World Book Day: A Celebration of Stories, Characters, and the Joy of Reading
On Thursday 6th March, our school was transformed into a vibrant parade of book characters as we celebrated World Book Day in true HAB style. Walking through the corridors felt like stepping into the pages of a library come to life — Mary Poppins floated past a samurai, a Gryffindor student compared spells with an owl, several Wallys tried (and failed) to blend in, and even a pharaoh made an appearance. It was a brilliant reminder of just how much imagination lives in our community.
As part of the celebrations, students received their World Book Day vouchers, giving them the chance to pick up one of the special £1 books or get £1 off a book of their choice. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Thanks to our Big Book Giveaway, we gifted more than 800 books to our students. This is a cornerstone of our ethos: reading should be for everyone. National research shows that 1 in 10 children in the UK do not have a book of their own at home, and we are determined to change that. Reading for pleasure is one of the strongest predictors of future academic success, and we want every student to have the chance to discover a story that sparks something in them.
Students also took part in World Book Day–themed English lessons, giving them the chance to dive into the worlds behind the books they were gifted. Year 7 explored the icy landscapes of Bear Rescue by Hannah Gold, learning vocabulary for the Arctic tundra before reading together. Year 8 discovered their elemental magic in the world of warrior unicorns from Skandar and the Secret Elemental by A. F. Steadman. Year 9 discussed resilience and determination through Against All Odds by Nathanael Lessore. Older students engaged with powerful nonfiction: Year 10 read Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Year 11 explored Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists, Year 12 tackled Chinua Achebe’s Africa’s Tarnished Name, and Year 13 reflected on Audre Lorde’s iconic essay The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House. Across the school, students embraced new vocabulary, new ideas, and even the joys of writing their own poetry.
Breaktime brought even more book-buzz. Students were able to spend their HABit Credits — five credits earned them a chapter book of their choice. It was wonderful to see so many young people proudly choosing books they’d worked hard to earn.
At lunchtime, we shifted the focus to reading role-modelling. Students were invited to choose a book for a younger child in their life — a sibling, cousin, or family friend — to gift when they got home. Those who took part shared thoughtful reasons for their choices: helping younger children learn to read, preparing them for school, or simply making sure they had a book of their own so they didn’t have to borrow someone else’s.
World Book Day at HAB wasn’t just about dressing up (though the costumes were fantastic). It was about celebrating stories, sharing them, and making sure every young person in our community has the chance to fall in love with reading. And judging by the smiles, the excitement, and the armfuls of books heading out the door, we’d say mission accomplished.
With huge thanks to Year 10 photography club students - Miah-Nicole, Anae and Melis.
