Book Week 2020 will run 17th – 23rd October with the theme for this year being CURIOUS CREATURES, WILD MINDS. The quirky artwork for Book Week 2020 has been created Gwyn Perkins, winner of the 2018 CBCA Picture Book of the Year for A Walk in the Bush.
Book Week is an Australian tradition, originating in 1945, that celebrates Australian authors and illustrators that have an impact on children and young adults.
In schools and libraries across the country, children (and teachers) are invited during Book Week to dress up as their favourite book character and partake in a range of activities aimed to highlight the importance and joy of reading.
Parents across the country are usually divided into two camps – those you love Book Week and those who find it a nightmare trying to pull together a suitable book-related costume. Fear not … whether you love it or hate it, we’ve put together a list of Book Week themed costumes for inspiration.
Book Week 2020 Theme CURIOUS CREATURES, WILD MINDS Costumes
With the theme for Book Week 2020 being CURIOUS CREATURES, WILD MINDS encompasses a whole host of possibilities for a costume that fits the theme perfectly. From the Curious Creatures inhabiting the world of the Gruffalo or Dr Seuss to the Wild Minds found in Harry Potter or Alice in Wonderland there is something a character for everyone to enjoy dressing up as.
Classic Costumes for Book Week
For a classic costume to wear for book week, an easy option is to pick their favourite fairy tale character, all of which usually feature curious creatures or have characters with wild minds!
If your child is one of the many who are obsessed with the Disney film Frozen then the distinctive Elsa outfit makes an excellent fit for Hans Christian Andersen’s famous tale, The Snow Queen.
You may already have an array of Disney dress-ups lurking in your child’s closet that can be brought out for Book Week such as Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan.
Contemporary Costumes for Book Week
There are many characters from recent children’s books that kids of all ages will have great fun dressing up as. Older children can easily enter the spirit of this year’s Book Week theme by dressing up as their favourite Harry Potter character because we all know the most curious creatures and wildest minds can be found at Hogwarts!
If you’re after a simple and effective costume for your child this Book Week you can’t go wrong with this Roald Dahl The Witches Book Cover Kids Costume from costumebox.com.au. Those witches are very curious creatures indeed!
Where’s Wally is also a very popular book week choice. Boys and girls can choose to dress up as Wally or Wanda and should be able to find a Where’s Wally costume in an array of sizes in all of the big stores like Big W, Red Dot and Kmart.
The David Walliams books are hugely popular with kids and make a fantastic choice for Book Week costume. Costumes.com.au stock an officially licensed David Walliams costume collection featured characters from the well-loved books such as Joe Spud from the Billionaire Boy or Aunt Alberta from Awful Auntie. Prices range from $21.95 – $67.95.
Easy DIY Costumes for Book Week
With the Book Week 2020 theme focusing on curious creatures then an animal theme costume is a winner! Costumes can be super simple consisting of an animal headband or mask like this kangaroo mask and ears ($7.99).
Unicorns are incredibly popular at the moment and you’ll be able to pick up unicorn headband quite cheaply like this $2 one from Target. Team it with a pink T-shirt and leggings and you have Thelma the Unicorn!
If Diary of a Wombat is a bedtime favourite in your house then mothernatured.com has a free Wombat mask that you can download and print out.
Creative Costumes for Book Week
If you are an arty parent then why not get creative and make your own Book Week costume? Our blogger Estabelle has created these amazing costumes for her son over the past few years.
Room on the Broom
Mr Bump – Mr Men Books
Zog and The Flying Doctors
The best thing about Book Week 2020? It takes place the week before Halloween so your Book Week costume can also double up as a Halloween costume! Expect to see lots of Room on the Broom or Worst Witch inspired costumes this year!
If you need to more help with Book Week costume ideas then visit Costumebox.com.au  or costumes.com.au
For Book Week themed events taking place across Perth visit our events calendar
- Eagle Falls Spur, Wanneroo - October 23, 2020
- Aloft Perth Review - October 15, 2020
- Kids Halloween Party Food - October 14, 2020
- PowerPlay Perth, Joondalup - September 29, 2020
- Swan Valley Adventure Centre School Holiday Program - September 16, 2020
- The Cat Cafe Perth Birthday Party - August 27, 2020
- Book Week 2020 Costume Ideas - August 16, 2020
- Bullsbrook Strawberry Farm, Strawberry Picking Perth - August 12, 2020
- Golden Grove Orchard, Chittering Valley - July 27, 2020
- Stringybark Winery, Chittering - July 26, 2020
