Children and other community visitors helped care home residents mark the World Book Day annual celebration of reading.
Literary characters leapt off the page at events and activities held by Colten Care homes in Dorset and Hampshire.
Taking an Alice in Wonderland theme, residents at Canford Chase in Poole were joined by members of Poole Disabled Club for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, complete with costumes.
At Fernhill, Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home in Longham near Bournemouth, the main book choice was Robert Louis Stevenson’s buccaneering adventure Treasure Island.
Dressed as pirates, residents paid a visit to Poole Quay, a place long associated with historic seafaring and smuggling tales.
As the Fernhill party made their way along the quayside, taking in the boats in the harbour, they were greeted with smiles and friendly hellos from members of the public.
“What an experience,” said resident Ron.
Back at the home, the adventure continued with a treasure hunt.
Residents worked together to solve clues that eventually led them to buried treasure hidden in the home’s vegetable patch.
“It was nice to be out, and work out the clues for the treasure,” said resident Roger.
Meanwhile, St Catherines View, a dedicated dementia care home in Winchester, welcomed young visitors from nearby St Peter’s Catholic Primary School who dressed up as non-fiction characters and brought in books to read to the residents.
World Book Day is an annual celebration of reading marked in more than 100 countries. It was launched in 1995 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
