CREDITON’S award winning, independent, community owned bookshop, The Bookery, is set to bring the joy of reading to more than 3,500 primary age children this World Book Day season, as part of its ongoing commitment to the National Year of Reading 2026.

From late February through early March, The Bookery’s Schools Team will deliver its much loved Top Titles Collection - 24 outstanding, recently published books for ages 4-12 - to 20 schools across the South West, reaching more than 3,500 children.

These include picture books, shorter chapter books, longer fiction, dyslexia friendly titles, two graphic novels and nonfiction books, all carefully selected by a dedicated panel of volunteer teachers, librarians and teacher trainers who have spent the past year reading and reviewing hundreds of submissions.

In addition to in person visits, The Bookery will host a special session for home educated children at the shop on March 2, as well as an exciting online event on World Book Day itself on March 5.

During this live online celebration, the team will beam into classrooms across the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man, sharing their passion with a further 1,400 children - all of whom will open their box of Top Titles alongside the team.

True to its mission of ensuring every child can access books, The Bookery supports participating schools in purchasing full sets for their libraries so all pupils can choose and enjoy a book, regardless of family circumstances.

Research from the National Literacy Trust provides evidence that reading for pleasure in a child’s free time is vital for a child’s development, well-being and to nurture the reading skills needed to thrive at school and beyond.

The Trust’s 2024 survey of 76,000 UK children found that two out of three children do not enjoy reading: The Bookery schools team say they are working hard to combat this!

As part of the National Year of Reading celebrations, The Bookery is also proud to launch its first Children’s BookerY Prize.

Modelled on the new Children’s Booker Prize that will announce its first winner in 2027, this award invites pupils to read and rate the eight longer read titles from its Top Titles Collection.

Crucially, the winner will be chosen entirely by children, and the winning book - and the winning school, which will receive £100 of books - will be announced at a special celebration at The Bookery in May half term, one year ahead of the Children’s Booker!

The Bookery’s World Book Day programme marks 10 years of inspiring school visits - and is its biggest celebration yet.