7 ways to celebrate World Book Day 2023

Dress up as your favourite character

For many children, dressing up as their favourite book character and then showing off their outfits at school is the highlight of the day. But which character should they go as? Check out our step-by-step guides here for some inspiration. For those of you who may be on a tighter budget or are short on time, try one of our 3-step costumes hacks. And don't forget, their outfit doesn't just have to be for school. If you go for a walk, they can wear their costume (good weather-dependent, of course). Or knock on your neighbour’s door so they can praise your little book lover’s fantastic effort. Don’t forget to take some pictures too. You could even do a themed photoshoot based on the characters they’ve chosen.

Share a story and do a book swap

The World Book Day team champions the magic of sharing stories. So, why not do a book swap with your children and their friends? They can pick out their favourite books they think their mates will like, plus they’ll receive something new to read as well! Another way for kids to share a story is to all agree on one book to read, and then they can meet up to talk about it over some tasty snacks.

Pick up a £1 World Book Day book

Of course, one of the best ways to celebrate World Book Day is by getting your hands on this year’s £1 books. We recommend Adam Kay and Henry Paker's Kay's Brilliant Brains and Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt's You Choose Your Adventure but there’s a whole selection of exclusive stories for everyone to enjoy.

Start your own book

Has your young reader been harbouring fantasies of becoming an author or illustrator when they grow up? World Book Day is the perfect day to encourage them to create their own stories. Find some writing prompts online or check out our how-to’s for budding writers. And then for the artists, we’ve got some fabulous drawing tutorials. Children could even copy the illustrations from their favourite books to hone their drawing skills and get those creative juices flowing.

Test your book knowledge

They say they’re a bookworm but do they know Roald Dahl from Rick Riordan? What’s the name of the fearsome teacher in Matilda? And who is Greg Heffley’s best friend? Try our ultimate Puffin books quiz, Part 1 and Part 2 and test their knowledge on all things books-related. We’ve also got a host of other fantastic quizzes here and the World Book Day team have their own big bonanza quiz. To make it personal, you could put together a quiz on their favourite books and reward them with a prize for getting the questions right.  

Have a book-themed film night

Some of the greatest films have been adapted from books. So, at the end of the day, settle down on the sofa and have a book-themed film night. Watch a film whose original book your children have read, and then compare the differences together. Or watch a film whose book version you think they’d like. This is a great way to diversify their reading interests, and it will allow you to spend some quality time together as a family.

Read, read, and read some more!

The easiest way to celebrate World Book Day is, of course, to read! Read as much as you can together – whether it's old favourites or something brand new, nothing beats curling up with a good book.  

Don’t forget to check out all of the World Book Day team’s resources – from activity packs to extracts, there’s something for every reader!