Celebrating World Book Day with Stripey Stork

World Book Day is a fun event celebrated each year. A day of stories, imagination and the simple joy of getting lost in a book. For many children it’s one of the highlights of the school year when they choose a character, talk about favourite stories and step into the classroom feeling proud and excited.

But something children love and value so deeply can quietly become a source of pressure for parents.

When money is tight, a costume, however simple, is another cost to find. We hear from our referral partners about children who would rather stay off school than stand out because they don’t have a costume like everyone else. No child should feel excluded from a day that is meant to celebrate reading and belonging.

Costumes are not an ’essential’ like a cot or pram, and they are not a core part of our work, but because dressing-up items often arrive in donations alongside toys and clothes, we keep them. We store them carefully for moments like this, so that when a request comes in, we can respond.

And this is where our volunteer Lottie comes in.

Lottie has taken real care with our World Book Day packs. She doesn’t simply pull a costume from a box. She thoughtfully matches outfits with the right books, adds accessories wherever she can, and creates complete little story sets. Each pack feels considered and personal. It turns a donated costume into something special. Something that says to a child, you matter, and you deserve to take part.

That ability to be responsive and flexible and to meet needs as they arise is only possible because of Team Stork. Because of the donations we receive. Because of the volunteers who sort, store and prepare items with such care. Because our shelves are stocked, we can say yes when a referral partner gets in touch.

If you would like to support our work, the best place to start is our online wishlist. It is always up to date with the items families need most. From time to time, we will make specific seasonal call-outs, so do keep an eye on our social media channels.

Every donation helps us do what we do best: remove barriers, reduce stress, and make sure children can feel confident, included and ready to learn on World Book Day and every day.