Book Week is celebrated in August each year, typically in the 3rd week of the month. This year, Book Week is 20-26th August, and the theme is Dreaming with Eyes Open.
This years’ theme is all about dreaming and country and all things hidden and seen. Each year the Children’s Book Council of Australia chooses a theme and artwork from an Australian Artist to represent the theme. Jasmine Seymour is this year’s chosen artist. Jasmine is a teacher and artist, and her artwork is all about dreaming and connection to country.
The purpose of Book Week is to foster a love of reading in our little ones as well as to celebrate children’s literature. And as I am sure you all know by now, reading is an essential skill for our children that helps to build their vocabulary, support other literacy skills as well as grow their beautiful imaginations,
So, how can we celebrate Book Week?
Find Out What Events Are on Near You
Schools and Early Childcare Centres will often celebrate Book Week with a variety of activities, one of which is the Book Week Parade. This is an opportunity for your little person to dress up in a costume to represent their favourite book. Some local libraries will also hold events and this year, one of my local shopping centres is also holding their own Book Week Parade!
Create Your Costume
One of the most exciting parts of Book Week for me, is working out the BEST costume. There are SO MANY amazing children’s books, how do you pick which one?!
Luckily, this year, I have decided to source some beautiful costumes for you to take the stress out of planning or creating. We all have busy lives, especially those of us with little people!!
For little fans of Thelma the Unicorn, I have our gorgeous Princess Cape which paired with our Unicorn Headband makes for the PERFECT Thelma.
For little fans of stories with dinosaurs, our Dinosaur Cape is incredible and available in multiple colours!
Do you have an Astronaut in the making? They will LOVE our Spaceship Wings or our awesome new Astronaut Costume.
And what about fans of childhood classic – The Hungry Caterpillar? These gorgeous Butterfly Wings are the perfect costume!!
And these are just some of the options available in-store or online!
Create a Book Nook
Why not take Book Week as an opportunity to create a magical space for your little one to enjoy their books and reading?
Set up a special chair or place in the house, with easy access to a few of their favourite books. Make the area, calm and inviting with cushions or blankets and encourage them by using the space for story time yourself.
Illustrate a Book Cover or Write Some Fan Fiction
Help to encourage your little one’s passion to read by helping them to draw a book cover. Or for older children, why not encourage them to write some fanfiction, expanding on the story they know and love.
These activities are great to help our little people think more deeply about the plot and characters, plus drawing and writing helps boost creativity and allow kids to explore their imaginations.
Visit the Library
Our libraries are an amazing space to take our little people to! They often have regular free events on for children as well as inspiring spaces for reading and exploring.
These activities will help your child enjoy book week, but what helps most is seeing the act of reading modelled to them by you! Let them see you enjoying and getting excited by reading and this will help them to also build a love for it too.