World Book Day: Leeds pupils celebrate heroes of literature

Thousands of school children dressed up as their favourite book characters to help make the celebration a real page-turner.

And the work of delivery company TNT spoke volumes after their very own superheroes donated over 100 books to school children across Yorkshire yesterday.

Drivers from the firm dressed up to donate over three boxes of books to the schools, which included Little London Primary School, in Meanwood, and Westgate Primary School in Otley. Helen Carter, headteacher at Westgate Primary School, said the books, along with events like World Book Day will help to inspire more children to take up reading.

She said: “We’ve had children dressed up as book characters all day, so there has been a very excited buzz throughout the school.

“The gift of getting these books from TNT was the icing on the cake.

“We are going to give some of these books to some of our younger pupils with the idea that it will encourage parents to sit down and read with their children and foster that love of reading which makes such a difference.”

Jill Wood, headteacher at Little London Primary, added: “We are an inner city school and we are currently supporting children with over 60 different languages, so any contribution to our library is very gratefully received and is well used.”

Now in its 19th year, World Book Day is an international celebration of authors, illustrators and literature, designed to encourage children to take up reading. It is celebrated in over 100 different countries across the globe.