Celebrating World Book Day 2018

With prize draws, photo competitions and club activities galore, World Book Day 2018 got primary school pupils and teachers excited about reading!

Congratulations to our prize draw picks!

Our World Book Day prize draw offered 40 schools the chance to win either a free book box stuffed with 15 fantastic titles, or a reading progress and sticker. The prize draw was open to all Primary schools in England and Wales. The lucky schools picked will be receiving their special delivery soon!

Dan Freedman's message for Rivers Primary

On World Book Day, we gave schools that tweeted a World Book Day photo using #PLPrimaryStars a chance to receive a special message from Dan Freedman, author of the popular Jamie Johnson book series.

Rivers Primary Academy in Walsall was picked to win with their tweet showing their whole school World Book Day celebration.

Dan was thrilled to send a message to the school, saying he had ‘heard and seen how amazingly committed they’ve been to World Book Day’. He also made a surprise announcement that the school would receive a free book bag for their school library.

In the video, he revealed that it was football that initially got him into reading, and inspired him to become an author, adding “Find the right book, and you’ll never know where your words can take you!”

Watch the full clip below:

A big thank you to @RiversPrimary for letting us know about their brilliant #WorldBookDay #PLPrimaryStars activity last week.

Jamie Johnson author @DanFreedman99 has a message for you all… pic.twitter.com/HAdM46jT0D

— PL Communities (@PLCommunities) March 6, 2018

Clubs around the country got involved too!

Lots of professional football clubs around the country got involved with World Book Day, hosting fun activities at their local schools.

Here’s a few of the ways that clubs celebrated World Book Day:

Bolton Wanderers hit the dancefloor

Bolton Wanderers staff and club mascot Lofty the Lion took part in a World Book Day themed event at a local school, including a book character dance-off and trophies for the best dressed class – topped off by a special visit from Bolton Wanderers defender David Wheater.

Send your letters to Cambridge United

Cambridge’s mascot Marvin the Moose has been in touch with schools in the Cambridge area, hoping to find the best letter writer. The winning letter received a visit from Marvin and a first-team player, as well as book-related prizes for their school.

Delighted to visit @mayfieldcambs School this afternoon with @MarvinMooseCUFC to announce the winner of his #WorldBookDay competition - congratulations to Ilana! Read her brilliant letter to Marvin here: https://t.co/MkiqSZvVQL pic.twitter.com/jEehNEqZjB

— CUCT (@CUCTrust) March 1, 2018

Rhona Whiteford joins Preston North End

Author Rhona Whiteford joined Preston North End’s partner schools to deliver mini workshops for pupils to explore their inspirations, their motivations and their love of reading and writing. Rhona also helped pupils as they developed their own characters and build them into original stories.

It’s fantastic to welcome so many schools to Deepdale this morning as well as author Rhona Whiteford! 📚 📖 #pnefc @PLCommunities https://t.co/GhyY2F84jc

— PNE Community (@pnecommunity) March 1, 2018

Saints’ World Book Day challenge

The Saints Foundation launched a World Book Day challenge for all KS1 and KS2 pupils in the area asking for children to design a bookmark. The winning design will have their bookmark created for real!

Check out these brilliant #SaintsFC bookmarks that pupils from Kiwi Primary made for our #WorldBookDay challenge! 📚🙌

If your kids are home from school today because of the weather, why not get involved? 🌨️👉 https://t.co/mw7CNtkmYr pic.twitter.com/heVP79d4kU

— Saints Foundation (@SFC_Foundation) March 1, 2018

Spurs academy players turn storytellers

Throughout February and March, Tottenham Hotspur will be taking under-18 academy players to local primary schools with professional storyteller Tony Dallas to read with children in years 2 and 3. Local schools will also receive book boxes, extra reading sessions and assemblies on the importance of reading.

Our academy players visited Brook House School in Tottenham for #WorldBookDay📚 and have some recommendations for you! 🏫 📘 pic.twitter.com/VLdNJw5FOK

— Spurs Foundation (@SpursFoundation) March 1, 2018