World Book Day 2025
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every World Book Day needs a headline event.
Among the many promotions and competitions arranged to celebrate this annual occasion, Headington Rye Oxford’s headline event of the week was the visit by HRO parent Maxine Spence, based at Oxford University Press, on Tuesday 4th March.
Maxine gave a fascinating talk about the history of ‘The Press’ and printing in Oxford, with some wonderful photos from the archive, and then talked about the importance of her role as Senior Commissioning Editor in children’s publishing, within the education sector, and how the books that she commissions (and even writes!) are teaching children all around the world to read.
The audience was privileged to see some new hot off the press books that she has been working on for two years from a new Traditional Tales series.
Her talk particularly resonated with our Year 9 volunteers who listen to Key Stage 1 pupils read every week at a local primary school.
Mrs Sandra Withey, Head Librarian at Headington Rye Oxford said: “Maxine talked about the various routes into publishing including work experience; several Headington Rye students have already had the opportunity of doing work experience with Maxine and we suspect that after this talk there will be a few more applications!
“Maxine’s talk was an inspiring look at books from a different angle and with local interest too, that was much-enjoyed by her audiences of U3, L4 and U4.
“As part of our World Book Day celebrations we are also delighted to announce that popular, award-winning author Sally Nicholls will be returning to Headington on 1st May to talk about her work, including her recently Carnegie-nominated book ‘Yours from the Tower’.”
