World Book Day celebrations - children get all dressed up

Are your children celebrating World Book Day today? Our gallery gives a taste of some of the costumes.

Alexander Horne as Mr Bump, in up-cycled bubblewrap, with old bandages from Ipswich Hospital. (Image: Caroline Horne)

Although lockdown means that most children won't go back to the classroom until next week, the occasion is still being marked in style by schools and families around Suffolk and Essex.

Rhys Rolfe aged five in his costume (Image: Sonya Rolfe)

Many pupils who are currently in school, including children of key workers, have gone in dressed up as favourite characters, while others are joining in the fun virtually from home.

Lexie-mae Murphy aged four from Ipswich as Peppa Pig (Image: Lyndsey Daniel)

Some schools have also organised special activities - for instance pupils at Tollgate Primary School, in Bury St Edmunds, started the celebrations early with a virtual storytelling event.

Oscar aged three as The Hungry Caterpillar (Image: Sophie Edwards)

Students at Felixstowe School enjoyed a range of literacy-inspired activities, including online sessions with guest authors and a book review competition.

Darren Meitner-Harvey, assistant headteacher, said: “While it is a little different this year, World Book Day 2021 is perhaps more important than ever.

Emily Thompson and Nina Wadda at Felixstowe School during World Book Day. Emily, a sixth form student, has spent parts of lockdown hosting online reading sessions to younger students. (Image: Felixstowe School)

“Our students have been amazing during lockdown, but we know everyone has spent a lot of time staring at screens. Our responsibility is to ensure there is a book in the hands of every young person.”

And West End stars are bringing books to life for pupils at Leiston Primary School via a series of online readings.

Phoebe aged seven as Lucy from The Creakers (Image: Sam Few)

Are your children celebrating World Book Day? Send your photos to newsroom@archant.co.uk - please remember to say your child's name and the character they are portraying.

Violet Sadler aged three as Incy Wincy Spider (Image: Natalie Sadler)

Lucy-rose aged eight and Max aged five, from Ipswich (Image: Katrina Keeler)

Alfie aged three as a dinosaur (Image: Nicola Anderson)

Katelan aged nine from Ipswich, with her rock and potato she has decorated for a school activity (Image: Lucy Chaplin)

Riaz Darwin-Boyd, aged eight, from Ipswich, in his Harry Potter costume (Image: Shelly Darwin)

Joey aged three from Felixstowe (Image: Steph Lawrence)

Savanna and Jimmy as Betty O Barley and Harry O Hay from Julia Donaldson's The Scarecrow's Wedding (Image: Natasha Noble)

Luke from Ipswich as William Beech from Goodnight Mister Tom (Image: Jackie Burton)

Lily, aged two (Image: Gemma Kastrati)

Kit Blyth, three, from Marlesford (Image: Fenella Blyth)

Khloe aged three from Felixstowe (Image: Kerry Allard)

Erin, four, from Eyke as The Flip-flap Bird from The Go-Away Bird (Image: Alastair Bartlett)

Brody, three, from Felixstowe (Image: Kirsty Marsh)

Jack aged nine and Henry, 11 months, as Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh (Image: Cathryn Johnson)

Oliver, aged 11 months, as Elmer the Elephant (Image: Beckie Butler)