A World Book Day to Remember at Oasis Academy Woodview

At Oasis Academy Woodview, World Book Day 2025 was more than just a celebration of books, it was an opportunity to honour the rich diversity of the academy community and share a sense of belonging - the ‘world’ was put back into World Book Day. 

This year, the academy's focus was on dual language story writing, celebrating and elevating home languages and heritage - a culmination of work that started in January after Deputy Principal, Miss Satti met the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations from the publishing company Pan Macmillan, Alyx Price at the Reading Rights Summit in Liverpool and took inspiration from last year’s Woodview’s Summer Story Writing Project.

Almost 100 families gathered at the academy throughout the morning for the Story Writing Workshops. The atmosphere was electric, with a wonderful buzz in the air as pupils, parents, and staff came together to share stories about their heritage, family history, and the languages spoken at home. This collaboration not only sparked creativity but also created a deeper sense of connection and community.

It was a celebration of where everyone comes from and the unique stories that shape their lives. The pupils had the opportunity to explore their home languages alongside English, shining in their creativity as they wrote stories and illustrated their work. The pride and joy on their faces as they shared their stories were truly heartwarming. Alyx Price, who joined the academy for the morning, was deeply impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and creativity. She enjoyed meeting the many families who took part, making it a truly special occasion.

OA Woodview were also thrilled to receive a message from Axel Scheffler, the renowned illustrator of The Gruffalo. He praised the academy for celebrating World Book Day with a focus on Tales from Acorn Wood and thanked the community for their hard work in making the event such a success. In his words, “It is wonderful that so many families have joined in with this special translation and storytelling day. I believe that by sharing our own stories and learning new languages, we develop a better understanding, are brought closer together, and it makes all our lives so much richer.” These words resonated deeply with everyone who participated in the event.

As part of the academy's commitment to ensuring every child has access to books, every pupil at Oasis Academy Woodview was gifted a free World Book Day book, as some families may find it difficult to redeem the free vouchers issued by World Book Day due to time constraints or limited access to bookshops. To solve this, staff took the initiative to redeem the vouchers on behalf of the children and create our the Woodview World Book Day bookshop. 

Every child had access to a book, ensuring no one was left out. To continue efforts to make books more accessible, the academy have also been gifting books at the school gates. Within minutes, the books were eagerly received by children! This will continue throughout the month of March. It’s part of the relentless drive to make reading a joyful and accessible experience for all pupils.

The Woodview World Book Day celebrations extended beyond storytelling and book gifting. To honour the multicultural nature of the academy, pupils enjoyed a themed lunchtime where they could choose from a range of dishes inspired by the three continents represented within the community. The menu included Fish and Chips from Europe, Jollof Rice from Africa, and Teriyaki Chicken from Asia, giving pupils a taste of the cultures they represent.

Alyx Price, who was instrumental in supporting our World Book Day activities, shared her gratitude for the warm welcome she received from the academy. “Thank you to everyone at the school for making me feel so welcome. I loved talking to the children about stories and Tales from Acorn Wood and learning about their different home languages. It was a really special World Book Day.”

Reflecting on the day’s success, Miss Satti shared, “World Book Day 2025 was ALL about the books! Planting a few more seeds for our beautiful, multi-lingual readers to continue to grow and thrive. We had close to 100 families join us for our Story Writing Workshops, it was wonderful to share the morning and our work with Alyx Price. The outcomes from the children and families are truly stunning, and I can’t wait to collate the children’s work to create our version of Tales from Acorn Wood.”

This World Book Day has truly highlighted the importance of celebrating a diverse heritage and the stories and languages that connect us all. The children’s creativity and enthusiasm were inspiring, and their stories will continue to evolve. Oasis Academy Woodview are committed to encouraging a love of books, storytelling, and learning in all pupils, and they look forward to more events like this in the future.