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Explore our collection of teaching resources for primary and secondary schools, perfect for inspiring your class with the joy of reading on World Book Day and with the wonder of stories during National Storytelling Week.

In 2025 National Storytelling Week takes place 1 February - 9 February and is a celebration of the power of sharing stories.

What is World Book Day and when is it?

World Book Day will take place on Thursday 6 March, 2025 and is a worldwide celebration of books and reading. Designed in partnership with and featuring special guest authors, the programme will focus on reading for pleasure for 7-11 year-olds.

World Book Day 2025 – Live Lesson: Thursday 6 March, 11:00. document

We’ll be coming live from Bradford, 2025 UK City of Culture to primary schools across the UK on World Book Day 2025!

World Book Day 2025 – Live Lesson: Thursday 6 March, 11:00

What will happen in the World Book Day Live Lesson?

Children will be encouraged to take part in fun, curriculum-linked fun interactive activities throughout the lesson, and we’ll be giving live shout-outs to as many schools as we can.

The 30 minute Live Lesson will be available to watch live via 鶹Լ Teach on this page and on the C鶹Լ channel.

We also have a new assembly framework for Primary that celebrates World Book Day and the pleasures and benefits of reading.

Primary resources

Assemblies: World Book Day

Celebrating World Book Day and the pleasures and many benefits of reading. Includes a short film and detailed information about its objectives and also a framework sheet (pdf) which can be used as a cue card during the assembly.

Assemblies: World Book Day

The Hare and the Tortoise. video

Aesop's famous fable is read by the late Richard Briers in this adaptation combining text, audio and illustrations.

The Hare and the Tortoise

The Fox and the Crow. video

Aesop's fable about a clever fox and a proud crow is read by Jonathan Pryce in this adaptation combining text, audio and illustrations.

The Fox and the Crow

The Boy who cried Wolf. video

Aesop's famous fable is read by the late Richard Briers in this adaptation combining text, audio and illustrations.

The Boy who cried Wolf

The North Wind and the Sun. video

Aesop's fable about a contest between the Sun and the Wind is read by Lindsay Duncan in this adaptation combining text, audio and illustrations.

The North Wind and the Sun

The tale of Peter Rabbit. video

Beatrix Potter's story about a mischievous young rabbit is read by Miranda Richardson in this adaptation combining text, audio and illustrations.

The tale of Peter Rabbit

Tales From Around The World. collection

A series of short animated films based on folktales from around the world.

Tales From Around The World

Bringing Books to Life 1. collection

An adventure into the world of children’s literature as celebrity presenters share what they love about their favourite books including stories by Philip Pullman, Jill Murphy and Roald Dahl.

Bringing Books to Life 1

Bringing Books to Life 2. collection

More adventures into the world of children’s literature as celebrity presenters share what they love about their favourite book, including stories from Jacqueline Wilson, .Phillipa Pearce and Frank Cottrell Boyce

Bringing Books to Life 2

C鶹Լ Book Club. collection

C鶹Լ Book Club is all about celebrating books and getting excited about reading! Each month Rhys Stephenson is joined by authors, illustrators and celebrities to talk about their latest books, stories they loved reading when they were young, the creative ways in which they write/illustrate and most importantly, getting children involved with games, challenges and book reviews.

C鶹Լ Book Club

World Book Day's 10 Minute Story Sharing. collection

These videos are from World Book Day's 10 Minute Story Sharing, where you can watch and listen to a selection of book readings with some of World Book Day's favourite authors. Reading together and sharing stories for a few minutes a day can contribute to pupil development. These videos can be enjoyed at home, or together as a class, and might inspire your pupils to find new ways to love reading.

World Book Day's 10 Minute Story Sharing

Roald Dahl - Extracts. collection

Three video clips featuring extracts from Roald Dahl texts read by Eniola Aluko, Bella Ramsey and Sir Michael Palin, designed to encourage pupils to think about storytelling and persuasive language in the most giganticus way!

Roald Dahl - Extracts

Little Red Riding Hood. collection

The story of Little Red Riding Hood told over the course of seven fun video clips.

 Little Red Riding Hood

Jack and the Beanstalk. collection

An animated version of the classic fairy tale featuring Jack, Daisy the cow, some magic beans and a very big Giant!

Jack and the Beanstalk

Traditional Tales - Tiddalik the Frog. collection

The traditional Aborigine tale is told in two animated videos for KS1 pupils.

Traditional Tales - Tiddalik the Frog

Traditional Tales - Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. collection

The traditional West African tale is told in two animated videos for KS1 pupils.

Traditional Tales - Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

Audio stories. collection

A growing collection of audio stories for all age groups, arranged by theme.

Audio stories

The Tales of Beatrix Potter. collection

Age 5 - 7. A collection of Beatrix Potter's best-known stories, read by famous voices.

The Tales of Beatrix Potter

Bitesize: World Book Day KS1 (Ages 5-7) revision-guide

Find out all about World Book Day in this 鶹Լ Bitesize KS1 article. Take part in quizzes, find out what kind of story you are and even create your very own comic strip!

Bitesize: World Book Day KS1 (Ages 5-7)

Bitesize: World Book Day KS2 (Ages 7-11) revision-guide

Celebrate World Book Day and your love of stories in this 鶹Լ Bitesize KS2 article. Take part in quizzes, find out what kind of story you are and even create your very own comic strip!

Bitesize: World Book Day KS2 (Ages 7-11)

CBeebies Storytime. document

CBeebies Storytime introduces children to a world of stories through beautiful, interactive story books. The free app aims to inspire a love of stories in every child in the UK and support early years literacy.

CBeebies Storytime

Secondary resources

Curriculum Collections: English Literature / Language. collection

Anthony Horowitz introduces clips from the 鶹Լ archive featuring famous faces including Stephen Fry, Kate Humble and Griff Rhys Jones.

Curriculum Collections: English Literature / Language

LIT P.D. collection

A series of short films exploring modern English literature texts through a police-style dramatisation.

LIT P.D.

Classic Stories. collection

A collection of timeless fiction from the literary greats. Through 鶹Լ Sounds, you and your class can enjoy unabridged audio versions of classic novels.

Classic Stories

Interactive lessons

Watch again: World Book Day 2024 – Live Lesson. video

Maddie Moate and Joe Tasker are joined by some amazing authors as we celebrate World Book Day by creating our own Live Lessons' pop-up library.

Watch again: World Book Day 2024 – Live Lesson

Watch again: World Book Day 2023 – Live Lesson. video

This curriculum-linked English Live Lesson focuses on reading for pleasure through fun interactive activities.

Watch again: World Book Day 2023 – Live Lesson

Watch again: World Book Day 2022 – Live Lesson. video

Join in with your primary class and celebrate the 25th anniversary of World Book Day.

Watch again: World Book Day 2022 – Live Lesson

Watch again: World Book Day 2021 - Live Lesson. video

Whether you're at home or at school, join us for a very special Live Lesson for primary pupils to celebrate books and share a story. We're learning all about themes in stories and how to identify them, hearing about the stories you've been reading and some of your favourite themes, and meeting some of the incredible people that write about them.

Watch again: World Book Day 2021 - Live Lesson

Watch again: World Book Day 2019 - Live Lesson. video

This Live Lesson, hosted by Ben Shires, was first streamed live on World Book Day 2019, and ties in with the curriculum for English and literacy at KS2/2nd Level. The programme challenges students to share stories and complete fun reading and writing activities to help Ben to save World Book Day.

Watch again: World Book Day 2019 - Live Lesson

Watch again: Roald Dahl Day lesson - The Power of Words. video

Watch our celebration of Roald Dahl Story Day with this special interactive lesson for pupils aged 7 to 11.

Watch again: Roald Dahl Day lesson - The Power of Words

Watch again: CBeebies: Stories by the Sea - Live Lesson. video

This interactive lesson explores storytelling techniques for 5-7 year-olds with CBeebies friends from Old Jack's Boat.

Watch again: CBeebies: Stories by the Sea - Live Lesson