World Book Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the wonderful world of books and reading for pleasure. It’s a week filled with creative costumes, buzzy book chat and a chance to inspire a love of reading amongst children and grown ups alike.
I’ve been reflecting on the week and all the places it took me this year.
I LOVE YOU MORE (illustrated by Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell, Nosy Crow)
THERE’S A GORILLA AT THE DOOR (illustrated by Sam Caldwell, Little Tiger)
TIDCOMBE PRIMARY SCHOOL
It was giggles and enthusiasm galore at my visit to Tidcombe Primary School. Mr Gifford was a great sport dressing up as Aunt Gertrude for disco dancing in assembly and it was such fun running story writing workshops for classes Y1-Y6 . Thank you for these special notes!
In Nursery and Reception, we enjoyed creating our own love-themed poem and making heart keepsakes for people we love.
It was a fantastic day and a pleasure sharing it with you – I loved every second!
SANCTON WOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
We kicked off official World Book Week at Sancton Wood School in Cambridge. Eloise and Ms Taylor helped to teach the school Aunt Gertrude’s dance moves for an interactive performance of There’s A Gorilla at the Door.
In workshops, Pre-reception and Reception listened to I Love You More and made their own heart keepsakes. Reception also created their own class poem inspired by the story and all the things they love.
Years 1-6 played This or That – a game to discover what similarities and differences they had amongst them. They also created their own story ideas playing with random combinations of character and setting.
Thank you for making us so welcome. It was great listening to so many of the stories you created. Thank you also to Heffers Bookshop for providing the book sale and giving children the opportunity to get their own signed copies.
FENITON PRIMARY SCHOOL
On a gloriously sunny Tuesday, we visited Feniton Primary School for a whole day of Gorilla fun. The children demonstrated super imaginative skills, creating stories from random words. The teachers were excellent Dancing Gertrudes!
There were really interesting questions in the Q&As. A personal highlight was seeing the series of books that the boys in Year 4 had been working on in their spare time – complete with illustrations, creative fonts and covers, too!
We were made welcome the minute we arrived – thank you for a super day.
MARLBOROUGH AND SOUTH HUISH C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL
I was delighted to be asked back to Marlborough and South Huish Primary School. On my first visit in 2022, I had the pleasure of opening the new school library. This time, the visit was to further spread the love of books and stories in World Book Week. The day began with an assembly, in which I talked about author life and shared my new book Gorilla… with disco dancing, of course.
We then visited each class for Dot and Duck themed workshops, in which we re-enacted the story How Rude and talked about different ways of expressing emotions, including facial expressions and body language. Class 1 helped to teach rude duck some manners and also listened to I Love You More. Classes 2, 3 and 4 created their own stories based on feelings and emotions using some top author tips.
The authormobile was a big hit, open to children throughout the visit including lunchtime.
Thank you to the whole school for your enthusiasm. I’m certain many of your ideas will make fantastic books.
CLIFTON SCHOOL
World Book Day started with a ‘bump’ – literally – when the window of the authormobile caught a gate and smashed! Ooops! A memorable start to Clifton School…
(Here’s before and after!)
…but the day quickly got better with a joyful assembly of singing, smiles and colourful costumes.
Throughout the day, we held story workshops where children re-enacted stories and created their own. Once again, we were bowled over by the enthusiasm for writing and the children’s imaginations. There was an excited buzz throughout the day -throughout whole school – from staff dress up to costume parades. Themed lunches were held in the hall where children and staff ate offerings from ‘Wind In The Willows’ and library fans handed out free books.
As if the day couldn’t have gone any better, Librarian Jenny treated us to a tour of one of the school libraries where there were fairy lights, an incredible window seat and the friendliest and most dedicated members of staff.
Despite the bumpy beginning, it was definitely one of the highlights of the week and a day to remember. Thank you, Clifton College. And thank you to Story Smith for arranging book sales for the pupils.
Meanwhile, children and adults were dressing up around the country. It’s a huge honour to be chosen as someone’s World Book Day costume – here are some Lenny the lemurs and a roarsome dragon from Never, Ever, Ever Ask A Pirate To A Party!
BURRATON PRIMARY SCHOOL
World Book Week ended with another fantastically joyful, heart-bursting visit to another incredible school. We loved meeting you all at Burraton Primary – you came out in force with fabulous costumes, hearts full of enthusiasm and heads full of ideas and questions! We enjoyed meeting Burraton Bear, too!
Thank you to The Bookshelf for organising the book sale and donating some copies of my books to the school library 🙂
MODBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL
My final World Book Week event was to Modbury Primary School, where I was looked after and smiling from the minute I arrived. What’s not to love about dancing gorillas, On the Spot story telling, heart keepsakes and rooms full of young people excited about books?!
Thanks to everyone who made World Book Day/ Week/Month so special, not least my mum, who took annual leave from her day job to join me on the road in the authormobile!
What joyful few weeks it has been – I hope I won’t ever forget what a special job it is inspiring the next generation of writers, readers and creatives. I’m looking forward to next year already!
