Book Week 2026 at British International School, Phuket (BISP) brought the whole school community together in a vibrant celebration of reading, storytelling, and creativity. Across Primary, Secondary, and language classrooms, students engaged in a wide range of activities designed to inspire a lifelong love of books.

Primary School: Bringing Stories to Life

The Primary School enjoyed a fantastic week filled with activities that sparked curiosity and imagination. A highlight was the visit from well-known author Steve Cole, who entertained students with his banana-themed songs and invited them to help create new ideas for his Astrosaurs series. His session brought storytelling to life in a memorable way.

Throughout the week, students participated in “Drop Everything and Read” sessions, welcomed mystery readers into their classrooms, and took part in a fun scavenger hunt to guess which teacher was hiding behind the books.

The House Book Quizzes were a standout moment. After six weeks of reading selected titles, students demonstrated impressive knowledge and teamwork during the competitions.

The celebrations concluded with a colourful Book Character Dress Up Day. Parades and picnics added to the occasion, and it was clear that the week had sparked genuine excitement about reading across the Primary School.

Secondary School: A Week of Literary Energy

In the Secondary School, Book Week unfolded as a dynamic mix of literary challenges and creative activities. Each morning began with a new instalment of The Registration Chronicles, a serial story by Ms. Barton that kept students engaged as they predicted plot twists throughout the week.

The library remained a central hub, with scavenger hunts organised by Mr. Keenan encouraging students to explore a wide range of texts. On Monday, students took part in the Gimkit Book Jam and AI Image Mystery in the MTB, where competition was high and rewards were up for grabs.

Year 7 and 8 students also had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Steve Cole, gaining insight into the creative process behind his latest science fiction graphic novel.

Later in the week, the Poster Flip Challenge tested students’ knowledge of authors and poets through famous quotes. The week ended with Book Character Dress Up Day, where students showcased a wide range of creative costumes, from manga characters to Harry Potter. It was a fitting conclusion to a week that celebrated reading in engaging and varied ways.

Exploring Language Through Reading: Spanish Lessons

Book Week also extended into Spanish lessons, where students explored the value of reading in another language. Activities included a Spanish World Book Day quiz, recognising Roald Dahl titles through their Spanish covers, and reading stories such as We Are Bilingual.

Students created their own versions of Los Muñecos de Papel (The Paper Dolls) and explored Vamos a Cazar un Oso (We’re Going on a Bear Hunt) through storytelling and games. They also took part in “cognate hunting,” identifying words that are similar in English and Spanish to build confidence in language learning.

These activities highlighted how reading in another language supports cognitive development, builds empathy, and opens up new cultural perspectives. Students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, discovering the sense of achievement that comes from engaging with stories in a different language.

A Whole-School Celebration of Reading

From author visits and competitions to creative challenges and language exploration, Book Week 2026 demonstrated the many ways reading can inspire and connect students. Across all year groups, the week reinforced the importance of literacy while celebrating the enjoyment that books bring to our school community.