LEGIONS of youngsters across Somerset will be picking up novels and dressing up as their favourite characters as part of World Book Day.

The popular annual celebration sees children donning fancy dress to celebrate all things books and novels.

Dozens of proud parents are sending in their pictures and posting them on Facebook, and you can see them all by clicking here, or by scrolling through the gallery at the top of the article.

Have your children dressed up? Let us know by sending in your pictures at the bottom of this article.

Here are some ones sent in already:

Community answers

World Book Day 2017

"Are you or your children dressing up for World Book Day? Send us your photos and words about your favourite books and character"

We asked for your responses - this is what you sent.

From Claire Archibald

What is your response?Harrison Luxon aged 4 as stickman

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Harrison Luxon aged 4 as stickmanHarrison Luxon aged 4 as stickman

From Jessica Brown

What is your response?World book day at bca Rio smith age 6 as willy wonka Callum smith age 10 as an umpa lumpa

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: World book day at bca Rio smith age 6 as willy wonka Callum smith age 10 as an umpa lumpaWorld book day at bca Rio smith age 6 as willy wonka Callum smith age 10 as an umpa lumpa

From Sam Sears

What is your response?Libby sears age 7 as matilda

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Libby sears age 7 as matildaLibby sears age 7 as matilda

From Bobbie- Jo Watt

What is your response?Three year old Kobi Hunter Watt off to Wembdon Sunshiners as National Velvet.

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Three year old Kobi Hunter Watt off to Wembdon Sunshiners as National Velvet.Three year old Kobi Hunter Watt off to Wembdon Sunshiners as National Velvet.

From Ashlee Rawles

What is your response?Princess Repunzel aka Lottie-Deleine.. 18 months old :)

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Princess Repunzel aka Lottie-Deleine.. 18 months old :)Princess Repunzel aka Lottie-Deleine.. 18 months old :)

From Samantha Walker

What is your response?Leah Walker - aged 4. Dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, complete with Big Bad Wolf! :)

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Leah Walker - aged 4. Dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, complete with Big Bad Wolf! :)Leah Walker - aged 4. Dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, complete with Big Bad Wolf! :)

From Claire Sherwood

What is your response?Kerys sherwood as a pink lady from grease

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Kerys sherwood as a pink lady from greaseKerys sherwood as a pink lady from grease

From Holly Gould

What is your response?Holly dressed up as an oompa lummpa for world book day 😊

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Holly dressed up as an oompa lummpa for world book day 😊Holly dressed up as an oompa lummpa for world book day 😊

From Roxanne Watts

What is your response?Aaliyah age 6 and neeco age 1 As Alice in wonderland and the white rabbit

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Aaliyah age 6 and neeco age 1 As Alice in wonderland and the white rabbitAaliyah age 6 and neeco age 1 As Alice in wonderland and the white rabbit

From Kim Bull

What is your response?Cameron as the mad hatter.

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Cameron as the mad hatter.Cameron as the mad hatter.

From Clare Ingram

What is your response?Sasha age 6 as Batgirl and Sarah age 9 as Miss Hermione Granger

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Sasha age 6 as Batgirl and Sarah age 9 as Miss Hermione GrangerSasha age 6 as Batgirl and Sarah age 9 as Miss Hermione Granger
Chard & Ilminster News: Sasha age 6 as Batgirl and Sarah age 9 as Miss Hermione GrangerSasha age 6 as Batgirl and Sarah age 9 as Miss Hermione Granger

From Community contributor

What is your response?Lacey Age 5 Dressed as little bow peep for world book day

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Lacey Age 5 Dressed as little bow peep for world book dayLacey Age 5 Dressed as little bow peep for world book day

From Rebecca Eades

What is your response?Finley and ellis eades 10 and 8 Harry Potter Rosie eades 5 Mary poppins Théo eades 2 the gruffalo

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: Finley and ellis eades 10 and 8 Harry PotterRosie eades 5 Mary poppinsThéo eades 2 the gruffaloFinley and ellis eades 10 and 8 Harry PotterRosie eades 5 Mary poppinsThéo eades 2 the gruffalo

From Kirsty Simeon

What is your response?World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl. Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa Loompas The crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀

Your pictures

Chard & Ilminster News: World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀
Chard & Ilminster News: World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀
Chard & Ilminster News: World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀World book day - the schools theme was roald dahl.Bailey age 7 as enourmous crocodile Mia age 6 as violet Ollie age 4 and Scarlett age 3 as Oompa LoompasThe crocodile and violet were hand made by myself 😀

World Book Day comes as a new study suggests secondary school pupils are reading books that are too easy for them?

The study, published by assessment service Renaissance UK, is based on an analysis of the reading habits of almost 850,00 UK children.

It found that in primary school, pupils often push themselves to read more difficult books. In general, in the final year of their primary education, pupils’ ages typically match up with their reading age.

But the situation changes once they get to secondary school.

By the first year of secondary school – when children are 11 or 12 – they are reading books around a year behind their chronological age, and in Year 8 (12 to 13 years) pupils were reading books around two years behind where they should be.

For children in Years 9 to 11 (aged 13 to 16), the report says: “On average these pupils were reading at well over three years below their age.”

This means that many children taking their GCSE exams this year are likely to have a reading age of around 13, Renaissance UK said.

An independent book store in Taunton says that there could be a lack of “literacy culture” because secondary school students sometimes only read books as a means to an end, as many books are only read in order to pass a test.

Chard & Ilminster News:

Lionel Ward, of Brendon Books on Bath Place, said: “We often see the best and most committed readers in our bookshop so we are perhaps not so aware of the reading age gap.

“There are some good books out there but perhaps they are not being read by enough people.

“The irony is that when I was growing up there very few young adult books so in my teens I would read in my teens Agatha Christie, science fiction and thrillers by writers such as Alistair Maclean and Hammond Inness. The last two writers did a particularly good job at filling that young adult gap.

“However, unfortunately, the Renaissance report is not a surprise and reinforces an earlier analysis in 2014 that showed in the UK, 16-24 year olds have lower levels of literacy than 21 out of 24 OECD countries.

“At the same time England’s children have less positive attitudes to reading than in countries like Portugal and Romania, according to statistics from Reading Agency.org.

“I have always looked with some envy across the Channel at how books and literature are valued in a way I believe they are not here. They value the importance of independent bookshops in the community. France has over twice as many independent bookstores as the UK, in which over a third have disappeared in the last 10 years or so.

“I do not, necessarily, blame the students or the teachers as, apart from the lack of a literary culture in the UK, there is probably little room in a crowded curriculum where students are being constantly tested and prepared for testing.

“Too often books are a means to an end, usually an exam qualification, and yet all the evidence is that there is nothing better for improving your intellectual muscle than reading and that it can also have a very positive effect on general wellbeing.

“This is a debate we should have. As well as valuing literature more within our culture, perhaps we should have more learning and less testing?

“In particular, we can develop our intellectual skills, and all the other associated benefits, by reading more and we can even enjoy it – without being tested when we finish the final chapter.”

Professor Keith Topping of Dundee University, who carried out the research, said: “The brain is a muscle that literacy skills help train. As it gets more toned, like all muscles, it needs more exercise.

“Currently, primary schools are exercising it more vigorously by reading more challenging books. We now need to replicate this in secondary schools. More discussions between young people about books they are reading should be encouraged.

“I would also encourage all secondary teachers, not just English teachers, to look closely at their pupils’ literacy levels and remember that even the brightest students need to be stretched.”

The report also looked at the most-read books, and which are children’s favourites.

It found that Roald Dahl’s The Twits was most frequently chosen and read by primary school students, while among secondary school pupils it was Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School, closely followed by David Walliams’ novel Gangsta Granny.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling was the favourite among primary youngsters, with six books in the top 10, while YouTube star Zoe Suggs’ (Zoella) two books were voted favourites for secondary school students.

Renaissance UK managing director, Dirk Foch, said: “The 2017 What Kids Are Reading report shows the enduring popularity of some of the classic titles and familiar favourites – books by Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson and JK Rowling continue to delight and inspire new generations of young people.

“However, the popularity of newer authors like YouTube star Zoella and David Walliams continues to rise among both primary and secondary pupils. This indicates a fascinating trend in which other mediums like television and internet are increasingly influencing young people’s reading habits.”

According to TES magazine, the top 10 books that are read in secondary school are: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the Harry Potter series by J K Rowling, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Mr Ward added some more authors to the most-read list, including Rick Riordan (Parcy Jackson), Malorie Blackman, Emily Barr and local authors such as Ally Kennen, Emma Carroll, Angie Sage and Beth Webb.