World Book Day at Wellington

Sharon Furse

Librarian / Data and Assessment Coordinator

1、Meeting Ms Maisie Chan

This year, we had the incredible honour of hosting Maisie Chan, a multi-award-winning author, at our school. Maisie, who received the prestigious Jhalak Prize and Branford Boase Award for her debut children's novel "Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths" in 2022, brought her passion for storytelling and writing to life through a series of inspiring activities with our pupils.

Her visit included engaging sessions with pupils from the Junior School to KS3, where she shared her life experiences and insights into her work during a captivating speech. Maisie's storytelling not only entertained but also motivated our pupils to explore their own creative potential.

In addition to her talk, Maisie conducted two creative writing workshops with our talented young writers. These workshops were a treasure trove of practical tips and techniques, offering invaluable advice on crafting their own stories. She showed our junior school writers how she developed her book characters, encouraging them to start drawing and adding unique details such as their characters' likes, dislikes, and living environments, as well as what drives their stories. 

With Year 7 and Year 8 writers, she demonstrated how to create intriguing openings without directly explaining the story background. She also introduced methods for designing storylines and crafting endings that mirror the openings. Some pupils even had the chance to share their writing and receive feedback from Maisie, a real published author.

The day concluded with a special opportunity for pupils to have their books signed by her, creating lasting memories and a tangible connection to her work. Maisie's visit was a true highlight of our literary calendar, leaving a lasting impact on our pupils and further igniting their passion for reading and writing.

2. Thinking Games Workshop by 

Mr Grzegorz Nawara

Mr Nawara, a creative designer from Germany, along with Echo, co-creator of Mr Nawara 's works, visited our Nest for two days and brought their soon-to-be-published book "Difu Go: The Moon in Trouble."

They embarked on a thrilling intellectual adventure with our Reception and Year 1 pupils, uncovering the mysteries of critical thinking and providing children with an unprecedented learning experience. Unlike a traditional reading session, this workshop empowered the children with the freedom to choose the pathways of how the adventure of Difu Dog unfolded, making each reading a new adventure.

We organised a series of 'Book Taster' activities from Nest to Senior School. Pupils enthusiastically dressed up as their favourite literary characters, bringing stories to life while exploring diverse book genres outdoors—many of which they might not have chosen on their own. During their picnic time with peers, they delved into classics, fantasy, historical fiction, poetry, audiobooks and more, turning the event into a vibrant celebration of reading. Our goal was to foster a love for literature beyond the classroom, creating a joyful and relaxed reading experience under the warmth of the spring sun.

The event not only encouraged creativity and imagination but also helped pupils discover new literary interests in a fun, social setting. Seeing their excitement as they shared book recommendations and engaged in lively discussions was truly inspiring!