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Bring the Magic of
World Book Day
to Your Community.
Celebrating the National Year of Reading 2026 with an official partnership supporting the World Book Day® charity. This augmented reality treasure hunt brings communities together to share the joy of reading—zero app downloads required. 100% Fun.
The Mission
"We champion reading for fun. That’s because it seriously improves lives. In fact, it’s the biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful future. Today, only one in three children likes reading. By changing this, we’ll transform lives. For 2026, our mission is to reach even more young people by extending the celebration onto the High Street."
The Opportunity
Go All In for the National Year of Reading. This is your chance to host an official World Book Day event that supports the charity’s mission while capturing the footfall of families visiting town centres to exchange their £1 World Book Day book tokens.
A Digital Adventure in the Real World
1. Find
Families open the browser-based map (no app download required!) which guides them to specific ‘zones’ in your local area to search for our official window markers.
2. Collect
Once they spot a marker in a shop or library window, they collect the character using the unique code displayed on the decal.
3. Unlock
Success! This unlocks a digital stamp of a £1 World Book Day book and launches a magical Augmented Reality experience. Players must interact with the character and search the virtual scene to find a hidden letter.
4. Win
Upon completing the activation, families unscramble the collected letters to form a secret password. This unlocks an exclusive digital reward! (Bonus: Families on Premium-tier hunts can also visit your central hub to collect a physical prize sticker!)
A Celebration of Reading
We have curated a spectacular range of 3D characters to spark a life-long love of reading. The trail encourages children to discover new stories in a fun, social environment.
Can’t wait to see the characters in action? We are currently applying the finishing touches to the 3D magic. The full 2026 Character Lineup will be revealed in early January.
We Do The
Heavy Lifting.
Zero Tech Infrastructure
No hardware installation or venue Wi-Fi setup required. The activation runs entirely on the user's standard mobile connection.
Branding
Physical assets feature World Book Day branding. Premium Partners enjoy exclusive local branding on the Digital Map interface and co-branded marketing templates.
The Physical Kit
Everyone Receives:
The official set of vinyl Window Decal Markers (10 for Community, 40 for Premium).
Premium Partners Receive:
The full "Event in a Box," including:
- 2,000 printed activity sheets
- 1,000 prize stickers
- Branded POS display unit for your central hub
Why Host? (The 4 Pillars)
Inclusive & Accessible
Works on any smartphone, no data capture required for kids, free to play.
Community Focused
Brings your community together to support the World Book Day charity mission: changing lives through a love of books and shared reading.
Turnkey Solution
Minimal setup time for your team. We handle the tech; you handle the glory.
Community Subsidy
Your Host Fee covers the cost for the whole town, allowing libraries and bookstores to join for free.
Supporting The High Street Ecosystem
To ensure the activation remains 100% free for families and local businesses, costs are covered centrally by the Host Partner. Here is how your funding helps:
For Bookshops & Libraries
They participate as venues for FREE. The Host covers all technical and material costs, driving footfall to their doors without dipping into their budgets.
For Families
A completely free, family day out. The app also features a "Donate" button, allowing families to make voluntary contributions directly to the charity while playing.
For The Charity
A portion of every Host Fee goes directly to the World Book Day® charity. Your funding supports their mission to change lives through a love of reading.
The Packages
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
Participation
Includes contribution to World Book Day® Charity
Perfect for a tight, linear experience.
PREMIUM SPONSORED
Ownership
Includes contribution to World Book Day® Charity
Maximizes inclusivity. Spread footfall wider.
*Why Stickers per Zone?
Our Premium Tier allows you to place up to 4 identical stickers within a single Zone. This means families can find the character at the Library OR the Book Shop OR the Toy Shop—reducing crowding and allowing up to 40 local businesses to benefit from the activation.
Printed Assets & Hubs
Premium locations receive printed assets, perfect for driving families into specific 'Hub' locations (Libraries & Bookshops) to encourage the £1 Token Exchange.
Timeline
Registration Open
Priority given to early sign-ups
Marketing Toolkit
& Submissions of Hunt Venues Begin
Registration Closes
Deadline to Register
Your Kit Arrives
At Locations
Hunt Venue Deadline
Last Submission of Hunt Venues
NATIONAL LAUNCH
Event Begins
EVENT CLOSES
Midnight
Who We Are
We are experts in turning public spaces into interactive adventures. We have engaged over 1 million players across 500+ locations, helping BIDs and Councils drive footfall through digital discovery.
"Magic without the Friction." We believe technology should enhance the real world, not get in the way. Our platform delivers immersive AR experiences directly to smartphones without requiring app downloads. We provide the technology, the creative, and the strategy so you can focus on your community.
"We found them super easy to set up with minimal work involvement. It proved to be a resounding success! The team at High Street Safari were great and made it feel more like a partnership than a product."
We champion reading for fun. That’s because it seriously improves lives. In fact, it’s the biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful future. Today, only one in three children likes reading. By changing this, we’ll transform lives.
Young people are more likely to read if they see it as a fun, entertaining and social thing to do. That’s what our work is all about; inspiring them to see reading differently. We’ll next be celebrating World Book Day on 5th March 2026. It’s going to be amazing! Join us, and let’s help every child enjoy the life-changing benefits of reading for fun.
FAQs
Do people need an app?
No. The experience runs entirely in the mobile browser.
Does it cost money to play?
No, it is free for families.
What happens if a sticker gets vandalised?
We provide a digital backup/print-at-home replacement.
Is it GDPR compliant?
Yes, we don't store children's data.
Which venues can display a vinyl decal?
First priority should be literature linked venues like libraries and book shops. After this, any suitable family-friendly venue can be involved.
How big are the decals?
Decals will be roughly A4 Landscape size.
How big is a 'Zone'?
Zones with 1 marker in will be 25m circles. For Premium hosts with up to 4 markers in a Zone, the size will depend on the venues. All markers in a single Zone must be close enough that you could stand in the middle and see them all (or within a 30-second walk).
Can I have multiple/alternative languages?
We may be able to offer this on request (at no extra cost), please contact us to enquire.