World Book Day 2024

In collaboration with Authors Aloud UK, Wolverhampton Grammar School always makes World Book Day an occasion to remember for children across the city. In previous years, children have been on a Turbo-charged mission with David Baddiel, on a Gruffalo adventure with Julia Donaldson and transported to magical worlds by Cressida Cowell.

World Book Day 2024 at WGS welcomed Dame Jacqueline Wilson to Big School to meet 450 excited children from 12 schools, many of whom were dressed as well-known characters from Jacqueline’s books.  Jacqueline is a former Children’s Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. As one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors, she has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide.

Jacqueline’s event was extra special, as it marked the release date of her latest book. ‘The Girl Who Wasn’t There’. In the book, Luna and her little sister Aurora go to live in a tower. It’s almost like they’ve stepped inside a fairytale. But everything is not as magical as it first seems. The tower needs patching up, their Dad still doesn’t have a job and they’re not even allowed in the room up at the very top. Luna starts to suspect if there really is a curse on the tower – and will she be able to break it?

I’ve always been fascinated by Follies, especially those towers built in the middle of nowhere with no apparent purpose.  I wondered what it would be like to live in one.  My child narrator Luna isn’t sure about her new home, especially when her little sister Aurora starts talking about her mysterious new friend ….  It was great fun to write a ghost story with a modern twist.

Jacqueline wilson

Children left Jacqueline’s event thoroughly entertained and eager to read their signed copies of ‘The Girl Who Wasn’t There’. This was certainly another World Book Day that will inspire children to explore the magic of reading for years to come!