Mr Mammy
World Book Day, Thursday 2 March 2017. New research on reading.
A QUARTER OF THE UK’S 8 TO 11 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WOULD NOT OWN A BOOK WITHOUT WORLD BOOK DAY
- ‘Reading for pleasure‘ charity celebrates 20th anniversary with new research that shows children read more because of World Book Day
- One in four children say that the book they bought with their 2016 World Book Day book token was the first book they owned
To mark World Book Day’s 20th anniversary (Thursday 2 March 2017), the ‘reading for pleasure’ charity has released new data which shows the positive impact it has on the lives of children across the UK.
Conducted by the National Literacy Trust, the survey of over 9,000 pupils aged between 8 and 11 (Key Stage Two) found that nine out of ten (89.5%) were aware of World Book Day and six in ten (58.8%) were inspired to read more by the celebration of books and reading.
The data also showed that World Book Day was meeting its core objective of encouraging more children to explore the pleasure of reading by selecting and owning a book of their own, with one in four pupils (25.2%) saying that the book they ‘bought’ with their 2016 World Book Day book token was the first book they have had of their own. Amongst children receiving free school meals, this number increased to three in ten (32.9%).
World Book Day in the UK and Ireland enables increased book ownership amongst children by distributing £1 World Book Day book tokens via schools and nurseries all over the country. The £1 book tokens, supplied by official sponsor National Book Tokens Ltd, can be exchanged for one of ten specially-published £1 World Book Day books. This is made possible by a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all.
The survey also revealed that six in ten Key Stage Two pupils (58.6%) took part in a World Book Day activity – whether at school or at home – in 2016, a number which the charity hopes to see increase this year as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
