SCHOOLS across Keighley district staged activities by the shelf-load to celebrate World Book Day.

At Oakworth Primary, there was a week of events involving all 470 pupils plus staff.

On the day itself – last Thursday (Mar 2) – everyone dressed-up and in the evening, Key Stage Two youngsters enjoyed bedtime stories.

A Mannequin Reading Challenge was staged, in which the children and adults were filmed performing everyday tasks in still mode.

"Over 500 people are on the video – it was great fun making it and all part of celebrating reading in the school," said Samantha Ambrose, reading and phonics leader.

The footage can be viewed at oakworthprimary.co.uk/curriculum/reading-and-phonics.

At Holy Family Catholic School in Keighley, staff shared 'shelfies' – pictures of their bookshelves – via the school Twitter and spoke about favourite books with their subject and form classes.

There were quizzes, mini book reviews, some year-seven classes watched a CBeebies bedtime story and a group from year eight visited Keighley Library.

A school spokesman said: "It was most pleasing that it wasn't just the English faculty doing activities, but staff from many other subjects right across the school. Everyone thoroughly embraced the day."

Pupils and staff at Steeton Primary School dressed as their favourite book characters.

Normal lessons on Thursday were supplemented with book-related activities and there was a celebratory assembly.

"Lots of reading went on throughout the day – with our recently-refurbished library taking centre-stage," said head of school, Kevin Wheeler.

"Celebrating World Book Day is very important to all our children and staff, as we strive to ensure that the importance of reading – as the key to all learning – is very high profile all through the year.

"We have regular events to encourage reading, such as the FRED (Families Reading Every Day) scheme, with children receiving rewards for being active readers."

Lots of familiar book characters were also on view at Sutton Community Primary School.

Headteacher Fiona Beetles said: "It was amazing to see Peter Pan talking with Horrid Henry whilst Charlie Bucket solved a maths problem with James Bond!

"We had a whole class worth of characters from Hogwarts as well as a tribe of fairy tale characters and swirls of princesses.

"One member of staff even drove to work dressed as Simba singing songs from the Lion King!"

Organisers of the annual World Book Day initiative say the aim is to encourage children to explore the pleasure of books and reading.

Schools and nurseries are sent book tokens and resource packs.

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council's executive member for education, employment and skills, welcomes the venture.

"I hope that the celebration of World Book Day in schools creates readers of the future by igniting a love of books and reading in children and young people," he said.