Today, on World Book Day, more than 80 local school children visited Battersea Power Station dressed as Mr. Men Little Miss characters to launch A Station of Stories, a year-long celebration of storytelling supporting The National Year of Reading, a UK-wide initiative designed to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives.
Children from Battersea based schools, St George’s Church of England Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School and Chesterton Primary School proudly showed off their handmade costumes, transforming into their favourite Mr. Men Little Miss characters for a morning packed with imagination and adventure.
The schools threw themselves into a world of storytelling taking part in activities across the riverside neighbourhood, delivered in partnership with HarperCollins and Sanrio, including an exciting Mr. Men Little Miss trail with characters hidden throughout the Power Station, live draw-along sessions with official Mr. Men Little Miss author and illustrator Adam Hargreaves, and immersive read-along moments that brought the beloved stories to life.
With reading rates amongst young people rapidly on the decline and more than a third of children under the age of seven saying they don’t enjoy reading, the National Literacy Trust have revealed a crisis in the classroom with figures representing the lowest levels of reading recorded since two decades ago.
In support of the community and to encourage a love of reading, Battersea Power Station will also be donating hundreds of books to neighbouring schools, helping to spread the joy of reading even further across the local community to inspire more young people to read.
The Mr. Men Little Miss trail will be open for everyone to enjoy from Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th March, with eight colourful characters hidden around the Power Station. A Mr. Men Little Miss gift awaits at Waterstones for those who tick off all the characters on the trail.
Special in-store activities will also take place at Battersea Power Station from Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th March including Mr. Men Little Miss activity sheets at Where The Pancakes Are and free Mr. Men Little Miss bookmark workshops at Moleskine (5th and 7th March only).
This vibrant moment sparks the beginning of an action-packed year at Battersea Power Station, as the neighbourhood launches ‘A Station of Stories’ comprising a dynamic programme of events and experiences in support of The National Year of Reading.
Sarah Banham, Head of Community and Sustainability at Battersea Power Station Development Company, said:
“It has been fantastic to see the pupils from St George’s, St Mary’s and Chesterton Primary Schools embrace World Book Day and the Mr. Men Little Miss activities hosted at the Power Station this morning. We are proud to play an active role in our local community and are committed to creating meaningful and positive moments for local residents and Londoners to enjoy.
“We are delighted to be launching A Station of Stories, a year of activity dedicated to inspiring a love of books. World Book Day has been the perfect opportunity for us to engage local schools and families in a joyful, creative way, and we look forward to building on this momentum with a rich programme of storytelling and literacy-focused events throughout the year.”
Adam Hargreaves, author and illustrator of Mr. Men Little Miss added:
“It’s always a pleasure to support World Book Day. The joy of reading has always been at the heart of Mr. Men Little Miss. My father, Roger Hargreaves, believed in creating stories that were short, accessible and fun to read to his own children. That same spirit continues to define the series today, making it a perfect gateway into the magic of books. For 55 years, Mr. Men Little Miss has inspired and encouraged children to discover the love of reading. Being part of initiatives like this at Battersea Power Station is a wonderful way to continue this mission and ensure that the world of Mr. Tickle and the rest of the gang remain as relevant and enduring as ever
David Hayman, Campaign Director for the National Year of Reading 2026, added:
“We’re excited to see the National Year of Reading come to life in communities across the UK and are thrilled to see Battersea Power Station “Go All In” this World Book Day with A Station of Stories, celebrating the Mr. Men and Little Miss universe. Through the shared experience of reading these much-loved books, families can rediscover the stories that first sparked their love of reading and pass that joy on to children across the UK.”
For more information on the Mr. Men Little Miss takeover at Battersea Power Station, please visit www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk/events/mr-men-little-miss-takeover
