World Book Day returns on Thursday 5 March, and Islington Libraries are excited to join the celebrations once again. The aim? To help children across the borough discover just how fun, freeing and imaginative reading can be.

This year’s World Book Day is also part of the National Year of Reading — a UK‑wide push to support children and families to read for pleasure, explore stories together, and build positive reading habits that last a lifetime.

Supporting a brilliant charity

Islington Libraries are proud to support World Book Day, the UK’s reading‑for‑fun charity. The organisation champions children’s reading choices, encourages families to let go of pressure and expectations, and helps young people see reading differently, as something playful, personal and completely on their own.

The charity is also working to get books into the hands of the children who need them most, including distributing over 400,000 books to children in disadvantaged communities this year, thanks to support from Arts Council England and The Julia Rausing Trust.

Pick up a free World Book Day book at your library

To celebrate, Mildmay Library and Islington South Library will be joining in as Community Token Exchange Hubs. Children who visit can swap their £1 / £1.50 World Book Day book token for one of this year’s brilliant World Book Day titles, completely free.

Prefer to choose your own adventure? Tokens can also be used to get £1 off ANY book or audiobook priced £2.99 or more.

Tokens are valid from 2 March until they run out!

Join us for World Book Day fun

Across Islington, our libraries will also be hosting special events to celebrate from creative crafts to storytelling sessions and more:

South Library
4 March, 3:30-6pm

Join us for a World Book Day craft session, collect your free world book day book and get your face painted from 3:30-5:30!

Mildmay Library face painting!
5 March, 3.30-6.30pm

Come dressed up for World Book Day, get your face painted and choose one of the wonderful world book day books!

West Library
5 March, 4-5 pm
Join us at the Library to celebrate WBD, write a story in ten words or fewer and/or a picture.

N4 Library
5 March, 11-11:45 am

Book trust Storytime session and Mini craft for under 5’s. Join us for a storytime with a difference and pick up your World Book Day Voucher.

Find out more

Learn more about World Book Day® and how you can support the charity’s work.