On World Book Day many children are celebrating reading and books by dressing up as their favourite book characters and holding book related events in school. This week many authors and illustrators have been visiting schools or doing Skype visits – it’s a real celebration of books and reading. You can find out more about World Book Day on the website. Books and reading play a huge role in our house, we have read to our daughter since she was a baby and now she’s a little bookworm. We also read regularly in front of her to role model our love of reading (one of my favourite parental activities) which has also had a very positive influence. However, many children don’t have parents who read regularly to them or in front of them so World Book Day aims to enthuse new readers as well as celebrate those who already enjoy reading.
Many book characters are great role models for reading and we have made a list of bookworm book characters. Do you have any book loving book characters to add?
Bunny Loves to Read by Peter Bently, illustrated by Deborah Melmon
Buster loves to read but his friends aren’t so convinced about books and reading. How can Buster convince them that books and reading are fun?
Otto the Book Bear written and illustrated by Katie Cleminson
Otto is devastated when the family he lives with moves away but manages to find himself the perfect new home where he can continue all his reading and writing activities.
Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar written and illustrated by Emily MacKenzie
Ralfy will do anything to get his paws on a book, including stealing. Can he find help for his book obsession?
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Curl up in an armchair and let Charlie introduce you to a variety of book loving characters and book genres.
Preposterous Rhinoceros by Tracy Gunaratnam, illustrated by Marta Costa
Rhinoceros really wants to read the bedtime story to his jungle friends but he doesn’t know how to read a book. How do his friends help him learn?
The Missing Bookshop by Katie Clapham & Kirsti Beautyman
Mrs Minty’s bookshop plays an important role in Milly’s life and she is devastated when it closes down. But where has Mrs Minty gone? Can Milly find a way to ensure that the bookshop of her dreams will open again?
Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
We love little bookworm Matilda, who reads to escape from her bingo loving mother and her car salesman father. This is a story that proves that books and reading have the power to change your life.
On World Book Giving Day children in the UK receive a £1 book token to spend on a World Book Day Book. The titles are shown on the website.
Are you stuck for costume ideas for World Book Day? Book Aid has some great suggestions.
My youngest was the witch from Room On The Broom!
She’s one of my daughter’s favourite characters too 🙂
Great book recommendations! A couple of my favorite books about reading are: Wolf! by Becky Bloom and Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco.
Thanks Keitha, I don’t know those two so I checked them out. I like the sound of Wolf! 🙂
That’s a lovely post for world book day. I didn’t know that kids dressed up for school until I saw it on tv this morning. Thanks for posting it on the Kid Lit Blog Hop. 🙂
Dressing up for school on World Book Day is a pretty big tradition in the UK 🙂
Alas, C’s school didn’t bother with world book day (they do their own at another time) but we would definitely add Neil Gaiman’s awesome Coraline to your wonderful list! I think C just wants to go to school with blue hair really 🙂
I didn’t know Coraline so I just had a look at some reviews – it looks quite a creepy story!
My girls school didn’t celebrate world book day which was disappointing. thanks for sharing such lovely books with #readwithme x
You’re welcome. I keep thinking of more books that I could have included 🙂
These all look so adorable! I want all of these on my shelf ASAP!
They’re all great books for promoting a love of books and reading 🙂
I love books that encourage reading! I hadn’t heard of Wanted! Rally Rabbit, Book Burglar, but it sounds like one my grandson would enjoy.
Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar was published at the beginning of the year. He’s already a huge favourite here 🙂
A lovely list. I would add a Julia Donaldson book for the rhyming, which our 6 yo continues to love. Much the same as you, we’ve read to or with her since newborn and she now loves reading, which is great 🙂 #MondayBlogs
I can’t imagine not reading to a child since they were born. If reading is there from the beginning you have so much more chance of raising an enthusiastic reader 🙂
A fab selection of books to celebrate World Book Day Catherine! We do love Matilda here. 🙂 x
Matilda is our favourite bookworm!