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World Book Day Facts & Worksheets

World Book Day, also known as International Day of the Book, is an annual event on 23 April celebrating authors, readers, illustrators and books.

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World Book Day, also known as International Day of the Book, is an annual event on 23 April celebrating authors, readers, illustrators and books. It is officially organized by UNESCO and is also celebrated in the United Kingdom every first Thursday in March.

See the fact file below for more information on World Book Day or alternatively, you can download our 22 pageWorld Book Day worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Historical Background

  • In 1923, booksellers in Catalonia, Spain, first connected 23 April and books. Vicente Clavel Andrés, a Valencian writer, believed that author Miguel de Cervantes should be honored.
  • Originally, the celebration was on Cervantes’ birthday, 7 October, but was later changed to his death day on 23 April.
  • It was only in 1995 that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated 23 April as the date to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day.
  • The date is also the death and birth anniversary of prominent authors including William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Robert Bridges and Michael Crichton.
  • Each year, UNESCO chooses a World Book Capital where activities are held and supported by the book industry. In 2018, Athens was chosen as the capital wherein books would be made accessible to all city residents.

Celebrating World Book Day

  • There are over 100 countries celebrating World Book Day. In the United Kingdom, it is celebrated every first Thursday in March because April often coincide with the Easter holiday and 23 April is also the National Saint’s Day of England, specifically St. George’s Day.
  • In addition, on this day, children in the U.K. dress up as their favorite character for school and community events.
  • It is a celebration of authors, illustrators and the importance of reading. According to researchers, children who love reading are not only good readers, but they tend to develop a broader vocabulary and understand other cultures easily.
  • In Sweden, World Book Day was moved to 13 April in 2000 and 2011 due to Easter holidays.

Fascinating Book Facts

  • In 1455, the 42-lines Bible, also known as the Gutenberg Bible, was the first major book printed in Europe using Johannes Gutenberg’s movable metal-type printer. It was originally written in Latin.
  • Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is recorded as the best-selling book written in English. It was an 1859 novel depicting the stories of London and Paris during the French Revolution. Over the last 150 years, it has sold more than 200 million copies.
  • A Tale of Two Cities is followed by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
  • J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is the biggest-selling novel series of all time. Collectively, the seven novels sold an estimated 450 million copies around the world.
  • As of 2010, there are over 129 million books in existence according to Google.
  • According to Business Insider, Bill Gates purchased the most expensive book for $30.8 million. It was Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) is considered to be the first book written using a typewriter.

World Book Day Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about worldwide literacy celebrate World Book Day across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use World Book Day worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about World Book Day, also known as International Day of the Book which is an annual event on 23 April celebrating authors, readers, illustrators and books.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • World Book Day Facts
  • Famous Books and Authors
  • World’s First
  • Literary Characters
  • Print to Film
  • Mapping Authors
  • Picture Gallery
  • Bookworm or Movie Freak?
  • A Review
  • Own Adventure
  • My Favorite Book

Frequently Asked Questions

Who started World Book Day?

World Book Day is a holiday created by UNESCO on April 23, 1995, that celebrates books and reading.

Why is World Book Day celebrated?

World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event that honors books and reading. Every year on April 23, people around the world celebrate by recognizing the power of books as a way to connect generations and cultures.

How many countries celebrate World Book Day?

In over 100 countries around the world, people celebrate World Book Day to commemorate books and reading.

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Link will appear as World Book Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 26, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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