Every picture tells a story, as you can see in our collection of photos from this year’s World Book Day.

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Theo Harrington, 10, as Malfoy, and Matilda, two, as Goldilocks.World Book Day 2020: Theo Harrington, 10, as Malfoy, and Matilda, two, as Goldilocks. (Image: Archant)

The annual event sees children (and some adults!) dressing up in costumes themed around their favourite books.

So we have protagonists from the Harry Potter series alongside traditional fairy tale characters, celebrating works of fiction in a variety of forms.

World Book Day is a charity event held annually in the UK and Ireland since 1995 on the first Thursday in March. It sees every child in full-time education in the UK given a voucher to exchange for one of a choice of special books.

We'll be adding to our gallery of WBD images throughout the day, so please send your photos to hertsad@archant.co.uk

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day: Olive Chabauty, four, as Fantastic Mr Fox, with sisters Grace,10, as Professor Lupin and Elsie, six, as Tinkerbell.World Book Day: Olive Chabauty, four, as Fantastic Mr Fox, with sisters Grace,10, as Professor Lupin and Elsie, six, as Tinkerbell. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Tillie Coulson as the Cat in the Hat.World Book Day 2020: Tillie Coulson as the Cat in the Hat. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Zane Malik as The Grinch.World Book Day 2020: Zane Malik as The Grinch. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Joshua Mellor as a Warhammer space marine.World Book Day 2020: Joshua Mellor as a Warhammer space marine. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Logan Mellor, four, as little Bob McGrew from Poo in the Zoo, holding a pile of glowing iguana poo.World Book Day 2020: Logan Mellor, four, as little Bob McGrew from Poo in the Zoo, holding a pile of glowing iguana poo. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Chloe Atkinson as the witch from Hansel and Gretel.World Book Day 2020: Chloe Atkinson as the witch from Hansel and Gretel. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Anwen Adams, seven, as Matilda and Mollie Fielder, four, as Pugacorn.World Book Day 2020: Anwen Adams, seven, as Matilda and Mollie Fielder, four, as Pugacorn. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Harrison and Charlie Fletcher - their school did not do dressing up, but asked the children to bring in their favourite books to read and tell the class about.World Book Day 2020: Harrison and Charlie Fletcher - their school did not do dressing up, but asked the children to bring in their favourite books to read and tell the class about. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Marley, 10, with Toto as Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Oz, and Hadley, 5, as an Oompa Loompa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.World Book Day 2020: Marley, 10, with Toto as Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Oz, and Hadley, 5, as an Oompa Loompa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.World Book Day 2020: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.World Book Day 2020: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: St John Fisher School.World Book Day 2020: St John Fisher School. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: St John Fisher School.World Book Day 2020: St John Fisher School. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Brooke Griggs, four, as the Snow Queen.World Book Day 2020: Brooke Griggs, four, as the Snow Queen. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Epernay, two, and Leon, four, dressed up as The Princess & The Bear from the book with the same name written by their mum, local author Nina Pileborg, under the pen name Little Arrowcastle.World Book Day 2020: Epernay, two, and Leon, four, dressed up as The Princess & The Bear from the book with the same name written by their mum, local author Nina Pileborg, under the pen name Little Arrowcastle. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Archie Morton, seven, and Isla Morton, five, as Grandpa from Grandpa’s Great Escape and Matilda Wormwood from Matilda.World Book Day 2020: Archie Morton, seven, and Isla Morton, five, as Grandpa from Grandpa’s Great Escape and Matilda Wormwood from Matilda. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Esmé Cummins, nine, as the Amazing Esmé.World Book Day 2020: Esmé Cummins, nine, as the Amazing Esmé. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Leo Johnson, three, as Sully from Monsters Inc.World Book Day 2020: Leo Johnson, three, as Sully from Monsters Inc. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Boudicca, the destroyer of St Albans! Isabella Hope, eight.World Book Day 2020: Boudicca, the destroyer of St Albans! Isabella Hope, eight. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Tyrell Seidu, nine, as The Dictionary.World Book Day 2020: Tyrell Seidu, nine, as The Dictionary. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Three-year-old twin girls Daisy and Poppy Watkinson.World Book Day 2020: Three-year-old twin girls Daisy and Poppy Watkinson. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Staff at Sauncey Wood Primary School.World Book Day 2020: Staff at Sauncey Wood Primary School. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: George Reeve as the Gigantosaurus.World Book Day 2020: George Reeve as the Gigantosaurus. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Twins Emily and James (age 8) recreate the BFG.World Book Day 2020: Twins Emily and James (age 8) recreate the BFG. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Harry Beart, six, dressed up as Paddington at the Palace.World Book Day 2020: Harry Beart, six, dressed up as Paddington at the Palace. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Rosie and Jessica Willis from Fleetville School.World Book Day 2020: Rosie and Jessica Willis from Fleetville School. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Eight year old Sebastian Aumeerally dressed up as Tom Gates for London Colney Primary School.World Book Day 2020: Eight year old Sebastian Aumeerally dressed up as Tom Gates for London Colney Primary School. (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: World Book Day 2020: Jayden and Lexi Montgomery in their PJs.World Book Day 2020: Jayden and Lexi Montgomery in their PJs. (Image: Archant)