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Posted on March 6th 2023
World Book Day 2023 - Celebrating Books And Reading
Ms Morris reports on what happened at Harris Academy Bermondsey on World Book Day 2023. Pictures by Photography Club students Noor and Hephzibah, Year 10. See more pictures here!
On Friday 3rd March, HAB celebrated World Book Day, to demonstrate our love of books and reading! Many students dressed up as book characters from some of their favourite books in order to show their love of books and raise the profile of reading.
On the day you might have spotted the members of the Sleepover Club (pictured) working hard in lessons, Lady Macbeth taking Spiderman for a walk, Ebenezer Scrooge teaching English and the White Queen wandering around the school halls.
Barak Obama points out that “reading makes all other learning possible”. That is why we do everything in our power to help our students develop a lifelong habit of reading whilst they are here at HAB.
Whilst it’s important to recognise that reading for pleasure can help students academically, reading for pleasure is also great for our health. Clark and DeZoya (2011) found that reading for pleasure can reduce stress and improve your mental health.
We don’t just dress up and give students a £1 book voucher at HAB. As part of our celebrations, we also give every student a book. This year we handed out:
- Year 7 – Dragon Realms Adventure by Katie Tsang and Kevin Tsang
- Year 8 – Kay’s Brilliant Brains by Adam Kay
- Year 9 – Being an Ally by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy (Co-editors)
- Year 10 - Letter From Birmingham Jail by Dr Martin Luther King Jr
- Year 11 - We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Year 12 – Africa’s Tarnished Name by Chinua Achebe.
- Year 13 - The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House by Audre Lorde
“World Book Day is a great way of bringing all people of all ages and interests together to share their love of books,” said Ms McGing. Jannatul, who dressed as Matilda, said she chose that character "because she is really smart and has telekinesis, which is really cool. She is also very humble and kind, which is very inspiring!"
Shianne, who dressed up as Tommy Shelby (pictured below), said: "With this year's theme being heroes and villains, I felt like Tommy Shelby represented both, as he has his criminal side but also a loyal and strong side, especially towards his family." Watching the TV show inspired Shianne to read a non-fiction book all about the real Peaky Blinders.
World Book Day is a registered charity that focuses on providing children and young people with their very own book. If you would like to donate to their cause, feel free to click on https://www.worldbookday.com/fundraising/.
Just Spotted! Regulus Black and a Dementor caught browsing the Harry Potter section!
Matilda and King Arthur doing their homework.
Ms Harvey channelling the sinister White Witch from Narnia.
Ms Fossey is celebrating a host of comic characters from Europe: the Smurfs, Asterix and Obelix and Marsupilami!
Madeleine has fallen through the looking glass and ended up at HAB!
It’s just your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman hanging out at HAB.
Year 8 students are celebrating the Black Power Movement, that they have read about in non-fiction books, with their outfits.
Zainab is cheering on World Book Day!
