Sixteen brilliant ideas for celebrating World Book Day in secondary schools

World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to inspire a love of reading in students of all ages. While primary schools often take centre stage with fancy dress and storytelling, secondary schools can bring their own unique flair to the celebration. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of World Book Day in your secondary school.

Speed Book Dating

Set up a "speed dating" event, but instead of dating, students share their favourite books! Organise students to sit in pairs and give each one a set amount of time (a minute or two) to explain why the book they’ve chosen is worth reading. After the timer goes off, they move to the next student and hear about another book. At the end of the session, students can note down which books they’d be interested in reading based on their peers' recommendations.

Teacher's Favourite Reads

Sometimes, seeing their teachers get passionate about books can inspire students to do the same. Ask teachers across different departments to recommend their favourite books—whether they are classics, modern novels, or something unexpected. Teachers can then give short talks in their classes or during an assembly about why the book means something to them.

You could even create a display in the library or a hallway featuring teachers’ book choices, which might spark student interest and help them see their teachers in a new light.

Themed Assemblies or Form Time

Start or end the day with a World Book Day themed assembly. You could invite guest speakers, perform short readings from popular books, or even put together a light-hearted “Guess the Book” quiz. During form time, students could take part in group activities such as creating book recommendation lists or writing short book reviews that can be shared on school noticeboards or online.

Reading Challenges with a Twist

Why not introduce a school-wide reading challenge? Instead of the typical read-a-thon, give it a twist by focusing on specific genres or themes, such as fantasy, dystopian novels, or books by diverse authors. Encourage students to read outside their usual comfort zones, and offer incentives such as prizes, certificates, or even the chance to recommend their favourite books in assembly or on the school website.

Book Swap Stations

A simple but effective idea is setting up a book swap station in your school library or common areas. Encourage students to bring in books they’ve already read and swap them for something new. This promotes the idea of reusing and sharing stories, and it’s a great way to refresh students’ reading material without any added cost.

Creative Writing Competitions

World Book Day is the perfect time to ignite students' creativity with a writing competition. Give students the opportunity to pen their own short stories, poems, or even scripts. Offer a range of categories so students of all writing abilities feel encouraged to participate. 

Host an Author Visit

One of the most exciting ways to celebrate World Book Day is by inviting an author to your school. Meeting an author in person can be a hugely inspiring experience for students, giving them insight into the writing process, the challenges of storytelling, and the joy of creating characters and worlds. Whether it’s a live event in the school hall or a virtual session beamed into the classroom, author visits can leave a lasting impact on students, sparking a new interest in reading or writing.

You can reach out to authors who write for teens or young adults, or even work with an Independent Usborne Partner to find the right fit for your school. Usborne’s authors can provide engaging talks and workshops, tailored to inspire secondary students.

Dress as a Literary Character (With a Twist!)

Although dressing up tends to be more common in primary schools, it can be just as fun in secondary schools—especially with a creative twist. Instead of just donning costumes, ask students to represent a character’s personality through their clothes. For example, someone might wear a coat with numerous pockets to represent a character who’s always prepared for adventure. This approach can allow students to get involved without feeling the pressure to put together elaborate costumes.

Reading Cafés

Turn a section of the school into a “reading café,” where students can come during breaks to enjoy a quiet reading space with cushions, beanbags, and perhaps some hot chocolate (if your school allows it!). For those who prefer socialising, a book club could be the perfect way to mark World Book Day. Students can discuss their favourite reads, debate book-to-film adaptations, or even recommend new titles to each other.

Literary Escape Rooms

Create a literary-themed escape room that challenges students to solve puzzles based on well-known books or authors. You can set this up in a classroom or the school library, with clues hidden in books, quotes, or literary references. Teams of students can race against the clock to escape by solving the challenges, with the activity helping to reinforce critical thinking, teamwork, and a love of reading.

Book-Themed Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt around the school is another fantastic way to get students moving and learning on World Book Day. Hide clues around the school based on famous books or literary characters. For example, clues could be hidden in locations connected to the themes of the books—perhaps one near the science lab for a clue related to a sci-fi novel, or in the sports hall for a clue about a sports-themed book. You can even ask students to write their own scavenger hunt clues based on books they’ve read, making this a student-led event. A fun reward could be awarded to the winning team.

Design a Book Cover or Poster

Get creative by asking students to design new covers for their favourite books or posters advertising a literary event or a new book release. This activity can be run in art or design & technology classes and is a great way to combine creativity with a love of reading. You can display the students’ work around the school or create a virtual gallery on the school’s website or social media platforms to celebrate their talent.

Book to Film Debate

Host a lively debate on book-to-film adaptations. Ask students to discuss whether a film stayed true to the book, what changes worked or didn’t, and whether the film was better than the book. This can encourage students to think critically about storytelling across different mediums, and it gives students who enjoy films but may not always pick up a book a way to engage with literature.

Create a "Bookstagram" Wall

This activity brings the world of social media into the classroom in a fun and educational way. Set up a “Bookstagram” wall where students can post their own mini reviews or thoughts on books they’ve recently read. They can design their own Instagram-style posts using photos of their books, creative captions, and star ratings. This could be a fun, visual way to encourage peer recommendations and get students talking about their reading choices.

Hold a Book Fair

World Book Day is a perfect time to host a book fair at school. Work with your local Independent Usborne Partner to arrange a book fair where students can purchase new titles. Usborne book fairs can often be run in a way that allows your school to earn free books through sales. It's a wonderful way to get fresh, engaging books into students' hands.

Create a Literary Podcast or YouTube Channel

If your school has a tech-savvy group of students, you could launch a literary-themed podcast or YouTube channel where students discuss their favourite books, review new releases, or interview teachers and staff about their reading habits. This can be an ongoing project, starting on World Book Day, that students could run for the rest of the school year. This could also tie into media studies or ICT classes, giving students a chance to practise digital skills while engaging with literature.

By incorporating a range of activities, from creative competitions to exciting events like author visits or escape rooms, secondary schools can celebrate World Book Day in a way that feels relevant and exciting for older students. Working with an Independent Usborne Partner can enhance many of these activities, offering resources, recommendations, and even helping to organise events that make World Book Day a memorable occasion in the school calendar.

Don't forget to check out all our World Book Day ideas here!