World Book Day will mark 30 years of literary fun in 2025.
Unesco, which promotes global education, culture and heritage, created the annual event on April 23, 1995. Since then, it has become a worldwide movement celebrating books and encouraging children to read.
Some experts say the biggest indicator of a child’s future success is whether they read for pleasure. They say this matters more than family circumstances, parents’ income, or educational background.
So how can you and your little bookworms celebrate World Book Day 2025?
Here’s all you need to know.
When is World Book Day 2025?
World Book Day 2025 falls on Thursday, March 6, a day celebrated in countries across the world.
Many UK schools encourage children to dress as their favourite character and bring the accompanying book.
In schools that celebrate World Book Day, children share their favourite books, discuss the stories, and explain why they chose their characters. Some schools even hold competitions for the most authentic costumes.
The event promotes literacy and a love of reading, intending to ensure every child worldwide has a book.
List of £1 books for World Book Day 2025
Each year, a selection of books is made available for £1, catering to all ages and reading levels, to encourage everyone to participate in the event.
The £1 books for World Book Day 2025 in the UK and Ireland include:
Beginning Category
Early Category
Fluent Category
Independent Category
You can see all the authors introducing their books here.
Costume ideas for World Book Day
One of the best things about dressing up for World Book Day is the endless possibilities, with many families choosing to create DIY costumes.
Children might opt for a timeless classic, such as the Mad Hatter from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia.
Alternatively, they could pick a modern favourite including Gangsta Granny or Harry Potter. Some may even take inspiration from their favourite film or anime characters if they have a book to match.
See also: Best unisex costume ideas for World Book Day
Classic character book ideas
Modern character book ideas
Outfits of certain characters can be bought online or at costume shops. Alternatively, children and parents can get creative and make their costumes from household items or clothes from charity shops.
