On World Book Day, Thursday 5 March 2026, we encouraged our students to dress up as their favourite book character or celebrate a favourite book author on this day. The main focus was on the personality and attributes according to The Abbey Learner Profile.

Jennifer Claessen, an Abbey alumna and successful children’s author, visited the Junior School to meet students in her capacity the Abbey Junior School Patron of Reading. Jennifer Claessen’s vast theatre experience of enthusing children with imaginative games, quizzes and creative writing workshops inspired both students and teachers about reading for the year ahead.

Jennifer has been a catalyst to try and hook students who are reluctant to read fiction into discovering the enjoyment of stepping into a new adventure through the pages of books.

Her books include The October Witches, The November Witches, The December Witches. We celebrated the release of her latest Ancient Greek story, Netta Becker and the Missing Memory Maze on World Book Day.

Jennifer shared little nuggets about writers that influenced her journey to becoming an author and answered lots of many burning questions from our curious students. We were so delighted to have such a memorable day.

Junior School Librarian