World Book Day 2026

World Book Day

Introduction Pupils and staff enjoyed a full programme of events and activities for World Book Day Week at Ballard.

Highlights included four Booky Breakfasts, author visits from international best -selling writer Maz Evans and author -illustrator Simon Chadwick, and character parades for pupils from Nursery to Year 7.

We were also delighted to welcome renowned explorer and author Benedict Allen as this year’s guest judge.

Thank you to our librarians, families, staff and pupils for helping to make the week a success. With two well-resourced libraries and inviting reading spaces across the school, Ballard continues to be a place where stories flourish and every reader belongs.

Here is to the adventures waiting in these pages and to many more memorable reading journeys ahead.

Booky Breakfasts

Visiting Authors – Maz Evans A huge thank you to our wonderful visiting author, Maz Evans, for making our World Book Day celebrations truly magical. Maz is an award -winning author and creator of the bestselling “Who Let the Gods Out?”, “Vi Spy”, and the “Scarlett Fife” series.

Maz inspired our Years 3 – 6 pupils with her energetic storytelling, brilliant humour, and thoughtful Q&A, and also stayed to sign books for her excited fans.

Visiting Authors – Simon Chadwick A huge thank you to the second of our visiting authors, Simon Chadwick, for making our World Book Day celebrations truly magical. Simon is a children’s author, illustrator, and creator of over 30 books. His work has appeared on BBC’s Playdays and has brought joy to millions of young readers. Simon captivated our Early Years and Pre -Prep children by turning their imaginative ideas into incredible creatures, with Year 2 creating fantastic designs of their own. Thank you both for sparking creativity and igniting imaginations across our school!

Guest Judge Benedict Allen

We were delighted to welcome renowned explorer and author, Benedict Allen, to Ballard as our World Book Day Week Guest Judge.

Benedict enjoyed meeting our pupils and listening to how passionately they talked about their book and character, their love of reading and their incredible costumes.

Benedict said: 'So much energy, Ballard is buzzing! So many very creative children; I have come away inspired and energised’ Benedict, thank you for inspiring us, and being a wonderful Judge too.

Pre Prep

Lower Prep & Year 6

Year 7