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Schools celebrate World Book Day in costume

Bea SwallowWest of England
News imageSt Mark's School A large group of children dressed in various outfits for World Book Day stand outside on the playing fields. Some of them are dressed as "Where's Wally" and others are dressed as pirates and animalsSt Mark's School
A variety of outfits were on display at St Mark's School in Weston-super-Mare

Thousands of children across the West have been dressing up as their favourite book characters to celebrate literature.

Schools in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire have marked World Book Day 2026 with costumes, events, and £1 tokens to spend at book fairs.

Established by UNESCO in 1995, the annual event is a chance to promote reading for pleasure.

Bratton Primary School in Wiltshire said it had been "a wonderful day" which encouraged everyone to "let go of pressures and expectations" around reading.

News imageBratton Primary School A group of children and staff at a primary school, wearing pyjamas and fluffy dressing gowns, standing in the school hall and posing for a photo.Bratton Primary School
Pupils at Bratton Primary School swapped stories in the library whilst wearing pyjamas and dressing gowns

At Bratton Primary School, teachers shared their own joys of reading in a special assembly and pupils swapped stories in the library, dressed in cosy pyjamas.

Staff said: "It's such a great opportunity to join in with the national buzz around reading and celebrating books."

News imageAbbeymead Five female teachers, all wearing chef whites and standing in a line in front of a hedge, smile at the cameraAbbeymead
Staff at Abbeymead Primary School in Gloucester joined in the fun

Staff at Abbeymead primary in Gloucester dressed up as famous chefs for the day while pupils turned out in smart outfits ready for a dinner party.

News imageA child wearing blue overalls with an American flag stitched on the arm and a papier-mâché helmet. He is holding a book about American astronaut and physicist Sally Ride, and leaning against a brown brick wall outside, looking slightly down at the camera.
Astrid, a Gloucester student in year three, dressed as American astronaut and physicist Sally Ride
News imageSBL Academy Six staff members at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy dressed as the characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. There is the Mad Hatter, playing cards, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, and Alice. SBL Academy
Staff at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in South Gloucestershire dressed as the characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
News imageSBL Academy Three teachers dressed as the Little Red Riding Hood, a wolf and the grandma from the folklore story. SBL Academy
Little Red Riding Hood managed to make a lucky escape in this library
News imagePitton Primary School Three side-by-side photos of children wearing costumes. The little boy on the left is wearing a blue dinosaur onesie, the pair of boys in the middle are dressed as military men in camouflage, and the girl on the right is dressed as American painter Georgia O'Keeffe, holding a yellow book with an illustrated drawing on it. Pitton Primary School
Children at Pitton Primary School in Wiltshire channelled their varied alter egos
News imageSBL Academy Four members of staff dressed in blue sleeveless tunics with a white crest on the front, with black hats with white feathers. They are dressed as the Three Musketeers, standing in a classroom with noticeboards and learning aids on the wall behind them.SBL Academy
The Three Musketeers turned up with a bonus member this year
News imageSBL Academy Two male teachers standing in a classroom with a whiteboard behind them. The man on the left is dressed as Thor and is holding a hammer, while the one on the right is Nick Fury wearing an eyepatch. He is holding a cat which has pipe cleaners coming out of its mouth.SBL Academy
Thor and Nick Fury, along with Goose the cat, made an appearance in the classroom
News imageNorton Fitzwarren Primacy Three female teachers stand in a line for World Book Day, one dressed as a tiger and the other two wearing large hatsNorton Fitzwarren Primacy
These Norton Fitzwarren primary teachers got creative for World Book Day

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