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Get Ready for World Book Day 2015!

Wednesday 25th February 2015

World Book Day 2015 is on Thursday 5 March. It is a day that creeps up on parents each year – and fills many with dread at the thought of making or buying another costume so that children can go to school dressed as their favourite book character.

World Book Day is a day to celebrate books and get more children enthused about reading. It is now in its 17th year and is celebrated in over 100 different countries, with the aim of encouraging children to read more.

Children who read for pleasure are much more likely to be successful in all areas of their education than those who don’t. World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to excite all children about reading and in particular reluctant readers. It could be the inspiration that your child needs to read the one great book that leads him to a lifetime of reading for pleasure. So why not embrace World Book Day 2015 and make the most of all its events including dressing up!

Most schools do ask children to dress up as a book character on World Book Day. Plan ahead, to avoid the last minute stress of raking through cupboards looking for costumes the night before. Use the opportunity to read and talk more about books and stories with your children for the weeks leading up to 5 March. Discuss your favourite books and characters from your own childhood. If you don’t have any dressing up ideas, then use it as a reason to visit your library or bookshop.

Some easy costume ideas are; Charlie Bucket, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa Jo (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) - suitable tatty clothes, a golden ticket and a Wonka Bar; Harry (Harry and the Bucket full of Dinosaurs) – boy clothes with a bucketful of Dinosaurs; Paddington – coat, red scarf, hat, jar of marmalade, small suitcase and a 'Please look after this bear' notice). For an easy option, think about Mr Men: Mr Happy - wear yellow and smile; Mr Greedy – wear pink and stuff a cushion in; Mr Bump – wear blue with a couple of bandages; Mr Forgetful – is a good way out if you get really stuck!

World Book Day is a fantastic event, which allows teachers to plan exciting activities focusing on books and stories, authors are invited to talk to children in schools around the country, book tokens are handed out and children get excited about reading again. So be prepared, get the children involved and have fun on 5 March 2015!

Liz Walker