Letters: Retired army major Richard Amey on how heput his construction skills to good use for a costume. Plus letters from Bryn Hughes, Nick Cuthbertson and Liam Clancy-Kerrigan
World Book Day finds children are put off reading for pleasure
Annual event to encourage young readers has revealed research finding that significant numbers feel discouraged from following their own tastes
Republic of Parenthood
Tears, fancy-dress tyranny and tedious discourse: it can only be World Book Day
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
World Book Day: cost of living pushes schools to ditch dress-up plans
St Paul’s Cathedral to host guests for £7 in ‘secret’ 300-year-old library
March 2023
The Guardian view on children’s reading: a gift that should be for all
Roald Dahl is the last thing we should worry about on World Book Day
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
March 2022
‘My baby brother threw up on my jacket’: readers’ World Book Day costume stories
From a failed attempt to dress as Hermione Granger to a Hungry Caterpillar who truly committed to the role, parents and former students on the mad dash to put together a literary outfit
February 2022
Tell us about your underwhelming World Book Day costumes
We would like to hear about your worst costumes ahead of World Book Day on Thursday 3 March
March 2021
Lockdown living
World Book Day: five simple costumes anyone can make, even in lockdown
Are you left scrambling for paints and glue-guns every year? Never fear – here are some options that Donna Ferguson and nine-year-old Flora put together in less than 30 minutes
March 2020
World Book Day isn’t about fancy dress (apologies to the boy who went as a giant atlas)
Alice O'Keeffe
Every year, time-poor parents buy Harry Potter and Gruffalo outfits destined for landfill, says the literary critics and journalist Alice O’Keeffe
March 2019
Names in the news
Carolee Schneemann, the artist you definitely didn’t hear about at school
Rebecca Nicholson
My curiosity about this shocking revolutionary performer was sparked by the lyrics of a song
Readers' World Book Day costumes – from the Cat in the Hat to Mr Tickle
Here are some of the characters you told us about after late nights on the sewing machine
Show us your World Book Day costumes
Campaigners warn of 'book poverty' as UK celebrates World Book Day
Give older children story time to halt fall in young readers, urge experts
March 2018
World Book Day 2018: teachers dress up – in pictures
How did you celebrate World Book Day at school? We went in search of the best-dressed teachers – here’s our round-up
Northamptonshire announces 'heavily reduced' libraries plan – on World Book Day
County council implements timetable with immediate effect, leaving 21 libraries open just one day a week – and one food bank to find new location
Books blog
Five libraries around the world that are open despite the odds
On World Book Day, a look at libraries from Egypt to Dominica that have remained open despite death threats, extreme weather and terrorism
February 2018
World Book Day 2018: teachers, send us pictures of your costumes
Which literary character are you dressing up as this year? Share your pictures and be part of a worldwide celebration of books and reading
