World Book Day

Who we are

We champion reading for fun. That’s because it seriously improves lives. 

In fact, it’s the biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful future. Today, only one in three children likes reading. By changing this, we’ll transform lives.

Young people are more likely to read if they see it as a fun, entertaining and social thing to do. That’s what our work is all about; inspiring them to see reading differently.

Together, let’s help every child enjoy the life-changing benefits of reading for fun.

Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.

The Department for Education’s recent Reading Framework – Teaching the Foundations of Literacy published in also includes a summary of the evidence on Reading for Pleasure and highlights how it might be put in practice in the curriculum.

Our culture and values

Our mission is to promote reading for fun, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

World Book Day welcomes candidates drawn from a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. We would like our trustees to be reflective of our society and the Charity's beneficiaries. We actively encourage applications from those currently underrepresented on our board: non-binary, all ethnic groups other than white British, LGBTQ+.