Book Week Dress-Up Ideas for Kids & Teachers
Book Week is approaching, and it’s never too early to start planning your dress-ups! As book lovers, it’s one of our favourite times of the year, but as parents, it can be a bit stressful. We answer your pressing book week questions and provide our favourite book week costume inspiration to give you lots of ideas for dressing up your child as a book character, ready for Book Week 2026.
What is book week?
Book Week is an event to encourage a love of reading in our kids. Schools and libraries in Australia participate with activities, displays, and competitions that celebrate books and reading. Each year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) provide a theme for Book Week. These themes are usually pretty broad so there are lots of ways for teachers and students to use the theme.
The CBCA also presents its Book of the Year Awards during Book Week.
What date is book week 2026?
The Children's Book Council of Australia's official event for 2025 book week is running from August 22nd to 28th.
What is the theme for 2026 book week?
The theme for book week in 2026 is Symphony of Stories.
The featured artist for 2026 is illustrator and author, Briony Stewart. Her book Gymnastica Fantastica won a CBCA book award in 2024 for the Early Childhood Book of the Year. Briony’s artwork for the 2026 theme ‘Symphony of Stories’ features a group of humans and animals playing different instruments. In her announcement for the 2026 book week theme, she has explained that the word 'symphony' means many different elements coming together to form a harmonious whole, just like a book that brings together imagination, words and pictures. This theme gives so much scope for a child’s imagination to embrace the theme, as there are so many types of journeys that reading can take us on. It also opens up the possibility of activities and dress-ups based on both fiction and non-fiction books.
What is the meaning of book week Australia?
Book Week in Australia is about celebrating books and encouraging kids to read. By completing book-themed activities, the kids get to bring to life the stories they're reading. Dressing up as a character from their favourite book helps them immerse themselves in the book and helps spark empathy and imagination.
Is book week always in August?
In Australia, the official Book Week is usually celebrated in August, however, in 2020 it was moved to October due to lockdowns. Some schools participated remotely, while others were able to hold their events at the school. While it was fun zooming into school in our book week costumes, we’re so glad to have Book Week back in schools and libraries!
What are the best book week costumes?
Well, that really depends on what books your kids love! Harry Potter is always a favourite with options to dress up in the different Hogwarts House colours and as specific characters, like Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, Luna, or even Voldemort! Other popular book choices include The Bad Guys, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Pig the Pug, Mary Poppins, Secret Garden, Little Red Riding Hood, and Roald Dahl characters such as Charlie Bucket, Willy Wonka or Fantastic Mr. Fox.
How do you get kids who don’t like reading involved in book week?
It can be tricky to get some kids excited about books, however, there are lots of books about all sorts of different interests. If your child is into football, find them books about playing football. There are also picture books and novels that may tie in with their favourite movies, like Disney, Minions, or Star Wars, and television shows like Bluey, My Little Pony, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Comic books are another great way to encourage kids to read. They can dress up as their favourite Marvel or DC Comics characters, like Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, and Iron Man!
It doesn’t even have to be a novel. If your child has a favourite non-fiction book about dinosaurs, it’s the perfect opportunity to get them dressed up and thinking about what it would be like to be a prehistoric creature. Historical characters make another great option, whether it’s a knight of the round table, a pirate, or a medieval princess.
Can my child dress up from a movie for book week?
Some schools may have rules about this, but in most cases, if your child is reading about their favourite movie, tv show, or video game character, then they should be able to celebrate their love of reading! This may be a great way to get your kids to read more by buying or borrowing from the library a book about a movie they love.
Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Boys
Finding a book week dress-up for boys can be tricky! Here are some of our favourites:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Girls
Girls can get a little spoilt for choice – they can comfortably pick from the boys' dress-up list or find something a little more girlie from the list below!
Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Tweens and Teenagers
Bigger kids can sometimes struggle for the right costume for book week. Check out the options below for Tweens and Teens Book Week costumes.
Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Pre-schoolers
If your kinder or day-care is getting involved with book week, or if you have younger children who like to follow the lead of their older siblings, here are some of our best ideas for book week dress-ups for preschool kids.
Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Teachers
Teachers! This is the perfect opportunity to dress up as your favourite book character and have some fun! Maybe someone evil to encourage the kids to behave? A favourite book from your childhood? One that you've been reading with your class? Or even show your house pride in a Hogwarts Robe. Here are our top picks for teacher book week dress-ups.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
So, get your thinking caps on and start planning the best book week costume ever!
Book Week Tips
- Start thinking about costume options early
- Get your child involved in the process
- Make sure you can get your hands on a copy of the book (your own copy, or from a library), as kids like to show the book they’re dressed from in photos and for the parade. If you're having trouble getting a physical copy of the book you can print off or get your child to draw a picture of the book cover
- Look at what you have at home – whether it’s in your costume chest or your kid’s wardrobe there are options everywhere. A few accessories, like a wand, glasses & Gryffindor tie can turn a regular uniform into a Harry Potter costume!
- Basic makeup, like an eyeliner pencil, can transform a look – drawing freckles, whiskers or a lightning scar will add details quickly and easily
- If you’re on a tight budget, pick a costume that your child can wear again for Halloween, Superhero Day, or a princess party which gives you more bang for your buck
- Try on the costume before the morning it is needed!
- Have fun with it
Quick Links:
Book Week Costumes for Babies & Toddlers