Annual event to encourage children to read for pleasure is sore spot for parents under 'growing pressure' to create character costumes

With fewer kids reading daily, World Book Day is an important day to impart the benefits of reading, and there are even positive health benefits this hobby can bring

Children have ditched their school uniforms in favour of their favourite characters to celebrate World Book Day. The international event, now in its 28th year, celebrates reading and books. From Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox to Nick Butterworth's Percy the Park Keeper, here are some of your great costumes from across the south of England.

World Book Day is also celebrated by celebrities who have been taking to social media to show their children's adorable costumes.

World Book Day is being celebrated across Leicestershire today as thousands of children don costumes of their favourite literary characters. Schools, libraries and nurseries throughout the county are taking part in the international event which highlights the importance of reading.

Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

A Cornish school celebrated World Book Day with a range of activities to inspire a love of reading. Pool Academy, part of Athena Learning Trust, marked the occasion on Thursday, March 6, with the theme Read Your Way,

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the ‘That’s Not My…’ series were just some of the books that inspired the costumes of children and colleagues at Berryfields Day Nursery in Aylesbury as they dressed up to celebrate World Book Day.

Donington on Bain Primary School have been celebrating World Book Day by embracing the different ways they can immerse themselves in a story.