CHILDREN all over Wiltshire have been developing a love of reading after a week of events themed around World Book Day.

On Friday, toddlers in Malmesbury curled up in their bedtime pyjamas and listened to their favourite night-time stories at Kings Day Nursery.

The nursery, in Silver Street, held a pyjama and bedtime reading day to coincide with National Bedtime Reading Week.

"It was the first time we had held it and it was really good fun," said Samantha Fenton, the nursery manager.

The nursery's 36 children also brought in their favourite books, which included Ketchup On Your Cornflakes, by Mick Sharratt, and Spot Goes To The Farm, by Eric Hill.

Other favourite titles included Dinosaur Roar, by Henrietta Stickland.

"The children brought in a very wide and varied array of books," said Miss Fenton.

"The favourite book was Bob the Builder."

The nursery's 16 staff also dressed up in their favourite pyjamas. The children were read their stories and also got the opportunity to read each other's books.

"The children benefited through improving their listening and concentration, and it helped them in working as a group," added Miss Fenton.

At Hullavington School, Harry Potter, Bob the Builder and a ghostly clutch of witches descended when 130 pupils and teachers dressed up in celebration of World Book Day last Thursday.

"Many of the children were dressed as traditional characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, and the younger ones came as Bob the Builder and Firemen Sam, while the older ones preferred Harry Potter," said Ann Sneyd, the deputy headteacher, who is also the school's literacy co-ordinator.

Children brought in their favourite books, many of which had been bought with book tokens given as part of National Book Week.

Favourite titles included The Room on the Broom Song, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and Jungle Jingles, a set of poems by Dick King Smith.

"It brought text to life and helps children to realise that the writing is not just in the books but all around us, and we can all enjoy and share in books," said Mrs Sneyd.

Her favourite book, which she brought along, was a book about Giverny in France.

"It was a book that I bought on holiday and it shows that books come in all forms," said Mrs Sneyd.

The curriculum for the school day was also tailored to the theme.

In Marlborough, author Jasper Fforde's own children were among his audience of students at St John's School where he held workshops on how to write a book and get it published as part of World Book Day.

Mr Fforde is the author of The Eyre affair, a crime fantasy which is set in and around Swindon, and which has been tipped for the WH Smith First Novel Awards.

His children, who live at Great Bedwyn, attend St John's School and Community College and were among the students taking part in workshops he led on getting a book published.

The author was invited to St John's on Thursday and during the day he worked with pupils from all year groups during their English classes.

Teacher Sue Round said: "He talked to different year groups throughout the day.

"He told them how to write a book and also how to go about getting it published."

Burbage Primary School celebrated World Book Day last Thursday with a visit from local author and illustrator, Eileen Browne, who led a variety of workshops throughout the day.

Children learnt how to make a picture book from first ideas to finished product and there were question and answer sessions on the work of an author and illustrator.

The author's visit culminated in a story and fruit-tasting session inspired by Ms Browne's bestseller Handa's Surprise.

At the end of the day the children were able to use their £1 World Book Day tokens to buy books signed by the author.

At Dauntsey's Aided Primary School in West Lavington, more than 100 had fun reading books and poems.

The Home School Association, made up of parents and teachers, organised a 'fun with words' event to coincide with World Book Day.

Parents and children nominated extracts from a favourite book or play or a poem and they were read out.

The special guest was BBC Points West weatherman Richard Angwin, who read an extract from a book.