Children across Southwark donned capes and wizards’ hats as they dressed as fictional book characters for World Book Day.
In Bermondsey, a queue formed outside the Fancy Dress Town shop as parents rushed to pick up costumes for their little ones, on Thursday, March 7.
In Elephant and Castle, award-winning author and broadcaster Marvyn Harrison, surprised students at St Jude’s Primary School with readings from his two books ‘The Best Me!’ and ‘I Love Me!’.
Assistant Head Kate Pakthyiendra said: “Having an individual like Marvyn come and spend time with our children on World Book Day makes the whole day come alive.
“We were like one big family as he read to the whole school, kids in character costumes or pyjamas, lounging on sofas, sprawled on the carpet, all entranced.”
In Lewisham, Millwall midfielder Allan Campbell visited Our Lady of The Rosary Primary School and met kids dressed as trees and elves.
Meanwhile, Southwark Council was encouraging people to come to their local libraries dressed up as Wally from ‘Where’s Wally’ or Dog Man.
Around most of the world, World Book Day is celebrated on April 23 but the UK has it on March 7 so it doesn’t clash with the Easter holidays.
The first World Book Day in the UK and Ireland took place in 1997 to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading.
Baroness Gail Rebuck recalled: “We wanted to do something to reposition reading and our message is the same today as it was then – that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives.”