Celebrating the world of books!

To celebrate World Book Day 2023, we’ve been out and about visiting local schools and challenging the children to a book-themed competition. 

They certainly rose to the occasion! 

We asked children in 23 amazing primary schools to create a model of their favourite book character. Each model had to be made from reclaimed materials and items they already had at home. 

The competition was organised by Dee Tickner, community liaison coordinator at Henry Adams. Dee brought together teachers and lots of Henry Adams teams, who came to special assemblies earlier in the year to introduce the World Book Day challenge. We then returned in March to award the prizes.  

“We were blown away by the creativity of all the young people taking part,” said Dee, who joined in by dressing up as Where’s Wally? for some of the World Book Day prize-giving assemblies. “We were very impressed to see the incredible things children could make using their imagination and items destined for the recycling bin.

“There were lots of fantastic ideas and so many recognisable characters from our favourite books. The judging was an almost impossible task but in the end, we had to choose winners - and what amazing entries they produced!”

On the same theme of recycling and sustainability, Henry Adams again partnered with Wob, formerly known as World of Books, to present a pre-loved book to winners in each year group of every school. More than 160 books were handed out to local children by Henry Adams in March. 

The overall winning entry will receive £500 for their school to spend at Wob to provide books for the school library for all the children to enjoy. 

“A huge thank you to all the schools and families for supporting the challenge and to every child taking part,” said Gareth Overton, head of residential sales at Henry Adams. “I hope all the young people in our local communities enjoyed making the characters. World Book Day is such a big event in the calendar and I know all our staff enjoyed meeting the children and seeing their creations. I’d also like to thank the team at Wob - it’s great to work alongside another local organisation to benefit our communities.”

Henry Adams has supported local communities for more than 30 years. If you have a community event or initiative you would like to be considered for sponsorship, contact gareth.overton@henryadams.co.uk or dee.tickner@henryadams.co.uk.  

Thank you to all the children, teachers and parents at: 

Plaistow and Kirdford Primary School

Rose Green Junior School

St Mary's Catholic Primary, Bognor Regis

The March CE Primary School, Chichester

Walberton & Binsted CE Primary School

East Wittering Community Primary School

West Wittering Parochial CE Primary, School

Emsworth Primary School

St James CE Primary School, Emsworth

St Bartholomew’s CE Primary, Haslemere

Blackthorns County Primary Academy, Haywards Heath 

Warden Park Academy, Haywards Heath

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Haywards Heath

Trafalgar Community Infant School, Horsham

St Mary’s CE Primary School, Horsham

Holbrook Primary School, Horsham

Heron Way Primary School, Horsham

Midhurst CE Primary School

Petersfield Infant School

Sheet Primary School

Steep CE Primary School

Medmerry Primary School

Storrington Primary School