World Book Day 2015 arrives in page turning style in Newbury and beyond

Newsdesk/subs - Clere school pics are not very good so have just given school a mention - JaneWORLD Book Day arrived in page turning style in the Newbury area and beyond last Thursday (March 5) and children seized the chance to dress up and have big...

Newsdesk/subs - Clere school pics are not very good so have just given school a mention - Jane

WORLD Book Day arrived in page turning style in the Newbury area and beyond last Thursday (March 5) and children seized the chance to dress up and have big fun as their favourite book character.

Some 80 children and staff at Busy Bees nursery, Monks Lane, dived between the covers, reading stories from popular children's books, including The Hungry Cat, The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom, while quite a few young spidermen turned up and staff joined in the big fun by dressing up.

Bestselling author of the Jamie Johnson series of children's books, Dan Freedman, visited the independent Elstree school, Woolhampton, who told of his career as a journalist and author and provided top writing tips, whilst proving a "Brilliant and original speaker," said school librarian Ruth Walker, who continued:

"He left us on an exciting cliff hanger with a thrilling excerpt from his first book, inspiring us to read the entire series."

Pupils at Willows Primary school, Newbury, heard from teachers about their favourite books during the school assembly, before making 3D models of their own favourite books, followed by a 'teacher swap':

"Teachers went to different classrooms and read from their favourite book to a different class," said Tess Evans, the school's literacy leader.

At Winchcombe Primary school, Newbury, pupils brought their favourite book into school to discuss and also swapped books with friends and classmates, whilst teachers got in on the act by dressing as their favourite character:

"They had a great day - the costumes were great, " said a school spokeswoman.

Also thrilled to bring their favourite book character to life by dressing up were children and pupils at Chieveley pre school, the Clere secondary school, Burghclere and Yattendon Primary.

Woolhampton primary's Reading for Pleasure week incorporated World Book Day, and saw the opening of the school's reading room on Monday (March 2) and a book night on Wednesday (March 4).

Sainsbury's, Newbury, hosted two classes of pupils from St Nicolas junior school, where store managers Ryan Steadman and Martin Bell read stories to children pupils.