With the many modern distractions and technologies of today, it’s important to keep children’s attention on the valuable traditional methods of learning, exploring the imagination and developing literary skills. Every year in Australia, the Children’s Book Council Australia (CBCA) proffers a related book inspired theme, with the aim of encouraging the children of Australia to celebrate reading. This year the theme is: “Reading is My Secret Power”. As always, one of the most popular ways to celebrate our books and their fabulous tales is… dressing up in costume! Here are some great Book Week costume ideas.
It’s time for reading to become your secret power… but it’s not the only superpower you can develop. In fact, dressing up well in costume could certainly be considered a complementary super power for the week!
Here are some of our favourite costume picks for Book Week:
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland goes back to 1865, when English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson penned this timeless classic (under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll). Kids and adults love this fantastical tale, which is also rich with allegory.
Celebrate Alice in Wonderland with this cute little Alice outfit. Little girls will love the stripy tights, shiny turquoise pinafore and apron embroidered with the playing card suits.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
A comparable tale is the 1950 fantasy novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, best known in a series of seven that make up the Narnia Chronicles. Penned by C. S. Lewis, this novel is another firm favourite with kids and adults alike.
Dorothy is as innocent and pretty as Alice, in her little blue Gingham pinafore, apron and headband. Let’s hope she manages to keep hold of her favourite book if that cyclone sweeps her away!
The Cat in the Hat
This 1957 tale penned and illustrated by ‘Dr. Seuss’ (Theodor Geisel) has enthralled kids while enhancing their literary skills for over 60 years now. They love this tall anthropomorphic cat with his red and white-striped hat and red bow tie.
The Cat in the Hat is a book week favourite and tends to be popular with boys – the flamboyant red and white top hat probably has something to do with it!
Harry Potter
It goes without saying that Harry Potter and his crew will be a major feature of any Book Week celebration. The talented J.K. Rowling created this vast array of books describing magical realms from 1997 onwards… and they remain one of a kind.
Kids adore dressing up as Harry Potter, so he’ll be a worthy feature during Book Week, as will his countless peers, from Hermione Granger to Luna Lovegood and the whole of Dumbledore’s army!
Roald Dahl’s Classics
Roald Dahl’s tales have been captivating the attention of young readers since his first book The Gremlins in 1943. His list of books and stories is extensive and contains many classics, but some of our favourites are:
Fantastic Mr. Fox, in which the three horrid farmers (Boggis, Bunce and Bean) devise the demise of the cunning Mr Fox.
Little Red Riding Hood, who won’t need to be afraid of any Big Bad Wolves during Book Week celebrations, but will likely feel the need to dress up as the enchanting little lady herself!
Willy Wonka, with his funky little yellow waistcoat, green trousers, purple jacket and top hat: just the golden ticket for a fun Book Week activity or two…
Matilda, which challenges some adults as much as it enthralls kids; after all, they love to read about smart and wily Matilda running rings around certain silly and unpleasant adults!
Other great Book Week costumes
Well, there are countless books out there about unicorns and their magical adventures, and unicorns just never seem to wane in popularity! This makes the Unicorn a pretty special costume contender for Book Week 2019. Lastly, another winner for Book Week 2019 is the well-loved Pokemon Pikachu, or any other Pokemon character for that matter!
We hope you can take some inspiration from our choice of Book Week Characters, and we’ll leave you with just one little reminder: reading (and dressing up) are your secret powers – so don’t forget to use them!
Meet Dale Pruser, our fabulous blogger who lives and breathes costumes! With boundless enthusiasm and a knack for turning heads, she’s the perfect guide to unleash your inner alter ego. Dale’s 30+ years experience in the costume and cosplay industry, make her the go-to source for finding the perfect costume. Her passion and knowledge shine through her blog posts, where she shares helpful tips on finding the perfect costume, DIY hacks to make your outfit stand out, and even delves into the fascinating history behind some of the most iconic characters. Her writing is as vibrant and colorful as the costumes she adores. With a twinkle in her eye and a wardrobe bursting with creativity, Dale dives headfirst into the realm of costumes. She lives for those magical moments when you put on a costume and become someone entirely different—whether it’s a mighty superhero, a swashbuckling pirate, or a glamorous 1920s flapper.