What to Do After World Book Day: 10 Ways to Keep Children Reading

The costumes have been packed away, the book quizzes are finished and another World Book Day is over. But the excitement around reading doesn't have to end there.

World Book Day is a brilliant opportunity to get children talking about books, discovering new favourites and sharing their love of reading with their classmates. The real opportunity, though, is turning that enthusiasm into something that lasts throughout the school year.

The good news? You don't need another big event or hours of planning to do it.

Here are 10 simple ways to keep the World Book Day reading buzz going in your school.

1. Start a class reading challenge

Give children a new reading goal to work towards after World Book Day.

Rather than focusing on how many books they can finish, encourage pupils to explore different kinds of reading. You could challenge them to:

• Read a book chosen by a friend
• Try a non-fiction book
• Read a book with an animal on the cover
• Discover a new author
• Read somewhere unusual
• Try a genre they've never read before

Create a display where pupils can tick off each challenge as they complete it. You could even set a whole-class goal to work towards together.

2. Introduce regular book recommendations

Children can be some of your best reading ambassadors.

Make book recommendations a regular part of your classroom routine by giving one or two pupils a few minutes each week to share something they've enjoyed reading.

Keep it simple. Ask them to tell the class the title, what they liked about it and who they think might enjoy it.

You could also create a "Recommended by our class" shelf or display so children always have somewhere to look when they're wondering what to read next.

3. Keep exploring non-fiction

Not every child is going to fall in love with a novel – and that's okay.

World Book Day can be a great opportunity to remind pupils that reading encompasses much more than fiction. Keep a wide range of fact books available and encourage children to explore subjects that genuinely interest them, whether that's football, space, animals, history, science or something completely unexpected.

Try introducing a Fact of the Week, with pupils taking turns to find something fascinating in a book and share it with the class.

4. Give children more choice

If World Book Day helped a child discover a particular author, series, subject or type of book they enjoyed, give them opportunities to explore it further.

Independent reading doesn't always need to come with a task attached. Make time for children to browse, choose and simply enjoy books.

And don't worry if someone wants to reread an old favourite. Rereading can be just as valuable as moving on to something new.

Giving pupils ownership over what they read can help reading feel like something they choose to do, rather than another piece of schoolwork.

5. Make reading visible around your school

Show children that reading is something everyone in your school community can enjoy.

Create a display featuring what teachers and other members of staff are currently reading. Put staff book recommendations on classroom doors or ask adults around the school to nominate their childhood favourites.

You could even add "Ask me about this book!" signs to encourage pupils to start conversations with staff.

Seeing adults enjoying and talking about books helps make reading part of everyday school life.

6. Create a book swap

Give books that have already been enjoyed a chance to find a new reader.

Invite pupils to bring in a book they've finished with and swap it for another donated book. You could run one larger book swap each term or create a permanent swapping shelf somewhere in school.

Make sure there are ways for children who don't have a book to donate to take part too, so everyone has the opportunity to discover something new.

7. Start a class book club

Book clubs don't have to mean everyone reading the same novel and completing pages of questions.

Try a relaxed class book club where pupils can talk about whatever they've been reading recently.

Use prompts such as:

What made you laugh?

Which character would you like to meet?

Did you learn anything surprising?

Would you recommend your book to someone else?

Even ten minutes every couple of weeks can create a space where talking about books becomes a normal part of classroom life.

8. Keep your World Book Day activities going

Think back to the activities that created the biggest buzz on World Book Day itself.

Did pupils love the book quiz? Run another one at the end of term.

Was your book scavenger hunt a hit? Create a new version.

Did children enjoy recommending books to their classmates? Turn it into a monthly activity.

You don't have to continually invent new ideas. If something got children excited about books, bring it back.

You could even ask pupils to vote for the World Book Day activity they'd most like to do again.

9. Celebrate reading milestones

Celebrating reading doesn't have to mean rewarding the child who has read the most books.

Instead, recognise all sorts of reading achievements.

Perhaps someone has finished their first chapter book, tried a completely new genre, discovered an author they love or finally found a book they couldn't put down.

Create a classroom reading celebration board or set aside time each month to share these moments.

By celebrating different kinds of progress, you can make sure reading achievements feel achievable for every child.

10. Give children something to look forward to

World Book Day doesn't need to be the only exciting date in your school's reading calendar.

Plan smaller reading moments throughout the year. You could hold a termly book quiz, organise a reading picnic when the weather gets warmer, invite pupils to create their own book awards or arrange a visit from an author.

You could even choose one day each half term as a Reading Celebration Day, giving pupils something bookish to look forward to without recreating the scale of World Book Day.

The aim is simple: make books and reading a regular source of excitement rather than something you celebrate once a year.

Make every day a book day

World Book Day can provide a fantastic spark, but creating lifelong readers happens in all the little moments that follow.

A recommendation from a friend. Ten quiet minutes with a favourite book. Discovering an amazing fact. Hearing a teacher talk enthusiastically about a story they loved as a child.

By building those moments into everyday school life, you can help turn the excitement of World Book Day into a love of reading that lasts all year.

Keep your bookshelves fresh with an Independent Usborne Partner

Keeping children interested in reading is much easier when there are exciting books waiting for them to discover.

Your local Independent Usborne Partner can work with your school throughout the year, helping you find books for different ages, interests and reading preferences and supporting you in organising exciting book events for your pupils.

From Usborne Book Fairs to other book events, there are plenty of opportunities to bring your school community together around reading – and your school may also be able to earn free books to refresh your classroom or library shelves.

So, while World Book Day might be over, your next reading adventure doesn't have to be far away.

Find your local Independent Usborne Partner and discover how they can help keep your pupils reading all year round.