SCHOOLS, nurseries and other groups held a host of activities last week to celebrate World Book Day.
The annual event is aimed at getting youngsters to pick up books and explore them, leading to a love of literacy.
Sidemoor Pre-School, based at the Pear Tree Centre, held its World Book Day event over two days.
The children dressed up as their favourite characters and some of the parents came in to read their favourite stories.
Sidemoor Pre-School manager Toni Cooke said: “We had a lot of Gruffaloes and superheroes and we all had a lovely time.
“The children really enjoyed hearing the parents read to them.”
Dodford First School children and staff had a fantastic time on World Book Day by participating in the ‘Big Book Off Challenge’.
The classes created, imagined, explored, discovered, experienced and shared their love of books, as well as dressing up as their favourite characters.
And last Friday (March 3), the school welcomed author Hazel Hiles who gave an interactive reading of her book Robbie’s Supersonic Rocket to the whole school during assembly time and later signed copies of her book for pupils in the school library.
Children from Finstall Pre-School also dressed up as their favourite book characters and read some of their favourite stories together.
Teacher Emma Martin said: “Every day the children love listening to and joining in with stories.
“We always look forward to celebrating World Book Day.”
Youngsters from Finstall First School dressed as their favourite characters for their event last Friday (March 3).
The pupils regularly share stories in class and had a great time in their costumes.
Head teacher Stuart Evans said he believed extra-curricular enrichment days were tremendously important for the development of the school’s young students.
“The day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading.
“The children love this annual event and it helps us reinforce the joy of literature in a very positive way,” he added.
Bookworms from Winterfold House School in Chaddesley Corbett took part in a Readathon event as well as dressing up as literary characters.
The pupils paid £1 to take part in World Book Day and the donations, along with the Readathon sponsorship, raised £2,008.07 – the Readathon charity provides books for hospitals and schools.
Sarah Myles, Winterfold’s head of English and drama, organised the event.
She said the occasion was always fully embraced by the school and there were some superb costumes.
“ We were overwhelmed by the response by pupils and staff alike and are very grateful to all our Winterfold parents for
their help with costumes and charity donations and to our dedicated pupils for all the books they have read during Readathon.”
There was a grand parade of literary characters at Bromsgrove Pre-Prep School, along with a host of other book-themed activities.
Years three and four pupils celebrated by sharing their favourite books with their friends and discussing their merits.
Year four students designed and made their own book-themed board games and year three children created their own personalised bookmarks to take home and enjoy.
Youngsters from eight months to four years at Play Days Playgroup made their own pre-reading flash cards and wallets.
The toddlers, at the group’s base at St Stephen’s Church, Rednal, enjoyed choosing their own pictures and gluing them onto cards and then decorating the wallets with stickers to put their cards in.
They also came in dressed as their favourite book characters.
