Apparently today is World Book Day which I cynically observe is just an excuse for kids to go to school dressed as their favourite character from a favourite film and it is usually from Harry Potter.

I do recall my favourite effort in the past was when one parent went a bit left field and sent their kid to school dressed as Begbie, the psycho character from the book/film Trainspotting, closely followed by the child who appeared at school as the cannibalistic psychiatrist in Silence Of The Lambs, Hannibal Lecter, who was even strapped to a stretcher for the complete effect – presumably to protect their classmates from any fava bean recipes.

Having said that I was reminded of the photo above which I shot when I was working in Barrow-in-Furness which I took in July 1994. Just to clarify it was not a World Book Day assignment but I feel it was similar to today’s event.

Basically it was the opening of the library at Greengate Infants School, in the south Cumbrian town, where the kids were invited to dress up as their favourite literary characters.

But the girl dressed as Bo Peep being scared by the spider that scared Little Miss Muffet made for a great shot as she really got into character.

Don’t get me wrong any event that encourages youngsters to read more has got to be good and as I type this I look mournfully towards my ever expanding reading pile and I realise that I should make the effort to read more. If only I could tear myself away from this screen I might actually achieve that eh?