World Book Day in Libraries: Going All In

This World Book Day, our members, both public and Schools Library Services, have really gone all in with the National Year of Reading’s Go All In campaign.

To celebrate, children and young people are enjoying author visits, storytelling with live music, theatre performances, creative workshops and much more! They are exploring the things they love whilst discovering just how much fun reading can be.

Here’s a closer look at what some of our members have been up to for World Book Day.

Knowsley Libraries

As World Book Day Gifting Hubs, Huyton and Kirkby Libraries are welcoming schools for special visits. They’re also hosting live theatre performances, nursery visits, and have created a bookshop-style display to bring the celebration to life. They have also created a dedicated package of class sessions where children can choose and take their World Book Day books home.

Leeds Libraries

World Book Day is embedded within the wider Leeds Storytelling Festival, with events and performances running all week. Leeds Libraries are helping distribute over 400,000 World Book Day books and hosting book token exchanges across community hubs. Schools are also taking part in theatrical performances, including a fun retelling of Rapunzel by Wrongsemble, as part of a dedicated festival offer for KS1–KS3 pupils.

Cornwall Libraries

Cornwall libraries celebrations include school assemblies promoting reading and library membership, and a county-wide school book quiz featuring eight qualifying teams hosted by children’s author Tom Palmer. In West Cornwall, 175 children will take part in a large-scale author event, alongside an additional author visit at Bodmin Library.

Bolton Libraries

Bolton libraries celebrations include an accessible £1 ticketed “Laugh, Listen and Draw” event with author Jen Carney, where every child receives a copy of her new book. The programme also includes Bedtime Stories at branch libraries and Central Library (including a surprise visit from the Library Bear), a major author event with Scott Allen welcoming 240 children across the day, and a dedicated Early Years Special event for under 5s and their families.

North Tyneside Libraries

As a World Book Day Gifting Hub, North Tyneside Libraries are hosting author Tom Vaughan for sessions across Wallsend and North Shields libraries, welcoming more than 390 pupils in a single day. Schools are visiting to exchange their £1 book tokens so children can take a book home.

The celebrations continue in May with a creative workshop from Bigfoot Arts Education. Children will meet Professor Paige Turner, who needs help. Her latest invention, the Read-a-Tron 3000, isn’t working! It’s powered by people reading, and reading levels are at an all-time low! Only by sharing stories, ideas, and enthusiasm for books can the children help bring it back to life. Continuing the celebrations into May helps to continue the reading momentum beyond World Book Day.

Brent Libraries

Brent Libraries are celebrating World Book Day through music and storytelling, hosting presenter Sam Glazer and a string quartet from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for an immersive workshop. Alongside this, Under 5s BookTrust Story and Rhyme Times are taking place across six libraries, with a week-long celebration of the joy and fun of books.