- 04/03/2025
- Posted by: Valerie Vaz MP
- Category: Local News, News
World Book Day has been celebrated on the first Thursday in March since 1998 in the UK. This year Parliament marked World Book Day on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing, I was pleased to see that there were many MPs who dropped in to collect the books for £1 to give to their schools.
The evidence shows that reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success, however:
- Only 1 in 3 children enjoy reading
- Reading for pleasure is at its lowest level since 2005
- 1 million children don’t have a book of their own
- 1 in 6 parents of primary school children say they don’t have enough age-appropriate books at home
- 1 in 7 state primary schools does not have a dedicated library or reading space
World Book Day helps children make the choices for themselves: what to read, when to read and where to read, increasing enjoyment in reading.
You can visit their website for resources aimed at families and educators, including their ‘World of Stories’ audiobook range, with books for all levels of reader from beginner to independent.