Excited school children dresses as their favourite characters and shared their favourite stories for this year's World Book Day.
In Kensington, pupils from Holy Trinity C of E Primary School and Ashburnham Primary School joined author and illustrator Sue Hendra at the Crowne Plaza Kensington Hotel on Thursday (March 5) as she shared the tales and belly-roaring antics of her latest fictional character Dave the cat.
There were laughs all around as she read from her newest book, Dave’s Breakfast Blast-off, followed by serious concentration as children joined in a creative craft session to give them the opportunity to explore their own interpretations of the hit story.
Crowne Plaza Kensington further supported the day by opening up its library to readers who also enjoyed complimentary tea, coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts overlooking the hotel’s townhouse gardens.
This year, Crowne Plaza Kensington joined in the celebrations supported by one of World Book Day’s official charities Readathon which provides free books for participating schools and seriously ill children in hospitals across the country.
Elsewhere, students and teachers at Brentford School for Girls dressed up in their favourite literary characters including wizard Harry Potter, Alice from Alice in Wonderland and evil Cruella de Ville from 101 Dalmations.
Pupils in Year 7 and 8 also took part in a special quiz to mark the occasion and the fun continued at lunchtime as teachers read extracts from their favourite novel or poem to students.
Deputy headteacher Louisa Harris said: "There has been a real buzz around books and reading at Brentford School for Girls.
"As a whole school community, we have loved celebrating World Book Day; it's been a very successful way to publicise and engage all of our girls in reading.
"We know the power reading can have in developing children's imaginations and in improving their exam results.
"The day has been a great reminder that we should all work consistently to keep reading and the joy of reading at the heart of our school culture."
Crane Park Nursery in Feltham transformed rooms into locations from books for little ones as part of World Book Week.
One room became a mine and a dwarf cottage, straight out of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and children shared their favourite stories.
And other youngsters dresses as their favourite characters
Fun activities surrounding popular characters took place all week with one of the rooms, for three to four-year-olds transformed into a mine and a dwarfs cottage where they sang songs and discovered all about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
There was plenty of story sharing where children talked about their favourite books and stories such as We're Going on a Bear Hunt were acted out with a hunt taking place in the garden, keeping the young ones engaged.
The week culminated in a fancy dress day to mark World Book Day on Thursday (March 5) where children dressed up as their favourite characters including Winnie the Witch, Mummy Bear from Goldilocks, Rapunzel and many more.
Baby room staff came in as minions and staff in the mighty oaks rooms transformed into sleepy, grumpy, happy, bashful, sneezy, dopey and doc.
Pupils and teachers at Crane Park Primary School in Feltham marked World Book Day in the outdoor spring sunshine.
During the week Year 2 and Year 3 pupils chose their favourite book, paired up and enthusiastically read to each other, as well as coming into school in costume dressed as their favourite book character.
Pupils at Southville Junior School, in Bedfont Lane, Feltham, marked the literary festival by dressing as their favourite fictional characters.
Celebrating the occasion a day late, on Friday (March 6), gave youngsters extra time to add the finishing touches to their fantastic costumes.
Now in its 17th year, World Book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators and books and most importantly reading. Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, the event is now celebrated in over 100 countries and supported by some of the world’s biggest names in children’s publishing.felth
