Thursday is World Book Day, designated by Unesco as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. It is a day when we toot our trumpets and bang our drums from the rooftops, shouting and singing about the many joys that books can bring. And yes, we are very excited.
This week, book tokens are landing in primary schools across Ireland, ready to be tucked into pockets and backpacks and brought into bookshops and supermarkets all over the country. Digital tokens will be available for secondary schools. Children can exchange their token for one of 14 vibrant World Book Day titles, with some choosing and taking home a book for the first time – and hopefully not the last.
Because, beyond the classroom and the costumes, that’s what World Book Day is about – making sure every child can experience the world of imagination and opportunity that is opened up by being a reader.
This World Book Day, in partnership with Foras na Gaeilge and An Post, Children’s Books Ireland will be delivering 14,000 books to 39 charity locations across Ireland, reaching children in hospital, homelessness services, direct provision centres and Traveller communities in time for the big day.
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For the first time ever, we’re also delighted to share that every single World Book Day title will be available in Braille, audio and digital formats, thanks to our friends at the National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI). These accessible formats will be available through the NCBI Library Access Services and their Bookshare Ireland platform, ensuring that children with vision impairments or reading difficulties can join the celebrations along with their peers.
As we get ready for World Book Day this Thursday, let us be your guide through the 14 fantastic €1.50/£1 titles on offer this year.
Irish World Book Day titles
Hazel Tree Farm: One Stormy Night, written by Alma Jordan, illustrated by Margaret Anne Suggs (O’Brien Press)
It’s the beginning of a new year on Hazel Tree Farm, and with it comes a burst of new life. Peter helps Dad to bring baby lambs into the world, while his sister Kate falls in love with next door’s fluffy chicks – and one in particular! But something is wrong with sheepdog Peg, and one stormy night, she runs away. Through wind and rain, the children race to find her before it’s too late.
Rita agus an Dragún, Scríofa ag Máire Zepf, maisithe ag Mr Ando (An tSnáthaid Mhór)
Is cailín beag í Rita a bhfuil smaointe móra aici. Nuair a éiríonn sí crosta, samhlaíonn sí go bhfuil dragún fíochmhar feargach aici a chuirfeadh an domhan ar crith. Ach is féidir tine the na feirge a cheansú, agus tá a fhios ag Rita cén dóigh lena dhéanamh. Rita is a little girl with big ideas. When she becomes cross, she imagines she has a ferocious angry dragon who would make the world shudder. But the hot fire of anger can be tamed, and Rita knows how.
For beginners
Bedtime for the Burpee Bears, written by Joe Wicks and illustrated by Paul Howard (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
The Burpee Bears love to have fun – and that includes bedtime! From trying to brush their teeth without squirting toothpaste everywhere to putting on their pyjamas the right way round, there’s certainly a lot keep everyone busy. But the best part of all is settling down together for quiet time before they finally close their eyes.
Billy’s Bravery, written and illustrated by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Billy absolutely LOVES Nature Girl. She’s his favourite superhero EVER! So when World Book Day comes round, Billy knows exactly who he wants to dress up as. Then Billy hears a nasty voice in his head. What if he looks silly? Can Billy be as brave as Nature Girl? A reassuring and uplifting book about finding your courage – the perfect springboard for talking about anxiety with little ones.
Lifesize Creepy Crawlies, written and illustrated by Sophy Henn (Red Shed, Farshore)
Grasshoppers, goliath beetles, bumblebees and bullet ants – creepy crawlies are amazing, and they are also everywhere! Together with author and illustrator Sophie Henn, come on an adventure to discover how YOU measure up against some of the world’s most incredible lifesize creepy crawlies, from the teeny tiny to the absolutely gigantic.
You Choose Your Adventure, written by Pippa Goodhart, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Puffin Books)
Welcome to your ‘You Choose’ World Book Day adventure! What will you wear? Where will you go? Who would you like to meet on the way? Go on … you choose! Let your imagination run wild and discover a different story every time with this magical storytelling toolkit.
Dave Pigeon: Bookshop Mayhem, written by Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey (Faber Children’s Books)
Dave Pigeon and his trusty sidekick, Skipper, are on the hunt for biscuits, as usual. Biscuits and good stories. Where better to go than a bookshop? Surely there’ll be a healthy supply of both … This is a laugh-out-loud story featuring a much-loved character, promoting a love of bookshops (and their Human Booksellers) and encouraging children to get reading.
Marvel Spider-Man: The Amazing Pocket Guide, by Catherine Saunders (DK)
Become an expert on all things Spider-Man with this bitesize pocket guide! Discover everything you ever needed to know about Spider-Man and the Spider-Verse! Is Spider-Man speedier than Spider-Ham? Who has more fighting skill, Venom or Vulture? Pick up this Pocket Guide and you’ll have all of these Spidey facts and more at your fingertips.
For fluent readers
The Boy with Wings: Attack of the Rampaging Robot, written by Lenny Henry, illustrated by Keenon Ferrell (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Tunde Wilkinson is an ordinary kid. He has awesome friends, sometimes embarrassing parents and needs to be careful his wings don’t get in the way on the football pitch. Oh yeah, Tunde is also a secret superhero. When a new kid starts at his school and is better than him at everything, not even Tunde’s friends seem on his side. Does this new kid have a connection to the shady Facility? And can Tunde figure it all out before an evil robot destroys their town?
A Dragon Realm Adventure, by Katie and Kevin Tsang (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)
Twelve-year-old Billy Chan and his friends each share a bond with a dragon. When new dragons fall from the sky into the Human Realm, the group join forces to reunite them with their lost egg. But the Dragon Realm is filled with dangerous golden elixir, magical creatures and threats lurking round every corner. Can our heroes accomplish their mission, or will they fall at the last hurdle?
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: Adventure in the Floating Mountains, by LD Lapinski (Hachette Children’s Group)
It is the once-every-century Cloud-Wish Festival in the magical world of Strofadia, and Flick and Jonathan have travelled there from the Strangeworlds Travel Agency via suitcase to be a part of it. At the end of the festival, the Cloud Dragon will appear to grant the wishes from the people of Strofadia. But when the moons rise at the end of the festival, there is no sign of the Cloud Dragon. Can Flick and Jonathan save the festival from disaster?
Kay’s Brilliant Brains, written by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker (Puffin)
One hundred billion people have lived on Earth. Unfortunately, this book would be too heavy if it talked about them all, so it’s only about ten of them. Containing 4,523,825 facts (this is a guess), this is a hilarious celebration of ten of the world’s most ingenious geniuses and all that their brilliant brains achieved.
For independent readers (12+)
Boot It!, written by AM Dassu, illustrated by Zainab ‘Daby’ Faidhi (Old Barn Books)
Sami and Ali dream of playing for the school football team. But acing the trials is the last of the boys’ worries when they’re made to feel they don’t belong on the team because of the colour of their skin. Ali just wants to tackle the ball on the pitch. Now he’s being forced to tackle the racism in his team too. From the award-winning author of Boy, Everywhere, a powerful story of friendship and booting out racism.
Being an Ally: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again, by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy (DK)
As an ally you use your power – no matter how big or small – to support others. You learn, and try, and mess up and try harder. In this collection of true stories from the title Allies, YA authors get real about being an ally, needing an ally and showing up for friends and strangers. There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Because we’re all in this together. And we all need allies.
World Book Day 2023 will take place on Thursday, March 2nd; all World Book Day titles are now available in participating bookshops. In partnership with Foras na Gaeilge, Creative Ireland and Dublin City Council, three live events will be streamed into schools on World Book Day. You can get more information on these events and resources to encourage reading from the World Book Day website. To access World Book Day titles through the NCBI Library Access Services, email library@ncbi.ie
