Leaping from the page

• WARWICK may be about as far as you can get from the sea in England but we still aren’t safe from bands of seafaring bootleggers.

Westgate Primary School in Bowling Green Street was overrun by pirates last week as children put down their school uniforms and picked up eye patches and head scarves to embrace their World Book Day theme.

Headteacher Lynne Daniels said: “It was World Book Day and our theme this year was pirate stories.

“The idea came about because we are doing an afternoon with West End in schools, where they come in to tell and perform stories and one of them will be about pirates.

“A lot of the children dressed up because all you really needed was an eye patch and a stripey top. It was really good fun, the pupils really enjoyed it.”

• PEN and ink came to life at Warwick Preparatory School last week with children and staff dressing up as their favourites.

Harry Potters and Worst Witches could be spotted around the school as they celebrated World Book Day, with a parade at the end of assembly proving a colourful site.

Staff member Charlotte Graham said: “Among the many colourful characters, we had Fantastic Mr Fox sat next to girls from St Trinian’s, Hagrid watching over Robin Hood and the Storm Troopers and the Mad Hatter eating lunch with Tintin and Pippi Longstocking whilst the Library Lion looked on with pride.

“All in all the day was an amazing success with many children commenting that it had been such fun and a day they will remember for a long time to come.”

Staff read extracts from their favourite books, and played a badge matching game where children had to identify which members of staff paired up with others.

• CHARACTERS stepped from the pages of storybooks when Southam Primary School held a parade to mark World Book Day last week. The scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz and Pippi Longstocking were among the literary creations celebrated by children at the St James road school.

• Children from Kingsway Primary School in Leamington dressed for the occasion for World Book Day last week.

Headteacher Jenny Gledhill said: “It was fantastic to see everyone enjoying being dressed up as story book characters.

“The children had a great day hearing from various authors and sharing books in class.

“Parents were also invited in to read with their child.”