World Book Day 2013: teachers get into character to inspire their pupils – in pictures

It took Dan Callaghan from St John's and St Clement's primary school a couple of days to get his bright orange makeup off after dressing up as an Oompa Loompa World Book Day 2012: "It raised a few eyebrows when I went to the pub after school!" Photograph: Dan Callaghan

Oooh what big teeth you've got Mr Callaghan? After the struggles of last year, World Book Day 2013 was makeup free - but boiling hot. The dilemmas of life... Photograph: Emily Drabble/Guardian

"Well it was supposed to be Mr Gum but I asked the class who they wanted me to be and Mr Fox proved to be too popular. So I came about my costume using the usual three words to guide me: beg, borrow, steal." Des Hegarty, from Wilbury Primary school, taken early on World Book Day morning.
Photograph: Kerry Hegarty

It was raining outside and there was nothing to do, so why not make a big hat and wear it to school?
Photograph: Max Jaegar

"As an English teacher who knows and loves many books finding just one costume for World Book Day is so hard," says Alice Player (far left as the queen from Alice in Wonderland) from Deptford Green School in London. Alice is pictured here with fellow book lovers Simon Smith, Keely Wilson, Jackie Bygraves and Tim Allen (L-R).
Photograph: Amanda Lane

We hope Mark Sherrin, otherwise known as ye olde Friar Tuck, manager of Lyndhurst Primary school's dyslexia centre in London, is wearing a comfortable vest under his monkish garb.
Photograph: Max Jaegar

Have you got the stamina to spend all day behind bandages to inspire your pupils to read The Invisible Man? Is that really Robert O'Halloran from Deptford Green secondary school under there? Apparently so, pictured here with the bride of Frankenstein aka Henri Adare.
Photograph: Amanda Lane

Carol Irving inspires her year 2 pupils at St John's and St Clement's primary school in London by dressing up as Amazing Grace from Mary Hoffman's book.
Photograph: Dan Callaghan

Emma Bilsdon from St John's and St Clement's primary school in London goes for the cute look as Little Red Riding Hood. Photograph: Dan Callagahn/Other

Mary Welsh, upper primary teacher in Scotland, searches for elementary clues that pupils are enjoying reading at school today.
Photograph: Mary Welsh

Dean Fudge makes a hideous transformation into Roald Dahl's classic baddy Mr Twit.
Photograph: Alice Player

Neigh, it cannot be so... War Horse by Miss Bromley Notre Dame High School, Norwich.
Photograph: Notre Dame High School

A library unfolds in front of our very eyes from the teachers at Sir Bernard Lovell School, South Gloucestershire.
Photograph: Sir Bernard Lovell School

Gosh this looks so, so fun! The English department made a big effort at Stratford-upon-Avon school today.
Photograph: Kitty Kovacevic

In outfits to rival a prime time costume drama, Coombehead Academy go classic for World Book Day 2013.
Photograph: Harriet Turner

So many teachers dressed up at Clacton County High School that it really is time for a game of Where's Wally?
Photograph: Simon Kedge

The maths department at St Katherine's School in Pill, North Somerset, are going all the way to Oz in their beautiful costumes.
Photograph: Will Iredale

Sheila Rourke is a brilliant Roly Poly bird from The Twits and Mark Short is Woody from Toy Story. Gold star to Ravenshall (special school) Dewsbury West Yorkshire. Photograph: John Page /Other

Staff at Harris Academy (Beckenham), definitely won't be late for class with their Alice in Wonderland theme. Photograph: Harris Academy

What a great effort the staff at Glenesk School have made.
Photograph: Glenesk School

Paddington Academy really have pulled out all the stops and look as though they had lots of fun in the process. Photograph: Paddington Academy

We're loving the work of the EYFS team at Tidemill Academy with their interpretation of 'Aliens Love Underpants'.
Photograph: Tidemill Academy

The KS2 team at Tidemill Academy went for classic Roald Dhal as their World Book Day theme. We especially love Veruca Salt's scowl. Photograph: Tidemill Academy

Amelia Jane keeps Hogwarts pupils, Just William, Geppetto, James Bond, Mr Collins, et al, in check at Kimbolton School on World Book Day.
Photograph: Sue Hart

English teachers and support staff dressed up as famous literary characters for World Book Day at Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay. In the middle is their guest author, Eric Maddern.
Photograph: Andrew Ryland

Jenny Sherman, English Teacher at Hornsey School for Girls, created a really trashy costume for World Book Day with her version of Dustbin Baby by Jacqueline Wilson.
Photograph: Jenny Sherman

Claire Lackford from Holmes Chapel Primary School in Cheshire got all dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange but didn't manage to scare the year 1s this World Book Day.
Photograph: Claire Lackford

English teachers from Kesgrave High School as Lizzie Bennett, Narcissa Malfoy, Dracula, Tess Durbeyville, Jane Eyre, The Woman in Black, Cruella and Wally. Beautiful!
Photograph: Lauren Hunwicks

We just can't get enough of Oompa Loompas on World Book Day... thanks Saphira Isa, Katy Brand and Robert Howe from the Junior School of British School of Bahrain for sharing your delightful outfits.
Photograph: Amanda Fergusson

Mr Nigel Westbrook from Cheadle Hulme School took on the challenge of Macbeth for World Book Day. Photograph: Tim Hudson/Other

Kingsbury High School's ICT technician Vinod Parmar finds his dark side on World Book Day, playing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Photograph: Steve Foster

Geography teacher Nigel Adcock from Churchdown School in Gloucester transformed into Horatio Nelson for World Book Day.
Photograph: Cheryll Agg