Where families can pick up a new book for just £1 in and around Newcastle this World Book Day

Book shops across the UK are giving away free books this World Book Day thanks to a £1 book token which has been organised by the group behind the day.

The scheme sees pupils being given a £1 token by their school to be used at shops in return for a free book to encourage further childhood reading.

The token can also be used to get £1 off any full priced book or audiobook in participating stores.

The organisers beind World Book Day claim “We want every child and young person to believe they are readers and to give them the opportunity to have a book of their own that they have chosen for themselves.”

Books are available across three age and skill categories with titles being labelled as ideal for beginning, early, fluent and independent readers.

15 million books will be available across the UK.

How can my child use their £1 book token?

The process to collect a free book is simple - all kids need to do is collect their token from their school or nursery, turn up in a participating store and pick their book.

Kids have the option to get a free book from the new selection released for World Book Day or get a discount on any other book.

The World Book Day £1 books are a gift from booksellers, who fully fund the cost of the £1 book tokens.

The tokens are valid between Thursday February 17 and Sunday March 27.

Which North East book stores are participating in the £1 token deal?

In total, there are 20 book shops across Newcastle, southern Northumberland, North Tyneside and Gateshead which are affiliated with the scheme.

These are:

Newcastle:

WHSmith, Central Station

WHSmith, Northumberland Street

Waterstones, Blackett Street

Seven Stories Bookshop, Lime Street

Blackwell’s Bookshop, Percy Street

Sainsburys, Etherstone Avenue

WHSmith, The Gosforth Centre

WHSmith, Freeman Hospital

Tesco, Kingston Park

WHSmith, Newcastle Airport

Gateshead:

WHSmith, Russell Way, Metrocentre

Tesco, Trinity Square

WHSmith, Gateshead QE Hospital

Waterstones, Metrocentre

Sainsburys, Eleventh Avenue

North Tyneside:

Tesco, Norham Road, North Shields

Sainsburys, Northumberland Park

Sainsburys, West Monkseaton

The Bound, Whitley Bay

Northumberland:

Sainsburys, Manor Walk Shopping Centre, Cramlington