Celebrating World Book Day 2026

Celebrating World Book Day

At Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, part of The Goldfinch Trust, pupils and staff recently came together to celebrate World Book Day, highlighting the importance of reading for creativity, wellbeing and learning.

To mark the day, the school library featured a display of the Top 20 books for young people, helping pupils discover new titles and revisit well loved favourites. Pupils also enjoyed making World Book Day cupcakes, bringing a creative and collaborative element to the celebration.

One of the highlights of the day was a fun challenge where pupils tried to match staff childhood photos with their favourite books, sparking conversations about favourite stories and reading memories from when staff were younger.

Why reading matters

Reading plays an important role in supporting young people’s wellbeing, imagination and learning. Across education settings, there is growing recognition that books can provide not only knowledge and creativity, but also comfort, reflection and opportunities for connection.

Research from organisations such as the National Literacy Trust highlights the many benefits of reading for young people, including:

• Supporting wellbeing and reducing stress
• Encouraging imagination and creativity
• Building empathy and understanding of different perspectives
• Developing vocabulary and communication skills

For young people experiencing medical or mental health challenges, reading can also provide moments of calm, comfort and positive distraction during the school day.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss

Celebrating the joy of stories

World Book Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the power of stories and the role reading can play in supporting young people’s development. Activities like these help create shared experiences between pupils and staff while reinforcing the importance of literacy, creativity and imagination.

Sometimes the simple act of sharing favourite books can open up conversations, inspire curiosity and remind us of the lasting impact that stories can have.