Matilda Crush-Davison as Hilda on World Book Day 2019. Photo: Joseph Davison (Image: Joseph Davison) Thurlton Primary School celebrate World Book Day 2019. Photo: Thurlton Primary School (Image: Thurlton Primary School) He meets fifteen year old Sinter, a spoiled rich girl, who is running away from an arranged marriage and their uneasy friendship will eventually form an unshakeable bond, as together they face adventure and danger as two young eco-warriors in a truly threatening world. Mulbarton Primary School children celebrate World Book Day 2019. Photo: Mulbarton Primary School (Image: Mulbarton Primary School) A childhood dream leading to a journey of a lifetime. It all began after a rainy-day visit with his family to an exhibition of artefacts from Papua New Guinea. From that moment on the seven-year-old boy was captivated: he knew this was somewhere he needed to go, this was a place he needed to explore. But how could a boy from the suburbs go about becoming an explorer?

Books — STEVE BACKSHALL

After graduating from university, Steve began writing for the Rough Guides travel series, which then led to television work. Soon he was carrying business cards from National Geographic which described him as their ‘Adventurer in Residence’. And then he found himself in the vast untamed wilderness of Papua New Guinea, experiencing the crushing lows and extraordinary highs of the BBC’s Lost Land of the Volcano expedition. Niamh Raines on World Book Day 2019. Harleston Primary School pupils have dressed vegetables as their favourite book character. Photo: Meryl Raines (Image: Meryl Raines) Year 2 students celebrating World Book Day 2019 at Dell Primary School. Photo: Dell Primary School (Image: Dell Primary School) Dressed as the Hungry Little Caterpillar for World Book Day 2019. Photo: Carrie Parker (Image: Carrie Parker) Alburgh with Denton Primary School celebrate World Book Day 2019. Photo: Alburgh with Denton Primary School (Image: Alburgh with Denton Primary School)Elisha Coe, aged 8, from Scarning, as Mary Poppins on World Book Day 2019. Photo: Tammy Coe (Image: Tammy Coe) Lingwood Primary School celebrate World Book Day 2019. Photo: Lingwood Primary School (Image: Lingwood Primary School) Sophie White, aged 10, dressed as Hermione Granger with a wand made by her grandad. Photo: Steven White (Image: Steven White)

‘I can speak to millions. There’s a power to that

Rhys Edmonds dressed up as Wheres Wally? on World Book Day 2019. Photo: Ellie Brown (Image: Ellie Brown) Children at Norwich Primary Academy dress up for World Book Day 2019. Photo: Norwich Primary Academy (Image: Norwich Primary Academy) In 2003, Steve moved to the BBC’s Natural History Unit, where he took his place on the long running children’s wildlife programme ‘The Really Wild Show’. The following three years were awash with wildlife highlights; sharing a beach with 75,000 nesting olive ridley turtles, having a baby mountain gorilla take him by the hand and having a red-eyed tree frog leap into his face.

Can you spot your photo in our World Book Day gallery?

Poppy as Willy Wonka and her best friend Emily as one of the Oompa Loompas. Photo: Rebecca Nutbourne (Image: Rebecca Nutbourne) Langley Preparatory School at Taverham Hall celebrate World Book Day 2019. Photo: Langley Preparatory School at Taverham Hall (Image: Langley Preparatory School at Taverham Hall) Jonah as a warrior from The Wizards of Once and Rupie as a crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit. Photo: Emma White (Image: Emma White) Millie Barnes, aged 5, dressed as Alice Wonderland ready for World Book Day 2019 at Magdalen Gates School. Photo: Samantha Barnes (Image: Samantha Barnes)