Captive audience: for two weeks, Waterstones was full of enraptured children as mostly local authors read from their books
Thousands of children from two dozen local schools got a World Book Day token and an inspiring lesson from an author or illustrator to mark World Book Day at the Whitgift Centre’s biggest book shop
More than 3,500 pupils from Croydon primary and SEN schools took part in special World Book Day events, staged at Waterstone’s book store in the Whitgift Centre earlier this month.
Each session was hosted by local authors who provided enthralling and inspiring classes.
And almost 4,000 children have also used special World Book Day tokens at Waterstones Croydon to get a World Book Day book of their own.
Among the children’s book authors and illustrators attending, Wendy Warren swirled and twirled Reception and Year 1 classes through all the ballet positions Rita Bear attempted in her story The Bear who wanted to Dance.
Justin Case, Cat Detective explained to Year 1 classes cat sleuthing techniques, as read by Justin Case author Aileen Jay.
First edition: Croydon author Rachel Faturoti was among the writers and illustrators to give readings to the classes
On World Book Day itself, Rachel Faturoti, Croydon author of children’s and teen books, drew out designs for from Year 5 classes for monsters and creatures like those in her book The Summer I Saved the Wild.
And Beth O’Brien, born in Thornton Heath, challenged Year 5 and 6 classes to recreate their own fairytale, teaching them the simple steps to make a story.
Other authors to take part in the special Waterstones Croydon sessions included Susie Pidds, from Purley, whose book Woodland Tales of George the Squirrel, lays down challenges for recycling and upcycling, and Paul Westmoreland , who discussed his three murder mystery puzzle books with Years 4, 5 and 6.
Courtney O’Shea (Justin the Dustbin), Kate Williams (with her book of poetry Squeak! Squawk! Roar!), the Yomi series by Davina Tijani and B Ware (author of the Warning series of books) were others to attend Waterstones.
Mystery solved: Paul Westmoreland signs one of his murder puzzle books
SEN and ELP classes enjoyed storytelling by Emma Steel, the head of the accessible reading publisher Every Cherry, who led interactive storytelling or sensory storytelling.
Classes from the following Croydon schools took part: All Saints Church of England School, Applegarth Academy, Broadmead Primary, Chestnut Park School, Courtwood Academy, Ecclesbourne Primary, The Good Shepherd Primary, Harris Haling Primary, Heathfield Academy, Howard Primary, Park Hill Infants and Junior, Purley Oaks School, Quest School, Regina Coeli Primary, Robert Fitzroy Academy, St Aiden’s Primary, St Mary’s Catholic Junior School, St Peter’s Primary School, The Crescent Primary, Tudor Academy, Tunstal Nursery, Whitehorse Manor and Winterborne Primary.
“This year, Croydon’s children have set a record in the number of authors’ books they have purchased, so in addition to their World Book Day book, their children have a new signed and dedicated book of their own to read,” said one of the Waterstones Croydon team.
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