Students at Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School have been celebrating World Book Day, with a theme of “don’t judge a book by its cover”.
Students from across the school, and a number of staff members, came to school dressed as their favourite characters from authors including David Walliams, JK Rowling and Dr Seuss.
Students were queueing out of the library door to take up the offer of a “blind date with a book”. Readers chose their ideal book from a selection wrapped in plain brown paper with just a few clues to the subject and plot written on the wrapping. Each book could be revealed once it had been issued by library staff and students were challenged to complete their date by reading the book they had picked.
A range of quizzes and a book sale were also on offer in the library at break and lunch time. All students were given a World Book Day voucher, which could be exchanged for one from a range of books specially published for the occasion.
A photographic “guess who’s reading” competition was won by forms 13HS and 9DW. The successful forms correctly identified 14 members of staff from photographs where their faces were partly covered by their choice of book.
Librarian Mrs Vicky Marshall said: “World Book Day is a celebration of reading and books and we have had a really fun day in school. I’m delighted by the number of students and staff who have entered into the spirit of the day by dressing up and the standard of costumes has been very high. Reading has so many benefits and it is great to recognise and enjoy books and the richness they bring to our lives on this special day.”