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Ayesha, Year 8, reports on World Book Day 2020 at Harris Academy Bermondsey. See lots more pictures in our image gallery.

World Book Day is a charity that raises money to ensure that every child in the UK receives a free book to read. They do this by handing out £1 book vouchers that children can exchange for one of their special World Book Day Books which can be found in all good bookshops.

At HAB, as well as receiving a World Book Day voucher, every student is also given a free book! This year, we handed out copies of The Case of The Drowned Pearl by Robin Stevens, Alex Rider Undercover: Four secret Files by Anthony Horowitz, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Alan Poe, Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King JR and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s, We Should All Be Feminists.  Receiving a book for World Book Day made me feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity to engage with a new book that I personally get to keep. 

Some lessons had a World Book Day theme too. For example, in Maths, students were given the chance to enter a story writing competition. The entries had to involve maths as a way to solve a problem within the story. It was a very fun activity but also very challenging because we rarely read stories that are based on mathematical concepts.

In English, activities were set to have a fun time. For example, Year 8 had a lesson on assassins based on the book we were given: Alex Rider Undercover: Four secret Files. Whilst Year 7 students became detectives as they tried to solve the mystery of the ‘Drowned Pearl’. Who was going to be murdered? Who was the murderer?

Lots of people had great thoughts about World Book Day and how they told me how much they appreciated the way HAB celebrates the day.

Adikat in Year 8, who dressed up as Katniss from the Hunger Games, stated: "I love World Book Day because you can dress up to celebrate and express your love for books." Also, Emma in Year 8, who dressed up as Hermione from Harry Potter, said: "I love World Book Day because you can celebrate your passion for books that educate you."

I spoke to teachers who dressed up for this exciting celebration too. Ms Morris (our librarian who dressed up as The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come from A Christmas Carol, happily told me: "I love World Book Day because it’s an opportunity for everyone to talk about books and show their love for particular characters and authors. I’m thrilled that so many members of staff and students were dressed up!"

Ms Oni (an English teacher who dressed up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland) stated: "I love World Book Day because it reveals everyone’s passion for books and promotes reading skills."

I love World Book Day, not just because you can portray your love of books, but also because the day helps us develop our love of reading. By handing out free books HAB improves our creativity and imagination.

I think all secondary schools should celebrate World Book Day like HAB because it’s a chance for students and staff to express their feelings about books in a creative way. It also promotes the value of reading and gives students the chance to increase their creativity and imagination.

Ayesha, Year 8

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Ms Harris as Titania from A Midsummer Night's Dream, surrounded by her little magical helpers.

Ms Harvey Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, shocked us all with her drama skills as she flew down the stairs – credit to Ms Sillars for making the broomstick with real magic.