Contest : Author James Patterson has given £25,000 to encourage reading . When they asked for entries , organisers expected a modest response . Yesterday it emerged that more than 800 schools had applied for a share of a £25,000 book fund . World Book Day director Kirsten Grant said the response was proof of the continuing demand for books , despite the popularity of e-readers . ‘ World Book Day is all about the celebration of traditional books , ’ she said . ‘ For children there is still that wonderful thing of sitting down with their parents and reading a book and that amazing bond it performs . 'Children don ’ t want physical books to be replaced , they already spend so much time on the internet and devices so books actually provide them with a break from that . ' To earn a share of the fund , which was donated by best-selling crime author James Patterson , schools were asked to respond to the statement : Why I can ’ t live without books . Miss Grant and a panel of judges then drew up a shortlist , selected for their creativity and passion for books . The £10,000 first prize went to Hexthorpe Primary in Doncaster . Six other schools split the remaining £15,000 between themselves . She added : ‘ World Book Day is all about the celebration of traditional books . Children can go into a bookshop with a £1 World Book Day token and get an actual physical book . 'So many children don ’ t have access to physical books so this is an opportunity for them to get one . There is definitely a huge demand . 'School libraries are suffering , book budgets in schools are being slashed , so this is a brilliant way to counter that. ’ Huge response : More than 800 schools applied for a share of a £25,000 book fund as part of World Book Day . Mr Patterson , who has also written several children ’ s books and has donated another £25,000 for an award fund next year , said : ‘ Libraries are shutting their doors left and right . ' I firmly believe that every child needs access to a school library , which is why I ’ m supporting WoBoD : they encourage a love of reading in our children that we can ’ t afford to lose . ‘ Reading is one of the building blocks of life and can take you to another world . Reading encourages imagination and helps with education. ’ World Book Day is an annual celebration of reading for children . Set up by UNESCO , an agency of the United Nations , it aims to encourage children to buy books by giving every school child given £1 book token .
Huge response reviewed books still popularity despite e - mail . Children had to answer question ' Why I ' n't go without books ' was picked up by bestselling fantasy author James Patterson .