Books on Prescription for World Book Day

“Reading for pleasure is not a luxury: it’s medicine for the soul” Nicola Morgan. We had a successful and very busy World Book Day at school on Thursday 2^nd March. Our theme for the day was ‘Books on prescription’.

The Library celebrated the benefits of reading for pleasure to wellbeing and mental health with a display of uplifting reads, comfort reads, poetry first-aid and reading cures, and information about bibliotherapy. The display also highlighted the Library’s collection of the books recommended in the Reading Agency’s ‘Reading well for children’ and ‘Reading well for Teens’ booklists. The latter list is now available for pupils to access in the Health Centre.

Teachers had been asked to think of symptoms and book remedies, and the prescriptions for these were on display. For example Symptoms: ‘Wanderlust’ ; Remedy: “Read “Around the world in 80 days”.  The teachers signed the prescriptions with the author as doctor and then wore a special badge all day with e.g. Doctor Verne written on it.  Pupils were then able to take part in a competition to match teachers to doctors. A couple of our teachers were very keen prescribers, each wearing 6 different doctor badges!

The highlight of the day was our Books on Prescription lunch time Surgery staffed by 25 pupil doctors (our keenest readers from years 7 – 13, and mostly book club members). The library was transformed into a surgery, with waiting room, staff room, x-rays, and consultation areas.  The doctors were all kitted out with white coats (or blue coats for 6^th form consultants), stethoscopes, prescription pads, badges, pill bottles and potions.  We had plenty of patients coming for consultations with our various specialists in Fantasy, Science fiction, and Graphic novels (to name but a few!) and going away with books prescribed to meet their reading needs.   It was fantastic to see the School Library so busy and buzzy with book talk, and everyone involved agreed that it was great fun.  It was also magical to witness the variety of book recommendations made to our pupil patients by our very dedicated and enthusiastic doctors. The doctors found the experience very interesting and enjoyable.

“It was interesting to see so many different tastes in books”  Anne G Y8

“It was nice to help people who hadn’t really been enjoying reading, and be able to find them a book that they would like to read” Bluebell M Y8

“It was really good fun and great to be able to pass on our passion for reading to the younger pupils” Sophie P Y13

“I was really impressed with the turnout of patients” Thora D Y13

Patients enjoyed visiting the library for this unique experience. The array of sweet medications on offer (Healing Words, Bibliotherapy, Reading Remedy, Comfort & Joy, Zest for life, Library tonic, Elixir of Hope) were also very well received in addition to the tailored prescriptions!

“It was very nice and friendly. I felt really encouraged to read” Sazan M Y8