World Book Day: a celebration of reading
World Book Day has become a regular feature of the Guardian Education Centre’s calendar. We join forces with BookTrust, who run a competition for primary schools to attend a newspaper workshop at The Guardian offices. This year’s winning school was Bridge and Patrixbourne Primary School from Kent and on 5 March we welcomed 29 pupils and their teachers from Year 5 and 6. Children’s outfits included being dressed as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Malala. The purpose of the day was to become young reporters and editors; creating the front page of a newspaper in pairs based around World Book Day.
This year’s theme was to share a million stories. Journalists from The Guardian and The Observer also joined in and told us some of their favourites: Tin Tin by Hergé, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Outsiders by SE Hinton and Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Popular authors were Roald Dahl, E Nesbitt, Maurice Sendak and George Orwell, who was a journalist too and used to write for The Observer. The choices were displayed around the Education Centre and the pupils added their own during the course of the day, so that conversations could take place about shared favourites or new titles discovered.
World Book Day 5 March 2020 Photograph: Education Centre/The Guardian
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We were lucky to have Emily Drabble from BookTrust join us. Emily’s enthusiasm for children’s books was clearly conveyed. As reporters the pupils were able to interview her about her job and love of books. She brought along her childhood favourite, For Love of a Horse, by Patricia Leitch and even as an adult regards it as the book that made her. She emphasised the value of reading: “Don’t forget the power of books to influence your later life.”
You can find yourself having experiences you could never come across in other ways
Julia Eccleshare
The young reporters also held a press conference and interviewed Julia Eccleshare, writer and expert on children’s books. A lively conversation developed when Julia asked everyone to share which book characters they would most and least like to be. As everyone in the room genuinely shared a love of books this could have gone on for hours. During the interview Julia crystallised the importance and value of books: “You can find yourself having experiences you could never come across in other ways…I can’t go back or forward in time but I can in a story. That’s what makes reading so special for all of us.”
Emily Drabble shares her favourite book with the class - World Book Day 5 March 2020 Photograph: Education Centre/The Guardian
With interviews completed and a range of World Book Day stories to choose from pupils researched and wrote their articles. Stories covered various events taking place across the country to mark the day including examples of well known authors participating in different ways. Year 5 and 6 also became picture editors and selected excellent photographs to accompany their articles.

All deadlines were met and impressive front pages were printed off. After we celebrated their achievements the pupils proudly took their newspaper front pages back to school.
Headteacher, James Tibbles, wrote a blog about the school visit.
It’s wonderful to look back on World Book Day, when less than a month ago we were able to share a love of books at The Guardian Education Centre with the pupils and staff of Bridge and Patrixbourne Primary School.
World Book Day 5 March 2020 Photograph: Education Centre/The Guardian
The Education Centre also holds regular Reading for Pleasure conferences, where authors share their experiences of writing with teachers and librarians from across the country. At this time when large numbers of pupils and their families are staying at home we would like to share some examples of how many authors and organisations are offering to keep children interested and engaged with books and some reading tips.
Cancelled: Reading for pleasure primary teacher conference, Friday 9 October 2020
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BookTrust are sharing how many authors and illustrators have come up with fun activities for children and families over the next few weeks. Look out for hashtags #BookTrustHomeTime and #UnitedByBooks on Twitter and Instagram
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