When is World Book Day 2026?                 

World Book Day 2026 will take place on Thursday 5 March 2026.

This annual celebration of authors, illustrators, books and the joy of reading is one of the highlights of our year at the National Literacy Trust!

Why do we celebrate World Book Day?

We love celebrating the work of the charity World Book Day, and their purpose: To champion the fun of reading because it seriously improves children’s lives.

Each year in March, it's a great opportunity to join in with the national buzz around reading and the celebration of books when we can encourage everyone to let go of pressure and expectations and give children a choice, and a chance, to grow a lifelong love of reading.

World Book Day is a chance to spotlight and celebrate reading for pleasure, supporting children's autonomy in book choice, and embedding a habit of reading that brings a wide range of benefits.

What are we doing for World Book Day?

 This year our theme is inspired by the start of Science Week, which invites us to think: “Curiosity – What’s your question?”

We will begin the day with a whole‑school shared reading of Mrs Armitage on Wheels, exploring how curiosity leads Mrs Armitage to improve her bicycle and invent something highly imaginative and helpful.   After assembly, children will spend the day planning, designing and creating their own fantastical curious contraption. Their ideas will be guided by both their imaginations and their year group’s chosen environment: 

• Amongst the Clouds    Year R
• Under the Sea              Y1
• Outer Space                 Y2
• Jungles                          Y3
• Arctic Tundra               Y4
• Deserts                         Y5
• Mountains                   Y

 

This year, children are invited to wear clothing linked to their environment—through colour, pattern or theme.  Please see further down the page for themed outfit inspiration according to year group environment.   We encourage families to be creative with items they already have at home to avoid any additional cost.... please feel free to come up with your own ideas. 

 

THEMED OUTFITS ACCORDING TO ENVIRONMENT

 -Yr R:    Theme yourself with the sky in Blue and White clothing?  Or dress as a cloud!  You might wish to wear something with aeroplanes or birds on it?  Or you could dress up as a pilot, a flying superhero or anything with wings!

   

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Y1:  Dive into the ocean theme in Blue clothing or you could wear something with sea creatures or surf designs on it.  Alternatively, you could dress up as a sea creature or a deep see diver?

 

-Y2: Why not go Black and Yellow like space and the stars?  Or wear clothing with stars or moons on it?  If you'd like to, you could dress up as a star, an astronaut, alien or astronomer! 

 

-Y3: What about some green/brown and multicolour clothing to help blend into the rainforest... but don't forget, it's a riot of colour so don't forget a pop of colour here and there!  Or, how about clothes with animals or animal print on it?  Or you could be a Jungle explorer or wear camouflage?

 

-Y4: Theme your clothing with the snow and ice - White, Black and Grey clothing would do the trick but you could also layer-up in your woolly winter clothing or ski clothes.  If you love an arctic animal, why not dress up as a penguin, polar bear, whale or walrus! 

  

 

-Y5: Blend in with the vast open plains in Yellow, Orange and Brown clothing or try lots of loose fitting clothes and don't forget the head scarf and sunglasses!  Alternatively, you could dress up as a cactus, snake, cowboy/cowgirl or camel!

-Y6: If you're off to explore in the mountains, White, Grey, Brown and Green clothing will help you blend in but you'll want to wrap up warm as it gets cold at the summit!  Maybe some winter clothing. walking shoes and a rucksack would be useful.  Don't forget, you could also dress up as an explorer or as mountain animal such as a mountain goat, eagle, bear or Yeti! 

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Alternatively, they may come as an inventor or explorer.  

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