Children between eight and 11 years old were given tokens during the World Book Day celebration last year. A national Literacy Trust survey involving 9,000 students showed that 25 percent of these kids used their tokens to buy their very first book.
Publishers donated thousands of specially published World Book Day books worth $1.22 (£1) to children every year. They distributed 789,738 books last year and the target is the distribution of 1 million books this year from authors like David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson.
World Book Day director Kirsten Grant said it is the 20th anniversary of the event, according to The Guardian. It allowed teachers the chance to challenge the primary school pupils' literacy skills, while at the same time encourage them to enjoy reading.
"The day is the antidote to the curriculum demands," Grant said. "Teachers are amazing, but they don't have any freedom and are under so much pressure to get through [the curriculum], so anything that makes space for them to do fun things around reading is really important."
UNESCO has designated World Book Day as a celebration of books and reading, as per World Book Day. It has been celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide.
The World Book Day celebration aims to encourage children to appreciate books. Through the National Book Tokens Ltd., publishers and booksellers send Book Tokens Packs and World Book Day Resource Packs to schools that have registered ahead of the celebration.
In The United Kingdom, children wear clothing representing their favorite book characters, according to Daily Mirror. Even celebrities join the celebration by dressing up their children in fancy costumes like Will Wonka and Dennis the Menace.
There is evidence that children who read for pleasure every day perform better in tests, develop a wider vocabulary and have a better understanding of culture. There is also proof that reading contributes to a child's performance in school, more than their economic or social background.
