St John’s Wood turns into the Wild West

A ST John’s Wood school found itself overrun by cowboys and Indians last Friday as it celebrated a Wild West book day.

Staff and pupils at Arnold House school dressed up in their favourite Wild West costumes as the school welcomed guest authors David Roberts, Tanya Landman and Jim Eldridge to read to pupils and hold creative writing workshops.

The school also had a book stall open selling children’s books throughout the day.

Librarian Leonie Flynn, who organised the event, said: “It was fantastic. The whole school has been cowboy and book crazy all day.

“My favourite outfit was one of the staff came as a horse and rider. One of the boys also came dressed as a cactus which he’d made at home.

“It has genuinely inspired the boys about reading because they have all chosen to buy books by authors they wouldn’t have read before.

“The more interesting you can make reading to children, the more they will want to read. Having a book day makes reading a shared experience.”