World Book Day is here and what better way to celebrate than with a great book! Books are a great way to learn, grow your vocabulary, and learn new facts, and explore make believe worlds. World Book Day is a day where you can celebrate the joy of reading may it be with a picture book, a novel, a comic book, non-fiction, or even fiction. So, let’s celebrate our love of reading on World Book Day by reading all the books!
World Book Day
World book day was started by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). And because many people agree that books are important, over 100 countries have adopted this holiday!
Why Are Books Important?
Did you know that children who read books regularly tend to have a broader vocabulary, increased knowledge, higher test scores, and a better understanding of the world around them?
That’s pretty significant. Book reading is also important for adults too as it enhances cognitive function, fosters empathy, teaches people to look at different perspectives, and improves vocabulary. It can also relieve stress.
So books are important for both children and adults! Let’s explore different great books with this big list!
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Related: Check out this BIG LIST of books for kids that love to rhyme.
World Book Day Books For Babies
Babies may not be pupils in school, but there are plenty of resources and great books created by illustrators that just have pictures and simple sight words. This is a great way to help your child experience the world at a young age.
1. First 100 Words: A Padded Board Book
Teach you baby 100 simple sight words with this book. Each page has brightly colored pictures with the name of each picture. This is perfect for babies!
2. My First Library: 10 Board Books For Kids
Just like the first book, this book set has plenty of stories that have bright pictures and sight words. The book topics are:
- ABCs
- Colors
- Numbers
- Birds
- Farm Animals and Pets
- Fruits
- Wild Animals
- Shapes
- Transport
- Vegetables
What a great way for your baby to explore the world on so many different levels.
3. LeapFrog Learning 100 Words Book
Learn 100 new words with this age-appropriate and interactive LeapFrog book. Your baby will be able to learn sight words for pets, animals, food, colors, opposites, outside, and more. Each time you touch a word on the page a sound is made and the star will light up. You can even use this to learn English and Spanish.
4. Who Do You See Crinkle Book
This interactive crinkle baby book is perfect for curious and teething babies. It is a sensory book that allows your baby to explore different pictures, textures, colors, and includes a baby safe mirror which will make tummy time even more enjoyable!
5. Baby Einstein- My First Library
My kids always loved Baby Einstein and they enjoyed these books. There are 12 small books that teach your child simple sight words with fun colorful pictures. Your children can learn about: shapes, letters, counting, colors, and seasons!
6. Noisy Baby Animals Book
Your baby is going to love this Noisy Baby Animals book. They can explore 6 different animal sounds. Plus, they can feel different textures of each animal too. This interactive book brings the world alive by allowing children to explore different animals. This is a great book for World Book Day.
7. Soft Peter Rabbit Book
Who doesn’t love Peter Rabbit? Peter Rabbit is a beloved childhood character beloved by many. And now babies can also experience Peter Rabbit with this soft crinkle book that’s great for teething and has squeakers.
8. Peek-a-boo Activity Book
Your baby can explore colors and patterns with this activity book. Learn sight words in English and Spanish. Each page of this book shows your child a new word and a new animal. Plus, the crinkle interactive pages also gives your baby auditory stimulation.
9. Good Night Moon Soft Book
Goodnight Moon is another classic story! This story is a fun story about a bunny wishing everything goodnight. It’s so sweet. Plus, it’s a soft fabric book where each page crinkles. It also has teether corners, squeakers, different textures, and even peek-a-boo flaps. What a fun sensory book!
10. See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book
This sensory book is full of bright pictures and happy babies. Each page has an activity for your baby that allows the to explore. They experience different textures, different fabrics, and a mirror to look at themselves. Plus, there are different puzzles and activities like tracing the snail’s shell or tapping the drum!
Great World Book Day Books For Toddlers
11. Where’s Spot?
The book “Where’s Spot?” was written by Eric Hill. It’s about Sally, a momma dog, who searches for her silly puppy who is hiding somewhere. It’s a fun interactive book with a happy ending. It is a perfect book for World Book Day.
12. Llama Llama Red Pajama
If you love rhyming then you’ll love this Llama Llama Red Pajama book. Llama Llama is having nighttime drama which makes this a fun bedtime story. It’s a fun book with rhyming and fun artwork and children can relate to the problems Llama Llama has before bed. And parents can appreciate the comforting message of Mama Llama.
13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Everyone loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar! This is a classic story that all kids can enjoy. Not only is it a fun story with beautiful pictures, but it follows along of of nature’s most beautiful cycles as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
14. The Little Engine That Could
The Little Engine That Could is a true classic when it comes to children’s books. It’s been slightly abridged and printed on a board book which makes it perfect for babies and toddlers and teaches them to have a “can-do” attitude and that they can achieve great things if they keep trying! I think this is a great book for World Book Day.
15. Corduroy
I loved Corduroy when I was little. I loved teddy bears so much and this story is about the cutest teddy bear! And now this classic story is available on a board book making it perfect for little kids. It’s another great book toddlers can enjoy on World Book Day.
16. The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo is such a cute rhyming story with fun illustrations. A little mouse takes a walk and meets so many creatures that want to eat him. So he invents a monster that will hopefully scare off all those animals. But, is the Gruffalo real?
17. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Speaking of mice, we can’t forget the beloved children’s story, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie! This is such a fun story that will definitely inspire giggles. Giving a mouse a cookie seems to stir up a series of silly events that everyone will love.
18. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is a great book for World Book Day. Go on an adventure with a father and his children as they pass through rivers, swamps, forests, to find a cave. And what’s in the cave? You’ll have to read it!
19. The Mitten
I love this classic story. I remember reading The Mitten when I was a kid so I had to add it this list for World Book Day. A little boy loses a mitten and woodland creatures find it and silliness ensues. The story is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. This story is perfect for toddlers.
20. Love You Forever
Love You Forever is a book for both parents and children. It’s such a beautiful book about a mother loving her baby as he grows and talks about the future when the roles are reversed. Be prepared for tears. I cried reading this to my little ones, but it is a great book for World Book Day.
Fun World Day Books For Elementary Kids
21. Hank The Cowdog
Hank the Cowdog is a fun series that follows Hank. He is a dog who has dubbed himself “head of ranch security.” And as such, Hank solves mysteries, protects the ranch, and ends up in some very funny situations. This is a fun book for elementary aged kids.
22. The Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bear books are an absolute treasure. The stories are fun and each book has beautiful art. Not to mention, these books after teach kids valuable lessons. I think these books are perfect for World Book Day.
23. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
If you’ve ever had a bad day, then Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is for you! Alexander knew it was gonna be a bad day when he woke up with gum in his hair. And the bad day just kind of spiraled. It’s a very relatable book for everyone, especially kids.
24. Where The Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings
I remember my teacher reading these poems to us in the 2nd grade. The poems in Where The Sidewalk Ends are silly, fun, and are highlighted by wonderful illustrations. This is a great book for World Book Day as it’ll have your imagination running wild!
25. Amelia Bedelia
This Amelia Bedelia book set is so much fun. Children who love silly stories are going to love these short and face paced stories. Each book has fun illustrations, funny situations, and teaches various idioms as well. What a fun way to learn.
26. Junie B. Jones
I think all kids can relate to Junie B. Jones. She is a kindergartener who has to deal with various situations that all kids go through like being scared of the first day of school. Dealing with a new sibling. Letting her words get her in trouble. These books are fun and teach different lessons. Perfect for World Book Day!
27. Boxcar Children Mysteries
These were my most favorite books when I was in elementary school. The Boxcar Children books are about 4 orphans who solve various mysteries and go on daring adventures. They are so exciting!
28. Little Critter Series
The Little Critter books are so much fun. The art is cute, the stories are silly and relatable, and like many other books on this list they have a lesson to teach. These books are great for teaching young children how to deal with various everyday things.
29. Miss Nelson Series
This Miss Nelson collection has beloved books like “Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Miss Nelson Is Back, and Miss Nelson Has A Field Day.” These stories are fun and interesting as it talks about how a teacher helps teach her mischievous students to behave.
30. Magic Tree House Series
The Magic Tree House series is full of excitement and adventure! Experience magic, time-travel, and mysteries with this series about Jack and his little sister Annie who discover a magic tree house! This series is perfect for World Book Day.
Fantastic World Book Days For Middle School Kids
31. The Hobbit
The Hobbit is a great adventure story about a hobbit who wants to live a simple live. That is until a wizard and dwarves turn his world upside down on a wonderful life-changing adventure. This classic book is a must-read on World Book Day.
32. A Series Of Unfortunate Events
These books are great. The Series of Unfortunate Events is a mystery series that is full of humor, excitement, adventure, and danger! Middle school kids will love these stories as each one will keep them on their toes with suspense!
33. Little House On The Prairie
The Little House series are a series that talks about Laura’s childhood as an American pioneer and gives kids a glimpse of what it was like on the American frontier. Explore the frontier with the Ingalls family.
34. The Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl was about Anne Frank, a 13 year old Jewish girl who had to hide in the attic with her family in 1942 when the Nazis occupied Holland until they were betrayed to the Gestapo. This book is for mature readers, but teaches a piece of history that everyone should learn about.
35. The Hardy Boys
Love adventure? Mystery? Then The Hardy Boys are for you! Follow two teenage brothers as they solve mysteries and crimes! This series is full of suspense, danger, and fun.
36. Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is also an amateur sleuth. She is a teenage detective that solves crimes, mysteries, and helps her friends navigate through personal challenges. It’s a fun classic series.
37. Holes
Holes is such a great book. You’ve probably seen the movie on Disney. And while it’s similar, the book provides are lot more details about the curse, the boys, and the camp. It’s a great book and perfect for World Book Day.
38. Because Of Winn-Dixie
If you love stories about dogs then you will love Because of Winn-Dixie. It’s the story of a 10 year old girl who finds a dog, but finds that this is no ordinary dog as Winn-Dixie helps her open up her world.
39. Eragon Series
The Eragon series is a high fancy series about dragons, dragon riders, magic, and war. It’s an exciting series that brings high fantasy to life in such a unique way as you watch the characters grow and persevere.
40. Tucker Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting is a classic story. It’s full of mystery, excitement, expense, and really opens up your mind to new topics like immortality and friendship.
Amazing World Book Day Books For High Schoolers
41. The Lord of The Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a great series about friendship, adventure, and good vs evil. It’s a more difficult read, but very much worth it. The world Tolkien builds is a beautiful one full of lore and intrigue. A great series for World Book Day.
42. Animal Farm
Animal Farm is a book that makes you think. A farm is taken over by its mistreated animals. They plan to create a paradise of equality. However, they find that the paradise they dreamed of doesn’t work out. This is a great history lesson, but in satiric form.
43. The Hunger Games
Everyone loves The Hunger Games movies, but have you read the books? The books explain things in the movie so much better and you can learn more about your beloved characters and they dystopian world they live in.
44. Ready Player One
Another fun dystopian book is Ready Player One. The world is an ugly place, but the OASIS is not. But once the creator of this virtual reality world dies everyone races to figure out the puzzles he left behind. Can they save the OASIS before it is too late?
45. The Book Thief
The Book Thief is set in 1939 Nazi Germany. Liesel Meminger steals books and reads them to herself and neighbors during bomb raids. It’s a great book that deals with heavy themes like war and loss. But it’s worth a read.
46. To Kill A Mocking Bird
To Kill A Mocking Bird is a classic story, but one meant for mature readers. It’s a book I read in high school in English Class that explores themes of racial injustice and moral growth during the 1930s in the south.
47. The Fault In Our Stars
The Fault In Our Stars is about Hazel Grace Lancaster, a girl with cancer, who falls in love with a boy in remission. Together they experience various challenges of love, the meaning of life, and illness.
48. Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey is a heart wrenching story about Tish Bonner and her broken family and how she does her best to take care of things that are beyond her. It’s definitely worth a ready.
49. Running Out Of Time
Running Out Of Time is an awesome book. It is about a 13 year old girl who lives in the 1840s… or does she? When a diphtheria outbreak occurs she must find help. But navigating the world beyond what she knows becomes a shock.
50. The Green Mile
This Stephen King book isn’t scary. Don’t worry. The Green Mile is about Paul Edgecombe who works in a prison and meets a man with healing abilities. The book explores themes of supernatural, empathy, and justice as you explore whether or not the man that could heal was guilty or innocent.
Awesome World Book Day Books For Adults
51. 1984
The book 1984 is a chilling book about a dystopian future where the government does anything and everything to control the narrative. From thought police, to propaganda, and murder, this is a book everyone should read.
52. Wild At Heart
Wild At Heart is a Christian book that talks about how God created men in His image and describes how He intended men to be. God wants men to seek adventure, their need for validation, the need of courage and more.
53. Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery Of A Woman’s Soul
Captivating is the female version of Wild At Heart. God created women in His image, but this book delves into how the feminine heart can be restored, the glorious design of women, and creating a vision of beauty, power, and freedom.
54. Plain Truth
If you love murder mystery, then you’re gonna love Plain Truth. A murder happens in an Amish community…but who did it? It’s a story of twists and turns!
55. The Painted House
The Painted House is such a fun and interesting story that takes place in the 1950s in rural Arkansas. It was inspired by John Grisham’s upbringing. It’s about a little boy who lives with his family who hire people to help during harvest season. However, the young man learns more than he should and these secrets not only threaten the crop, but his family.
56. Along Came A Spider
Another murder mystery book! Along Came A Spider is about a homicide detective, Jezzie Flanagan is the supervisor of the Secret Service and together they must stop a man who wants to commit the crime of the century.
57. Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a great book and a great movie. Follow Johnnie Rico and his journey through combat training, moving his way up, and trying to deal with the interstellar war.
58. The Winner
The Winner is a fun thriller! A young woman is beautiful and poor and wants a better life for her daughter. She is offered a gift, $100 million lottery jackpot. She only has to do 2 things. But what happens if she breaks the rules?
59. The Count Of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo is so good. Edmond Dantes is a young man falsely accused of a crime and seeks revenge using the treasure he finds. It’s a great story about vengeance, justice, mercy, and forgiveness.
60. Jurassic Park
If you loved the movie, you’ll love the Jurassic Park book. People thought cloning dinosaur DNA was a good idea. Turns out it wasn’t. It’s a fantastic book full of adventure, terror, and science!
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How are you celebrating World Book Day?