Making every day a Book Day
World Book Day is a chance to celebrate the magic of reading for pleasure. An annual reminder that, amidst dispiriting stats on the decline of reading enjoyment, fewer parents reading to children, and looming exams for Key Stage 4 students, books are FUN. And if they’re not feeling fun… something’s going wrong.
Why World Book Day Matters
In recent years, World Book Day has rightly focused on encouraging young people to relax and “read your way”, letting go of pressure and expectations and engaging with reading however they choose. Whether through comics, graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction or audiobooks, young people deserve the chance to find their way into the wonderful world of words and stories.
A love of reading can change a life, improving outcomes across a range of social, educational and well-being measures. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, parents’ educational background, or income.
Research on the benefits of reading concludes that children who read:
- Are more likely to overcome the disadvantage caused by inequalities
- Are more likely to be happier, healthier and experience better mental wellbeing and self-esteem
- Are more likely to do better at school and make more progress across the curriculum
- Are more likely to develop empathy and creativity
If you’d like to hear it straight from the top, you can watch our recorded inspirational talk with Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day, where she discusses the mission behind the event and how reading can open doors for young people – as well as opening their minds and imaginations!
Exclusive Live Q&A with Karen M. McManus!
This World Book Day 2025, we’re proud to be supporting teachers to promote reading in schools with our exclusive live Q&A with international bestselling author Karen M. McManus, returning to National Teen Book Club for a special broadcast. Students will have a chance to ask questions about Karen’s twisty, gripping young adult thrillers, including the ‘One of Us Is Lying’ series; as well as gain insights into her writing journey, career to date and top tips for budding storytellers.
Promote a love of reading all year round
But naturally, National Teen Book Club doesn’t just shout about books one day a year! Teachers and young people can still sign up to our regular author Q&As – whether you’re an educator from a state school or college looking to promote reading for pleasure for your 11-19-year-old students all year round, or a 14-19-year-old independent learner seeking after-school inspiration and a chance to chat directly with an expert in your favourite genres, we have a way for you to take part.
We know that some of the key building elements to support a young person to read for pleasure include having a choice in what to read, and trusted help to find a book – and that’s where we hope the diversity of our speakers and their work will spark interest, with something for everyone. And if not, and the books your young people want to read aren’t out there yet, then they’ll have the chance to hear about a range of writing journeys and associated careers, providing both inspiration and practical first-hand knowledge to help them make it happen.