow up with a life-long, life-changing habit of reading for fun, and all the benefits this brings.
The charity promotes reading for fun by offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Every year they distribute 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.
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 fun by encouraging 6 behaviours:
1. Being read to regularly
2. Having books at home and school
3. Finding time to read
4. Having trusted help to find a book
5. Giving children a choice in what to read
6. Making reading FUN!
Source: National Literacy Trust, Annual Literacy Survey 2025
The next World Book Day takes place in the UK and Ireland on Thursday 5th March 2026.
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.
We're proud to support the National Year of Reading
If you're into it... read into it! In 2026, every adult, young person and child are invited to Go All In – to discover how reading can make the things you already love even richer.
Supporting reading for everyone
We believe that everyone should have access to the books they want and need, and we're committed to encouraging and supporting reading for pleasure. That's why we work with literacy charities, organisations, and prizes, and invest in high street bookshops.
Who we work with
