Gloucestershire schools go all out for World Book Day with pyjamas quizzes and book jars

World Book Day is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s a nationwide celebration of storytelling, imagination, and the sheer joy of reading. Across Gloucestershire, schools took the opportunity to transform their classrooms and corridors into literary wonderlands, immersing students in the magic of books. From creative costumes to thoughtful reading initiatives, each school had its own unique way of marking the occasion, ensuring that the power of stories reached every child.

For Ashley Manor Prep School in Charlton Kings, this year’s World Book Day revolved around the theme of sharing—not just stories, but also the books themselves. The school’s pupils gathered an impressive collection of over 400 books to donate to The Children's Book Project, ensuring that their love of reading extended beyond the school gates to children across the country.

The atmosphere at Ashley Manor was one of warmth and excitement, quite literally, as pupils turned up in pyjamas, ready to share bedtime stories with their peers. The school hall became a cosy reading haven where older and younger students came together, reinforcing the communal spirit of books. And to top it all off, teachers embraced the fun by becoming ‘Masked Readers’—a playful twist inspired by The Masked Singer, challenging students to guess which teacher was behind the book and the mask.

“Every day is a book day at Ashley Manor,” the school noted, but this one, in particular, was a special celebration of the power of stories and the joy of giving.

Costumes and creativity were a common theme across many schools. At Ribston Hall High School, the hallways were bursting with literary characters, with students and staff fully embracing the spirit of the day. Congratulations were in order for The Midnight Gang, who won the student prize for their inventive costumes, while Mr Sargent took home the staff prize.

Meanwhile, Denmark Road High School extended their celebrations beyond just one day, making it a week-long festival of books and diversity in literature. The school explored stories that reflect different lived experiences, encouraging students to read books that help foster empathy and understanding. Activities ranged from book quizzes to scrapbooking and even a ‘Reading Game’, which reminded students not to judge a book by its cover. The highlight? A grand catwalk in the school hall, where over 50 students and teachers strutted their literary-inspired outfits in front of a cheering audience.

“Our school celebrates reading for a whole week,” Denmark Road explained, “because books allow us to see ourselves and others in new ways. They give us the tools to develop empathy and understanding, making our school—and our world—a better place.”

For some schools, World Book Day was an opportunity to think outside the box—quite literally. Coopers Edge School ran a ‘Book in a Jar’ competition, where students creatively represented their favourite stories inside glass jars. With Reading Ambassadors acting as judges, book vouchers were awarded to the most imaginative entries, while a special guest from Waterstones in Cheltenham selected the overall winner.

At Hillesley CEVA Primary School, books came to life in an entirely different way—through potatoes. Students turned humble spuds into their favourite book characters, a hands-on and light-hearted way of celebrating their love for stories.

Elsewhere, at Farmor’s School, the library became the hub of World Book Day activities. Amber Barker Harrold, the school librarian, went all out, dressing as Cruella de Vil to set the tone for a day filled with literary excitement.

“We started the day with an English lesson in the library, where students listened to a chapter from a new book, enjoyed peaceful reading, and took part in book discussions,” Amber shared. “Staff joined in the fun, dressing up as witches, while students took part in a book swap, filling their bags with stories new to them. We also had a ‘match the shelfie to the selfie’ quiz, with a chance to win £5 book vouchers.”

Some schools opted to extend the magic of World Book Day beyond a single event. Field Court Infant Academy transformed the celebration into an entire reading festival, immersing children in books all week long. From virtual workshops to visits from book characters, the festival ensured that reading remained at the heart of every school day. The ‘decorate a plate’ competition added an artistic twist, allowing children to showcase their favourite stories in a new medium.

At Bream CofE School, the day began with an assembly in which students had to guess the favourite books of their teachers—a fun way to spark curiosity and conversation about different stories. From there, the school ran a carousel of activities, including campfire storytelling, bookmark making, and designing book covers. The enthusiasm of the children made it clear that books were at the heart of the school’s culture.

Cold Aston CofE Primary School took a different approach, treating students to an author talk from Ben Lerwell, who spoke about his new book, The World at Night. Hearing directly from an author brought books to life in a way that was both engaging and inspiring for the pupils.