Children from across Barking and Dagenham let their imaginations run wild this week as they celebrated World Book Day.
From dressing up as their favourite character from a book to class story sessions with milk and cookies, many Borough primary schools took part.
World Book Day aims to give every child and young person a book of their own and has been running for 22 years.
For example. Manor Longbridge Primary School decided to combine World Book Day and World Poetry Day on Thursday 21 March and have a ‘Book Fortnight’ where they will have author workshops and dressing up.
Pupils at Becontree Primary School came to school dressed in their pyjamas and had a ‘Becontree Big Bedtime Story’ themed day where each class had a class story session in the school hall with milk and cookies. Each child was also given a free leather bookmark to promote reading.
“There's nothing better than a great bedtime story to end the day, so that's why we decided to use this as our theme for World Book Day celebrations this year.
“Children and staff came to school in their pyjamas to take part in a range of reading based activities throughout the day which included all classes having a bedtime story read to them on the huge beds that were made up around the school. There was also the added bonus of a cookie and carton of milk for everyone.”
At Eastbury Primary Community School, parents and children attended a reading café each morning throughout the week and local author Inderjit Puaar visited the school on Thursday.
Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement said: “I love books, and children should take every opportunity to enjoy them as much as possible.
“World Book Day is a great initiative. I am delighted that so many of our schools are taking part and encouraging our children to read. I’m sure they all had a brilliant time.”
Other schools that celebrated the day included Eastbrook Primary School which is asking every child to do a different reading activity each day of the month, and Riverside Bridge.
For more information visit the World Book Day website.