SPECIAL assemblies and non-uniform days took place across Gwent yesterday to celebrate World Book Day.

Pupils at Cwmcarn High School in Caerphilly county started their day listening to costumed staff discussing their favourite children’s books, including James and the Giant Peach and Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.

Staff and pupils alike were dressed up as their favourite book characters and they discussed books not just during one lesson but throughout the day.

Years 7 to 9 enjoyed Storycraft tutorials on the World Book Day website, had a go at some creative writing using Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights as inspiration and some enjoyed a multimedia lesson on Sherlock Holmes taught by the man himself.

Pupils paid £1 to dress up and money raised will be used to improve literacy in the school.

Pupils at the Archbishop Rowan Williams V.A. Church in Wales Primary School in Portskewett celebrated by dressing up as their favourite characters from the works of Michael Morpurgo and Malorie Blackman.

The primary, on Crick Road, took part in literary-themed presentations and book swapping.

Anna Spokes, Year 6 teacher, said: “It was an excellent day, the children all really enjoyed themselves. It was all about promoting literature and the joy of reading.

“The reason we choose those two authors was that they instil so much emotion into their books.”

Mr Morpurgo’s novels include War House, which pupils have read along with Malorie Blackman’s Pig Heart Boy.