CHILDREN dressed up as their favourite book character to mark a national event that celebrates reading.

The pupils from Old Basing Infant School took part in a book-themed week of activities which culminated in the fancy-dress event, as part of World Book Day.

A few days before, children’s author Joseph Theobald visited the school, in The Mead, to talk to children about his stories.

Lisa Johnson, a teacher at the school who organised the event, said: “He taught children how to illustrate – he was fabulous.”

Pupils also took part in a workshop with a dancer, who showed them how to bring books to life.

Children learned a dance routine to go with the story of The Hungry Caterpillar.

Year 7 students from The Costello School visited Old Basing Infants during the week to read their favourite story to pupils, before donating the books they had read to the school. Parents also came in to read their favourite book to groups of children.

On Thursday, teachers challenged pupils to write their own picture book, and at the end of the week, prizes were given out in assembly to the children who created the best books. The week-long celebration ended with a book-swap.

Miss Johnson said: “The pupils all dressed up as their favourite book characters, and we had a book swap. They brought in an old book and laid them out on a table and swapped them.”

She added: “They absolutely loved the week. One teacher said her children were really inspired to become authors.”