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Wales Online
National
Nisha Mal

When is World Book Day 2022? Plus this year's theme and online activities

One of the biggest annual literary events for children is set to mark its 25 anniversary this year.

World Book Day is a chance tp children to become immersed in fiction.

Many schools encourage kids to come dressed as their favourite book character - and each year there is a new theme.

Here's everything you need to know about World Book Day in 2022.

When is World Book Day?

World Book Day is on Thursday, March 3.

The annual event was created by Unesco in 1995, and it is celebrated across more than 100 countries world wide.

The first World Book Day in the UK and Ireland took place in 1997.

As World Book Day founder, Baroness Gail Rebuck, recalls “We wanted to do something to reposition reading and our message is the same today as it was then – that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives.”

World Book Day is always held on the first Thursday in March.

What is this year's theme and how do I use my book token?

'You Are A Reader' is the theme for 2022.

World Book Day will be distributing millions of £1 tokens across the UK and Ireland.

The £1 book tokens can be used now until Sunday, March 27 (some retailers will accept the tokens beyond this date).

You can take it into your local bookshop or supermarket and either swap it for one of the twelve exclusive books written especially for World Book Day , or use it to get £1 off any full price book, worth at least £2.99 or more.

There are also a string of online activities and events, including a BBC Teach live session and a Matilda and Friends workshop. You can take a look at all of the upcoming events here.

The £1 books available to buy

Picture Books

- Hey Duggee: The World Book Day Badge (Laydbird)

- Rocket Rules! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola (Puffin)

- Dinosaur Roar and Friends! (Macmillan)

Early Readers 6+

- Silly Book True or False by Matt Lucas (Farshore)

- Jemma The Pig and the 127 Acorns by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins)

- The Worst Class in the World in Danger by Joanna Nadin (Bloomsbury)

- Welcome to Grimwood by Nadia Shireen (Simon & Schuster)

Fluent Readers 8+

- The Wizard and Me by Simon Farnaby (Hachette)

- Peak Peril by Sharna Jackson (Knights Of)

- Think Like a Boss by Rashmi Sirdeshpande (Hachette)

Independent Readers 11+

- The Last Word by Ben Bailey Smith (Bloomsbury)

- Boy Missing by Sophie McKenzie (Simon & Schuster)

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