From reading to writing and telling stories, books take centre stage this week for the annual celebration of reading, World Book Day.

As thousands of children are given their £1 vouchers to get reading this week, there are more ways than ever to mark the event this year.

The charity that stages the biggest celebration of reading in the world has teamed up with a comic for the first time to encourage children to create their own stories.

The Share A Million Stories with the Beano aims to see young ones sharing their own stories for the comic’s Story-O-Meter.

From World Book Day until Sunday, March 29, Beano.com will feature a Story-O-Meter which provides kids with the building blocks to create their own stories with characters, objects and places to make their very own creations, which they can then share and add to the Beano’s totaliser.

Research shows that parents reading with their children for as little as 10 minutes a day can make a significant difference to a child’s achievement levels and shared reading has the single biggest impact on a child’s independent reading habits.

Emma Scott of Beano Studios said: “With World Book Day and our Beano Story-O-Meter at Beano.com, we are getting kids to carry on their reading adventures, so they can make their own stories and let their imaginations run wild.”

Besides events in schools this week, there are also World Book Day events happening across the county. They include:

Waterstones, Bluewater: On Saturday, March 7 from 11am and Sunday, March 8, spend your voucher, enjoy a treasure hunt and an activity pack, or come as your favourite book character.

Waterstones, Rose Lane, Canterbury: On Thursday, March 5 from 10am there will be competitions and bookish activities; a redesign your favourite book cover competition and a treasure hunt.

The Mall, Maidstone: From Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8, there will be storytelling sessions on the Bridge Area in the Upper Level at various times. Try a costume swap by bringing along a clean, gently used one to the Ask Me Point and swap it for another donated costume. Plus, be on the lookout for our hidden books to enjoy and pass on.

Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst: On Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, visitors can take part in a trail and exchange a voucher for a free book, or come dressed up as a favourite book character from 11am to 3pm both days.

Children can also use their £1 token to get a free World Book Day book or get £1 off any book or audiobook.

This year’s £1 books list includes Anthony Horowitz back with the world of MI6 and Alex Rider while bestseller Matt Haig sees 11-year-old Evie, taking a trip to the Amazon rainforest. There are three epic Dog Man stories from Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey and BBC stars Greg James and Chris Smith’s Kid Normal tackles a mega mystery. Pre-school favourite Bing appears in a Splashy Story and Supertato will be taking on Evil Pea who says books are rubbish. Robin Stevens has penned a new Murder Most Unladylike Mystery in The Case of the Drowned Pearl. Laura Ellen Anderson also delivers a new Amelia Fang adventure.

For older readers there is non-fiction from former Olympian Matthew Syed, one of Netflix ’s most successful films of 2018 continues in The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! by Beth Reekles, and Split, a powerful story by author of I am Thunder, Muhammad Khan.

To find out more about World Book Day, go to worldbookday.com

To find out what’s going on in the county and for all the latest entertainment news click here.