World Book Day 2023: celebrating literacy charities

Parents of young children might be forgiven for thinking that World Book Day is just another gimmicky ‘holiday’ or school project that was created to cast them in the role of last-minute fictional character costumer designer, but World Book Day is so much more than that.

 

World Book Day is a charity that operates in the UK and Ireland. Created by UNESCO in 1995, World Book Day is dedicated to helping young people and underprivileged children discover the joy of reading. Today, it is celebrated by more than 100 countries worldwide.

 

The impact of World Book Day is extensive. In 2022 alone, 101,000 books were donated by publishers, McDonald’s, and the Arts Council to children who were least likely to have books of their own. More than two in three children (79%) took part in a World Book Day event or activity. And 77% of primary schools found that World Book Day was effective in fostering a culture of reading for pleasure in young children.

 

This year, World Book Day takes place on 02 March 2023. Here are some incredible book charities you can support and celebrate. 

 

 

World Book Day 

 

The charity behind the title and the one that started it all. According to their website, World Book Day states that, “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 household income”.

 

World Book Day is dedicated to promoting the joy of reading. They are committed to offering every child from every background the chance to have a book of their own, primarily by working with publishers to produce a list of £1 books that will appeal to a wide range of children at all ages, interests, and reading levels. World Book Day’s £1 tokens and £1 books (available in available in braille, large print, and audio) give children the opportunity to experience choosing and owning a book for free.

 

World Book Day also host a programme of digital events every year. In 2022, more than 500,000 children enjoyed World Book Day digital activities. In 2023, they have partnered with Yoto for World Book Day’s ‘World of Stories’ campaign, providing a library’s worth of free audiobooks, and keeping the joy of reading as accessible as possible. 

 

 

National Literacy Trust

 

A key partner of World Book Day, the National Literacy Trust is an independent charity dedicated to raising literacy levels across the UK.

 

The Trust recognises the intergenerational ripple effect of low-level literacy, working to improve the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of children, young people, and families in some of the most disadvantaged schools and communities across the country.

 

For World Book Day 2023, the National Literacy Trust are promoting a series of online events, including ‘The Great World Book Day Draw-Along with Dave Pigeon’ and ‘Footy & Booky Quiz’.

 

 

Book Aid International 

 

Book Aid International is the UK’s top book donation and library development charity.

 

Every year, Book Aid sends over one million books to around twenty-six countries across the globe, giving books and resources to those that need it most. They work to build community libraries, reach and enrich the lives of refugees, and respond when books are lost through times of conflict or the climate crisis.  

 

 

Book Trust

 

Book Trust is the UK’s largest reading charity. They are geared towards getting every child reading, ‘regularly and by choice’. Book Trust work with every local authority, from children’s centres and schools to libraries and health care providers. Their nationwide flagship programme Bookstart gives a free book pack to every baby born in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

 

For World Book Day 2023, Book Trust will be relaunching their #PassThePen campaign which sees top authors and illustrators handing over their social media accounts to new and up and coming authors and illustrators of colour. The campaign is designed to champion new voices, generate book sales, and promote visibility. All the hosts taking part this year are previous World Book Day £1 authors or illustrators.

 

 

Give a Book

 

Give a Book is a UK-based charity dedicated to promoting books and the pleasure of reading in some of the hardest to reach places, including disadvantaged communities and prisons.

 

According to the Give a Book and Prison Reading Groups website, Give a Book supports over fifty prisons nationwide with a supply of more than 3000 books a year, book clubs, family days, and family reading initiatives. Their Breakfast Book Clubs have been providing books and free breakfasts for primary school children since 2013.

 

For World Book Day 2023, Give a Book will be celebrating the best way they know how, by giving books.