From Pass the Book and book‑themed Bake Offs to Jack and the Beanstalk and author visits, schools across our Trust marked World Book Day 2026 with imagination, energy and a shared love of reading. Here, our schools share — in their own words — the creative ways books were brought to life in classrooms and corridors.
Bowbrook Primary School
“Rounding off World Book Week with a fantastic Friday! Our Super Swans went to read to the residents at Bowbrook House. Our ‘Book in a Box’ competition was the toughest decision Mr Aiston has ever had to make! Dragonflies & Kingfishers were immersed in a live performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. Author Bryher Mackenzie came to sign her books for our children. What a brilliant week we have had! ”
Bridgnorth Endowed School
“Bridgnorth Endowed School was absolutely buzzing as students and staff arrived dressed as their favourite book characters for World Book Day. From unicorns and dinosaurs to wizards, angels and loads more, the corridors were packed with imagination and creativity. One of the highlights of the day was our “Pass the Book” reading activity for Years 7, 8 and 9. At the start of every lesson, we paused for a 10-minute reading slot, with teachers continuing the same short story throughout the day and students waiting to find out what happened next in the following lesson. There was a brilliant atmosphere around school all day – lots of laughs, great costumes, and plenty of fun. A huge well done to everyone who took part and helped make the day such a success.”
Coleham Primary School
“Coleham shone during World Book Day with a week of reading activities. Children explored poetry through a drama and performance workshop with Shropshire Bookfest, met picture‑book author Bryher Mackenzie, joined the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket lunch, browsed our pre-loved Book Fair, and celebrated characters in fantastic book‑inspired costumes. A magical celebration of reading!”
John Wilkinson Primary School and Nursery
“John Wilkinson Primary School and Nursery have enjoyed a fantastic Roald Dahl–themed World Book Day, with children taking part in making dream jars, Willy Wonka themed chocolate experiments and a Miss Trunchbull Boot Camp! A wonderful way to celebrate creativity and our shared love of reading.”
Hodnet Primary School
“Hodnet launched World Book Day with a Traitors‑themed assembly, welcoming pupils to the Great Reading Castle. Through book‑based challenges and a secret vote, children uncovered the Book Traitor before taking the Oath of the Faithful Reader. Faithful Readers promise to give books a chance; to use their imagination; to try new books and to protect the magic of reading! It was a great start to our World Book Day celebrations!”
Much Wenlock Primary School and Nursery
“Our school was jam-packed with parents and children for our annual World Book Day Book Bake Off. Book-themed baked creations filled the corridors and brought families together to get creative while raising funds for our school. It was a wonderful celebration of reading, community and imagination, and the standard of entries was truly impressive!”
St Martins School
“What a fantastic celebration of reading! A huge well done to all our pupils, staff – and parents – for supporting World Book Day with such enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see our school buzzing with a love of books and stories.
On Thursday, pupils and staff came dressed as their favourite book characters and brought along much loved books to share. Thank you for the generous £1 and book donations, raising over £100 which will go towards enriching our school library.
Throughout the day, pupils took part in a range of book- and reading themed activities, and we were delighted by the creativity and effort that went into the costumes. Our Nursery children celebrated in a particularly cosy way, enjoying bedtime stories by coming to nursery in their pyjamas, bringing their favourite bedtime book and a cuddly companion. It was a lovely, relaxed way to enjoy stories together.
Our school dog, Mr Wilko, managed to coordinate his costume with Mr Riley!”
The Priory School
“We celebrated World Book Day once again in style (questionable!) this year, with lots of students and staff coming dressed as their favourite characters.
Huge thanks to the English Department who adorned themselves as Julia Donaldson characters (Mr Dalgarno’s ‘Stick Man’ was a sight to be seen) and SLT took on Roald Dahl.
Thankfully, Mrs Knight’s orange face paint did come off so she was only an Oompa Loompa for one day!”
Thomas Adams School and Sixth Form
“Thomas Adams School celebrated World Book Day 2026 with a week of reading fun. Highlights included a library book swap, murder mystery challenge, staff dressing as literary characters, a flash fiction competition, and the announcement of new Reading Captains supporting reading across the school.”
William Brookes School
“This year WBS staff dressed up as a character from a book – whether in a team, or a soloist to challenge the students to ‘Guess the Book and Character ‘. We had many different characters appear from The Very Hungry Caterpillar complete with food and the butterfly, to William Shakespeare himself to bring alive Macbeth. We also launched our short story competition, with students using last year’s fancy dress winner as the main character of their own story! This has followed on from a successful book fair from Scholastic – the final total is still in progress but over £300 has already been spent by students of WBS – showing a love of reading throughout the school. The students were buzzing with excitement and hearing the laughs of colleagues and students has been a massively heartwarming experience.”
