YOUNGSTERS from all across Teignbridge were out in force last week in fancy dress celebrating World Book Day.

Staff and pupils at Newton Abbot’s Wolborough Primary School dressed up as their favourite characters and enjoyed a day of storytelling.

They also took part in a Where’s Wally competition around the school and received a World Book Day token.

Workers in the town’s WHSmith store spent the day handing out goodie bags to youngsters shopping for books.

Pictured are Bovey Tracey’s Lily and Harrison Fell who were two of the many lucky recipients.

Book fever took hold of teachers and staff at Coombeshead Academy as well.

The good sports spent the day dressed up as different characters including Shaun The Sheep.

Year 7 students at Teign School, Kingsteignton, were awarded with book tokens from headteacher Mark Woodlock and librarian Jo Slade for their reading efforts.

Four avid readers at Rydon Primary School bagged themselves a Kindle each after winning the Quest for the Best reading competition.

Harry Wilson and Jamie Dyson from Scott Richards Solicitors presented the pieces of kit to Toby Smith, Zoe Ayling, Ollie Fisher and Milly Gubby.

The duo also gave the school a ‘Reddit’ bean bag for pupils to use in the library.

Hundreds of children turned up to Hannahs at Seale-Hayne’s World Book Day event at the weekend.

Organised by students from Exeter College, the visitors dressed up and took part in the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Trail where they recreated the book.

Science fiction was the theme of World Book Day at Highweek Primary School with pupils, and staff, dressing up as l From page 23

aliens, and astronaut and Darth Vader.

A range of activities took place at Bearnes Primary School, Newton Abbot, with the aim of getting pupils enjoying literature.

After an assembly the children - some dressed as wizards and Oompa Loompas - flocked to Waterstones and WHSmiths to get their hands on a copy of Where’s Wally, Peppa Pig or stories by David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson.

World Book Day developed into a cracking time for the children at Our Lady and St Patrick’s RC Primary School in Teignmouth, with the children coming to school dressed as their favourite story book characters.

The key event of the day was the Shoebox Story competition, sponsored by Scott Richards Solicitors, with prizes of a Kindle for each class winner.

It was judged by Jamie Dyson, managing partner of Scott Richards, Joanne Wilson from Teignmouth library, Pat Anzani , chair of the school governors, Father Mark, and Sarah Barreto, the head teacher.

It proved a difficult task as the standard of storytelling was so high.

Mr Dyson said: ’We had an impossible task choosing the winning boxes, so thank you to the other judges for completing this difficult job.

’The biggest thank you however, must of course go to the children who worked so hard in designing and creating some fantastic story boxes – hopefully each had fun although I’m not sure the same can be said for their parents whose patience must at times have been tested.’

Ms Barreto was delighted with the way the children entered into the spirit of World Book Day, and for the generous sponsorship by Scott Richards.

Award winner author and artist Laura Wall went along to Our Lady & St Patricks school in Teignmouth on World Book Day to talk and read to several year groups.

Each year group enjoyed one of the stories from her Goose series, and she talked to them about being an author and illustrator.

’The little ones particularly enjoyed reading Goose on the Farm with me, where they helped me out by honking along with Goose, along with other funny animals noises!,’ said Laura, who has a studio in the town.

’I also showed the children how to draw the characters from the story and they did some wonderful artwork too. The children asked some fantastic questions about being an author and seemed to enjoy understanding how I write my books.’

Rachel Murphy, the literacy co-ordinator at Our Lady and St Patricks said the children were inspired and thrilled to meet Laura.

Bishopsteignton Primary School enjoyed celebrated World Book Day with their very own theme, Bedtime Anytime, to promote a love of reading at any point in the day. 

Pupils and teachers  dressed in their pyjamas and onesies for a fun day of activities. The whole school joined together in the morning for assembly where all the teachers read the story, The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, and classes went away and completed work based on the book. 

Throughout the day everyone had to ‘drop and read’ for five minutes whenever they heard the bell ring, be it in the middle of their numeracy work or a PE lesson. 

In the afternoon parents and grandparents were invited to come in and find a cosy spot to read with the children creating a lovely atmosphere throughout the school. 

Parents brought teddies in to create a bedtime feel, but wearing their pyjamas was optional. Emma Leballeur commented: ‘It was great to promote reading throughout our whole school community’.