Prime Minister Boris Johnson celebrates World Book Day with schoolchildren at Downing Street

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To celebrate World Book Day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell and school children from Charles Dickens Primary School in Southwark for a fun event at Downing Street.

The children were treated to a talk from Cowell about how she gets her ideas for characters and the power of imagination. The PM then sat with the children as they all joined in a “draw-along” to re-create Hiccup, the main character in Cressida Cowell’s popular How To Train Your Dragon series.

At the event, Cowell also emphasised the importance of reading for pleasure and encouraged the school to join in with World Book Day’s Share A Million Stories campaign.

Johnson said:
It was a pleasure to join Cressida Cowell and pupils from Charles Dickens Primary School in Downing Street, and see them bring to life characters from their favourite books.

I encourage everyone to share a story with their family and friends to mark World Book Day.”

Cassie Chadderton, C.E.O.. of World Book Day said:

It was great to see Prime Minister Boris Johnson take part in this event and to hear his support for ‘Share A Million Stories’. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success. As shared reading, for just 10 minutes a day, can have a long-lasting impact, Share a Million Stories is at the heart of World Book Day’s work to change children’s lives by making reading for pleasure the habit of a lifetime.”

Stephen Lotinga, c.e.o. of the Publishers Association and chair of World Book Day, said:

We are delighted that World Book Day’s message has received support from the highest level of government.

“World Book Day aims to get children and adults excited about reading and the children at the event were ecstatic to get to read and draw with Cressida Cowell and the Prime Minister. The Publishers Association, our members and World Book Day’s partners want to encourage all parents, carers and children to share a story.”

Pictures By Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing St