WORLD Book Day is the biggest celebration of books and reading in Britain and Ireland, with thousands of schools taking part.

Many youngsters have already received a £1 token to put towards a new book and lots of schools are holding special events and dressing-up days to encourage kids to read.

These include Hollygirt Junior School in Mapperley Park, which held a nursery rhymes day where pupils aged three to 11 transformed themselves into their favourite characters and took part in a parade

Here's what youngsters at Fairfield Primary School had to say about books:

Tommy Logue, eight: "I like reading Roald Dahl books best. We went to his museum and I got some books while I was there.

"My favourite is Esio Trot – that spells 'tortoise' backwards. It's about a tortoise called Alfie and he has a neighbour with lots of tortoises living behind him. I like it because it is funny. I do read by myself because I find it really easy to read.

"I'm not sure what I'll do with my £1 book token. I might get a book on dinosaurs."

Mason McGrath, seven: "I like reading Doctor Who books best. I usually get an annual for Christmas.

"I read on my own and sometimes with my mum and dad. Not with my sister though – she likes High School Musical stuff but I find that too girlish.

"I like going to bed with a book and having a little torch."

Keshini Mistry, eight: "I'm in the top group at reading, I love it. I like any sort of book at all, but I like Roald Dahl best.

"On Mondays I usually go to the library in Stapleford and I always look out for his books. They are always funny ones. My favourite book would have to be The BFG."

Layla Middlemass, seven: "I like Roald Dahl books best, too. They are so adventurous and not ordinary, like the great glass elevator and how it goes off into space.

"You'd never get that in our world. Well, you get elevators but they definitely don't fly."

Find out more at www.worldbookday.com