An Exmouth school has won the World Book Day competition organized by UCLAN Publishing. Bassetts Farm Primary School celebrated this recognition with enthusiasm, as every Year 6 child received a free book from the popular Pirate Academy series. The excitement didn’t stop there; on February 24, 2025, the students were treated to a virtual visit from author Justin Somper. He remarked, "I had a brilliant time talking to the sparky Year 6 students from Bassetts Farm Primary. There might have been 9,000 miles and 8 hours time difference between Exmouth and Perth, but thanks to the wonders of Zoom, we were all in the same room. I loved hearing their smart questions and inventive ideas."
Meanwhile, to mark World Book Day, the Westgate Shopping Centre in Oxford will again hold its popular book swap, scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025. Running from 10am to 4pm, visitors can donate any book in good condition and swap it for one from the selection available. This initiative is open to books of all genres and ages. Center director Brendan Hattam expressed enthusiasm for this year's event, saying, "After the success of our World Book Day celebrations in 2024 and due to popular demand, we’re delighted to be hosting our book swap once again." The swap will be set up on the upper ground opposite JD Sports, encouraging community involvement to promote literacy.
Collaborative efforts are evident as Westgate's book swap aligns with initiatives from Oxfordshire County Council's Westgate Library, which is generously donating new books to kickstart donations for the event. To make the day more vibrant, the library will also host storytime for children aged five to ten at 2pm, alongside crafts activities like coloring tables for younger children. To sweeten the deal for book lovers, center staff will hand out 50 Blackwell’s vouchers for guests to use at the Westgate Oxford store.
Beyond local schools and centers, the issue of book ownership among children has drawn attention. A recent report by the National Literacy Trust indicates nearly 20 percent of children aged 5-8 in the UK do not own a single book. Taking action against this concerning statistic, former teachers Elizabeth and Robert Lewis launched Kooky Kids World—an online platform dedicated to providing free children's stories. Launched in December 2024, Kooky Kids World aims to ignite the imagination and inspire children by making reading enjoyable. Liz Lewis highlights the vision behind the project: "Our goal is to ignite the imagination of children and inspire a lifelong love for reading."
To celebrate World Book Day, which falls on March 6, 2025, flyers with QR codes linking to Kooky Kids World have been sent out with food parcels across Pembrokeshire. These efforts are being aided by PATCH (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship), reinforcing community support for literacy. CEO of World Book Day, Cassie Chadderton, articulated the day’s purpose, stating, "World Book Day exists to encourage more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to benefit from a life-long habit of reading for pleasure."
Kooky Kids World distinguishes itself by offering 100% free access to high-quality stories available online, including audio versions narrated by Robert Lewis himself, making the platform accessible across various devices without the need for downloads. PATCH's director, Dave Golding, shared his thoughts on the project, noting, "We see desperate parents every day and it’s a joy to be able to offer children something that's Educational, Fun and Free." The platform is also committed to celebrating Welsh heritage, with plans to include classic Welsh folktales like The Tale of Gelert and eventually translate the entire site to Welsh.
Taken together, these initiatives reflect a community-driven approach to reviving interest in reading and ensuring access to books for all children. Whether through school events, public library collaborations, or innovative online platforms, there is a growing commitment across the UK to encourage literacy and storytelling among the younger generations. With celebrated activities around World Book Day, it is a hopeful reminder of the power of reading and community engagement to inspire lifelong learning.