E: 27/02 Design a National Book Token competition 2026 (Effort/16 & under)

Midnighter

World Book Day

url: https://www.worldbookday.com/competitions/design-a-national-book-token-competition-2026/

It’s time to GO ALL IN on reading and get creative! To celebrate World Book Day and the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, our sponsors National Book Tokens are inviting children of all ages to DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN for their annual competition. This year’s winners will be selected by three very special…

It’s time to GO ALL IN on reading and get creative!

To celebrate World Book Day and the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, our sponsors National Book Tokens are inviting children of all ages to DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN for their annual competition. This year’s winners will be selected by three very special guest judges: bestselling authors and illustrators Paddy Donnelly, Nadia Shireen and Sonia Leong!

The National Year of Reading theme, Go All In, is all about diving deeper into the things you already love through reading. Whether you’re passionate about football, animals, space, fashion, gaming, history, music or making people laugh, books can bring your interests to life in exciting new ways.

Challenge children to create a bold, eye-catching gift card design that celebrates their interests and shows how books help them explore ideas, spark imagination and go further through reading, and they could win prizes galore.

Six winning entrants will bag HUNDREDS of pounds or Euros for their schools and themselves so they can choose all the books they need during the National Year of Reading and beyond. Plus, one overall winner will see their design turned into a real National Book Token for every child in their class – and enjoy a visit to a bookshop to spend them!

So get the pencils, pens and paints ready… and let’s GO ALL IN this World Book Day.

Design a National Book Token template

PRIZES

ONE OVERALL WINNER (chosen from the first prize winners in each category) will receive a £10/€12 National Book Tokens gift card in their design for every child in their class,* and the opportunity for their class to visit a real bookshop to spend their National Book Tokens.

FIRST PRIZE in each age range wins:

£350/€400 National Book Tokens for the school

£100/€115 National Book Tokens for the pupil

SECOND PRIZE in each age range wins:

£200/€230 National Book Tokens for the school

£50/€60 National Book Tokens for the pupil

*Up to 35 gift cards; see terms and conditions for home-schooled students

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, children should design a National Book Tokens gift card on the theme of Go All In, using their designs to show how reading brings their passions to life.

Here are some ideas to get started:

• What do you love?
  Think about your interests, hobbies or favourite things – from sport, art and music to animals, adventures, facts or fantasy. How does reading help you explore them more deeply?
• How does reading connect to your passion?
  Does reading help you learn new skills, imagine new worlds, discover real-life heroes, or understand something better? Try to show this through pictures, colours or symbols.
• Go bold!
  A gift card should stand out. Use strong images, clear ideas and eye-catching designs that make someone want to pick it up and give it as a gift.
• Look at real gift cards
  Check out gift cards in shops or online. What do they have in common? What makes your favourites work so well – and how can you use those ideas in your own design?

Remember: there’s no single ‘right’ way to read. This is your chance to show how you go all in on reading.

A panel of judges will select a winner and runner-up in each of three age categories: up to 8 years (selected by guest judge Paddy Donnelly), 9-12 years (selected by guest judge Nadia Shireen) and 13-16 years (selected by guest judge Sonia Leong).

All entries should be produced on A4 paper using the template.

Please ensure you provide the child’s name and age and your contact details.

Please send entries to:

World Book Day Design a National Book Token Competition

Book Tokens Ltd.

6 Bell Yard

London

WC2A 2JR

If you’re unable to post your entry to us, please complete the online form for the relevant age range:

Up to 8 years

9-12 years

13-16 years

As well as teachers and librarians, the competition is open to parents of home-schooled children and, if you’re a parent or carer, you’re welcome to submit your child’s entry individually.

Take a look at our terms and conditions to find out more. 

The closing date for entries is Friday 27th March 2026. Winners will be announced in May 2026.