Did you know that 2022 is the 25th anniversary of World Book Day?! World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and first took place in the UK in 1997 to encourage young people to develop a love of reading. This year, World Book Day falls on Thursday 3 March, and this year’s message for all children is “you are a reader!”
As always, children will receive their book voucher through schools and nurseries and will be able to exchange these for a free World Book Day book or receive a £1 discount off any other book. With books for beginning, early, fluent, and independent readers, there’s something for everyone. All World Book Day books are available in large print, Braille, and audiobook. From 3 March you can pick up your free book from participating bookshops and supermarkets, and this year we will also have these free books available to pick up from four of our Manchester Libraries – North City, Longsight, Forum and Central, available whilst stocks last.

Library Storytimes
We also have copies of World Book Day titles for toddlers which will be given out at our library storytimes – ‘Rocket Rules’ by Nathan Bryan and Dapo Adeola, ‘Dinosaur Roar and Friends’ and ‘Hey Duggee: The World Book Day Badge’. For more information on our storytimes, visit Libraries for under 5s or Loads To Do.
Family Hub
Why not check out the World Book Day hub for families. There are lots of great ideas – check out MC Grammar’s World Book Day song, visit the Share a Story corner, or even try some cooking with The Gruffalo! And there’s some amazing online live events that week too – check out events.
World Book Day for schools…
Manchester Libraries will be hosting lots of events for schools too, in celebration of World Book Day with authors from Kristina Stephenson to Lynne Chapman and Joseph Coelho.
Your local library is well stocked with free World Book Day books to give to children as part of their school visit. Libraries love to host school visits and can offer a range of engaging and fun activities to help with literacy, reading for pleasure and hands-on digital education. Contact Jodie if you are a Manchester teacher who would like to find out more.
The National Literacy Trust will also be supporting World Book Day with some great offers. See their 25 ways to celebrate World Book Day.
