World Book Day 2027
World Book Day 2027: the date, the token and costume ideas
World Book Day is a day for reading and for dressing up. Here's the date, how the book token works, and a way to make a costume from a character your child invents.
An example scene, in the Paper collage style
Read the whole story for free
All 14 double pages, the hero and the cover are yours to see before you buy: you only pay if you love the story.
Photo optional
A short description is enough for a lovely hero. Whether you add a photo is up to you. GDPR-compliant.
Illustration styles to choose from
Many styles from the picture-book tradition, from watercolour to ligne claire, kept from the first page to the last.
What World Book Day is, and how to take part
The date. World Book Day 2027 is on Thursday 4 March 2027, according to worldbookday.com.
Who runs it. In the UK, World Book Day is run by World Book Day Ltd, a registered charity, with National Book Tokens as its sponsor, as the charity explains on its site.
The book token. According to worldbookday.com, the token is worth £1 in the UK and €1.50 in Ireland. For 2027 it can be exchanged for one of 15 free books, or put towards another book, between 14 February and 21 March 2027. Schools, nurseries and libraries order the tokens and hand them out, so ask there if your child hasn't brought one home.
Dressing up. The World Book Day site offers low-cost dressing-up ideas and the day doesn't need a bought costume. Clothes you already have are a good place to start.
Why it matters. The National Literacy Trust's 2026 survey of 125,375 children found that 36.1% of 8 to 18 year olds enjoy reading in their free time, a rise on 2025, when enjoyment was at its lowest level since 2005. For what helps at home, see reading aloud to children and reading development in children.
A character your child invents. Instead of copying a character from a shelf, your child can be the hero of a book of their own. At Sagalino, you describe the hero and the idea, and the story is written from it, over 14 double pages, with up to 5 characters. Only original characters and worlds are used. You read the whole story for free before you pay, and the eBook (£4.50) is ready about half an hour after you buy. The costume then comes from the story: the clothes the hero wears on the cover are the ones to put together.
World Book Day 2027 at a glance, checked 2 October 2026
- Date
- Thursday 4 March 2027
- Run by (UK)
- World Book Day Ltd, a registered charity, sponsored by National Book Tokens
- Token
- £1 in the UK, €1.50 in Ireland; for 2027 valid from 14 February to 21 March
- Costume
- Not required: the site offers low-cost ideas
- Reading enjoyment, 8 to 18
- 36.1% in 2026 (National Literacy Trust)
- 2027 book choice
- 15 free books; we don't list the titles, see worldbookday.com
For books to read on the day, our lists by age start at books for 2 year olds and go up to books for 10 to 12 year olds.
Three steps to your book
No risk: you read the whole story before you pay anything.
- 1
Describe
30 seconds
Tell us about the main character in a few words: name, looks, what they love. No photo needed.
- 2
Read for free
6 to 8 minutes
We prepare the story, the hero and the cover, and you read everything for free before you decide.
- 3
Give
eBook £4.50
Love the story? After you buy, you confirm your characters, then we paint every page in about half an hour. You can order the hardcover at the same time or later, and the eBook price is fully credited.
Simple and clear
No subscription, no hidden costs, and the preview is always free.
eBook · on screen and as a PDF
£4.50
14 illustrated double pages, ready about half an hour after you buy.
Hardcover · printed in the EU or the US
£37.90+ £5.90 delivery to the United Kingdom
Quality printing in the EU, or in the US for US orders, and the price of your eBook is fully credited.
You read the whole story for free first, and only pay if you love it.
Good to know
When is World Book Day 2027?
Thursday 4 March 2027, according to worldbookday.com.
What is the World Book Day book token?
A token worth £1 in the UK and €1.50 in Ireland, according to worldbookday.com. For 2027 it can be exchanged for one of 15 free books or put towards another book, between 14 February and 21 March 2027. Schools, nurseries and libraries give them out.
Does my child need a bought costume?
No. The World Book Day site offers low-cost dressing-up ideas, and a costume made from clothes at home does the job.
Can my child dress up as a character from a book that is their own?
Yes. With Sagalino, your child describes their own hero and the story is written from it, with original characters only. The preview is free, so you read the whole story before you pay.
A hero of your child's own, read for free first
Preview in 6 to 8 minutes. Free. Photo optional.
Create my own character's book