Barton Seagrave Year 2 Primary pupils, and Rebecca Mears and Harry Singer.

Staff and students from The Latimer Arts College in Kettering have been helping local primary school pupils celebrate World Book Day (Thursday 6 March), the date when children across the country share and enjoy their favourite stories.

Working between Barton Seagrave, Isham and Mawsley primary schools, the Latimer Arts College team supported a series of fun events, including storytelling and reading, making bookmarks, and playing book bingo.

Assistant Principal at The Latimer Arts College, Jyoti Pankhania, had Barton Seagrave Primary School Year 2 pupils enthralled with her story of ‘Mrs Pankhania’s Terrible Day,’ which saw the book’s lead character getting into a series of near disastrous scrapes.

Barton Seagrave Primary pupil Harry Singer (7), said:

“I really liked ‘Mrs Pankhania’s Terrible Day.’ In one bit she nearly brushed her teeth with superglue, then she didn’t read the toilet sign and almost went into the gents! I also enjoyed ‘Soccer Showdowns’ and ‘The Gruffalo,’ and I want to read ‘Mr Clever’ next.”

Rebecca Mears (6), also of Barton Seagrave Primary, added:

“In the story Mrs Pankhania used gravy instead of coffee and her husband nearly ate cat food for breakfast! I like ‘Monsters University’ and ‘Going on a Bear Hunt.’ Sometimes I read to myself and other times my mum says I need to get my school book to read to her.”

Latimer Arts students were also on hand to support the primary pupils as part of World Book Day.

Student Florrie Harris (14), said:

“I think it’s really important to help young children think about different genres and characters. We’ve really enjoyed playing bingo and helping them colour in their bookmarks. It’s great to work with a primary school in case I want to go on to become a teacher.”

Also helping out was Latimer Arts student Jennifer Wilson (14). She commented:

“It’s been really nice comparing the books I liked when I was little with the ones primary children are enjoying now. Children are still excited by books, but I think it’s important to keep encouraging them with events like World Book Day.”