Wednesday 4 February 2026 For immediate release
More than 1,200 books will be up for grabs as part of World Book Day celebrations in North Tyneside this year.
The annual event gives children of all ages the chance to receive a book through the World Book Day token scheme, encouraging reading and helping young people discover new stories.
Children can exchange their £1 World Book Day token at North Shields and Wallsend Community Hub and Library from Thursday 12 February to Saturday 14 March.
As part of the celebrations, local schools have been invited to a special event on Wednesday 4 March, where children will meet author Tom Vaughan, who will share stories and inspire young readers.
The celebrations also link to the National Year of Reading, which aims to get more children and families reading for pleasure and highlight the positive impact reading can have on confidence, learning, and wellbeing.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Libraries, met with children from St Peter’s CofE Primary School in Wallsend, to launch the celebrations.
She said: “World Book Day is a wonderful opportunity for children to explore the magic of books and discover the joy of reading. Our libraries in North Shields and Wallsend will have a fantastic selection of books for children to choose from, and we hope families will come along and join in the celebrations."
World Book Day takes place officially on Thursday 5 March, but children can redeem their tokens over several weeks to make sure everyone has a chance to pick a book.
For more information about World Book Day and the token scheme, visit www.worldbookday.com.