World Book Day Resources

Thursday 4 March is World Book Day, a date in the calendar which usually sparks creativity around the country as children dress up, inspired by the looks of their favourite literary characters, to celebrate reading and novels in all their forms.

While this year looks to be a very different experience as home learning continues for the vast majority of pupils for now, the day still provides an opportunity to discuss and engage with these topics for students of all ages. This page links to a range of teaching materials created by Into Film that help to explore key texts.

Film Lists

A useful starting point is to take a look at our recently updated Literary Adaptations film list which contains many book-to-film adaptations that are found on the curriculum for both primary and secondary audiences. The list includes a variety of genres such as animation, sci-fi, period drama and war as well as a range of themes from friendship to gender representation. Beyond this, our Alternative Adaptations film list excludes popular stories which are more modern and cover a variety of formats, from short stories to graphic novels.

Film Guides

Our informal film discussion guides contain both pre- and post-film questions, as well as extension activities and suggestions of titles to watch next. These can be utilised alongside screenings at film clubs, in classrooms or one-to-one during home learning. The film guides below are targeted towards specific age groups and have key subjects and topics listed. 

We have selected three film guides here to demonstrate titles and topics tackled for different audiences - primary, lower-secondary and upper-secondary - but there are others on the Literary Adaptations film list which also have film guides or other associated content attached.

A Wrinkle in Time

Directed by Ava DuVernay, this sci-fi adventure follows 13-year-old Meg and her younger half-brother Charles Wallace as they travel across time and space in search of their missing father and celebrates subjects such as maths and science. The film guide explores topics such as space exploration, anti-bullying in school, how characters change throughout the story, and the look and sound of the film, focusing on its fantastical landscapes and colourful settings. The extension activity within the guide specifically looks at literacy through the characters' memorable quotes in the film, exploring the meaning behind them and their impact on the audience.

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte's much-loved, much-studied and highly influential classic novel from 1847 has been adapted for the screen on a number of occasions. This version - from director Cary Fukunaga and starring a largely British and Irish cast, with Australian actress Mia Wasikowska in the titular lead role - received positive reviews for its script, performances, and visuals, garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. The film guide explores topics such as the gothic romance genre, translating iconic characters to screen, women in Victorian society, and cinematic elements such as colour, setting and music. The extension activity offers an opportunity for viewers to put forward ideas for their own prequel story, encouraging creative writing and critical thinking about book-to-screen adaptations. 

Atonement

Based on Ian McEwan's 2001 novel, Atonement is a romantic war drama from filmmaker Joe Wright which stars the likes of James McAvoy, Keira Knightley and Saoirse Ronan. The work is set over three time periods - 1935 England; during World War II; and the present day - taking in themes around class, romance, and forgiveness (as suggested by the title), as well as storytelling itself. The film guide explores topics such as the impact of wealth, the inclusion of the Dunkirk evacuation, whose story is being told, and the use of metaphor. The extension activity focuses on the idea of Dunkirk Spirit and how perceptions and representations of events change over time.