National Book Week celebrated with colour and imagination

From tiny superheroes to fairytale princesses: the school was alive with excitement as pupils dressed up as their favourite book and story characters.

National Book Week celebrated with colour and imagination
The Swan princess, Ariel and Tinkelbell roamed the corridors of the primary school.
Pirates made everyone run for their lives.

The corridors of Laerskool Barberton Primary were transformed into a world of fantasy, adventure, and magic last week as learners celebrated National Book Week (September 5 - 11), an initiative of the Department of Education to promote the joy of reading among young South Africans.

From tiny superheroes to fairytale princesses, and even a sprinkle of villains for good measure, the school was alive with excitement as pupils dressed up as their favourite book and story characters. Marvel heroes stood shoulder to shoulder with Disney legends, while witches, wizards, and other whimsical figures added their own dash of mischief to the day.

Alvin and the chipmunks.
Draculas looked for some fresh blood.

“Books open up a whole new world,” said the library teacher. “When children step into the shoes of their favourite character, they are reminded that reading is more than just words on a page. It’s about imagination, adventure, and endless possibilities.”

The initiative ties in perfectly with the Department of Education’s goal to nurture a love for reading from a young age, reminding learners that stories can be a powerful tool, not only for learning but also for shaping dreams and sparking creativity.

Even some teachers played along and arrived dressed up as a professor of the Harry Potter books, Wednesday and a Good Witch.
Tinkerbell, Wednesday (without the smile) and Maleficent.
The big bad wolf does not look so bad.

For Barberton’s learners, it was more than just a dress-up day. It was a chance to celebrate the stories that inspire them, the characters who make them laugh or think, and the magical worlds that only books can offer.

In a time when screens so often dominate, National Book Week was a gentle but joyful reminder that nothing quite compares to the power of a good story. And judging by the wide smiles and excited chatter at Laerskool Barberton Primary, the love for books is alive and thriving in the Lowveld.
A wizard, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack of 'Jack and the Been stalk'.