Blog

  1. Book Week Costume Ideas 2026: Easy Character Looks for Kids & Adults!

    book week costume ideas
     

    As the crisp final weeks of winter give way to the first hints of spring, a particular kind of creative panic begins to simmer in households across Australia. It’s a season that has very little to do with the weather and everything to do with literary dress-ups. Yes, Book Week is looming on the horizon, and whether you’re a seasoned craft-glue warrior or a time-poor parent staring into a wardrobe of despair, the annual search for brilliant book week costume ideas is about to begin in earnest. There’s a unique joy in watching a beloved character step off the page and into the school parade, a magic that doesn't require a professional sewing machine or an extravagant budget.

    When is Book Week 2026? 
    First, let’s mark the calendar and unpack the creative brief. Book Week in Australia is celebrated across the week of the 22nd to the 28th of August, with the date for your specific school’s costume parade typically falling within that window. The Children’s Book Council of Australia has

    Read more »
  2. 100 Days of School Costume Ideas Australia (2026)

    100 Days of School Costume Ideas Australia (2026)

    When Is 100 Days of School in Australia in 2026?

    For most Australian families, the 100th day of school falls between 21 July and 7 August 2026. Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia typically celebrate around 28 July, while Queensland schools — which start the year earlier — may mark the occasion as early as 21 July. Check your school's newsletter for the exact date, as it varies by school and state.

    That puts the celebration squarely in the middle of Term 3 — which means now is the time to sort your costume before stock runs low. Order by 12 July on standard post to be safe, or by 22 July on Express Post if you leave it a little later. We dispatch all orders placed before 2 PM AEST on the same business day.

    The Classic Look: Old Person Costumes

    The enduring favourite for 100 Days of School is, without question, the old person costume. The concept is wonderfully simple: turn up to school looking 100 years old. Kids love the transformation, teachers love the creativity, and parents

    Read more »
  3. Symphony of Stories: Book Week Costumes for 2026's Theme

    Book Week 2026 Symphony of Stories costumes group of children

    Symphony of Stories: Book Week Costumes for 2026's Theme

    Book Week 2026 celebrates Symphony of Stories — a theme that puts the spotlight on the rich, diverse voices within children's literature. Whether your little one is inspired by a classic picture book character or you're a teacher going all out for the occasion, this is the year to dress the part. Book Week runs 22–28 August 2026, so now is the perfect time to sort your costume before the rush.

    What Is the Symphony of Stories Theme?

    Symphony of Stories is all about harmony — stories from different cultures, languages and experiences coming together. Think characters from multicultural picture books, beloved folk tales, and any hero or heroine whose story deserves to be heard. It is a wonderfully open brief for costumes, which means almost any storybook character fits right in.

    Top Book Week Costume Ideas for Symphony of Stories 2026

    1. Wally from Where's Wally?

    Few costumes are as instantly recognisable — or as easy to spot across

    Read more »
  4. Book Week Costumes for Teachers: Easy Ideas for 2026

    Teacher dressed as Miss Honey from Matilda for Book Week 2026

    Book Week Costumes for Teachers: Easy Ideas for 2026

    Teachers put more effort into Book Week than almost anyone — setting up displays, running parades, reading aloud for hours — so you deserve a costume that looks great without requiring a heroic effort to put together. Whether you want something you can wear all day in the classroom or a standout look for the parade, here are the best Book Week costumes for teachers heading into 2026.

    Book Week runs 22–28 August 2026. Order by 19 August for standard post, or 24 August for express.

    What Makes a Great Teacher Book Week Costume?

    Three things matter most for teachers: comfort (you are on your feet all day), wearability (it needs to survive a full school day including lunch duty), and classroom connection (bonus points if your costume ties to a book your class is reading). With that in mind, here are our top picks.

    Best Book Week Costume Ideas for Teachers

    1. The BFG from Roald Dahl

    Big, bold, and immediately recognisable to every student

    Read more »
  5. Boys Book Week Costumes 2026: The Best Looks for School

    Boys Book Week costumes 2026 Wally Harry Potter Peter Pan school

    Boys Book Week Costumes 2026: The Best Looks for School

    Every year, Book Week brings out some genuinely brilliant boys' costumes — from beloved classics to new favourites read to pieces at bedtime. Whether your son has a character in mind already or you are still searching for inspiration, here is our pick of the best boys Book Week costumes for 2026, all suitable for a comfortable, fun day at school.

    Book Week 2026 runs 22–28 August. Order by 19 August for standard post or 24 August for express.

    Top Boys Book Week Costume Ideas for 2026

    1. Wally from Where's Wally?

    There is a reason Wally has been the most recognisable boys' Book Week costume for years: it is instantly iconic, completely comfortable, and the red-and-white striped jumper plus bobble hat are impossible to miss in a school parade. The Where's Wally series is also a genuine literary classic — which makes it a solid choice for teachers checking costumes against books. Bonus: the striped top is warm enough for an August morning

    Read more »
  6. Easy Book Week Costume Ideas 2026: Last-Minute Looks That Actually Work

    Easy Book Week 2026 costume ideas — wizard robe, Where's Wally kit, red cape and cat ears flat lay

    Book Week 2026 runs 22 to 28 August, and if the parade note just surfaced from the bottom of the school bag, you're not alone. Most Australian parents sort the Book Week costume in the final week — and most of the time, the easiest costumes are the ones that look best on the day anyway.

    This guide covers the fastest Book Week costume ideas for 2026: looks that go together in minutes, work over school clothes, and still earn a wave of recognition from the teacher at the classroom door. Every pick below is in stock and available for same-day Melbourne dispatch on weekday orders placed before 2pm AEST.

    Why Easy Costumes Work So Well for Book Week

    A Book Week costume doesn't need to be complicated to be convincing. The parade lasts twenty minutes — what matters is that other kids and teachers recognise the character instantly. A single iconic prop (round glasses, a bobble hat, a hooded cape) does that job better than an elaborate multi-piece outfit that took three evenings to assemble.

    The

    Read more »
  7. Book Week Costume Ideas 2026: 30+ Character Looks for Kids, Teachers & Families

    Book Week 2026 costume ideas — Where's Wally, Matilda and storybook character flat lay

    Book Week 2026 runs from 22 to 28 August, and this year's CBCA theme is "Symphony of Stories". If your school has already sent the parade note home — or you just know it's coming — this guide rounds up the best Book Week costume ideas for 2026, organised the way parents actually shop: by who's wearing it and how much time you have.

    Every costume idea below links to a stocked range, so nothing on this list is a craft project you have to start from scratch. Pick a character, check the size, and you're parade-ready.

    When Is Book Week 2026?

    The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week runs Saturday 22 August to Friday 28 August 2026. Most schools hold their dress-up parade during that week, with many scheduling it for the Friday — but check your school's newsletter, because plenty of schools run their parade earlier in the week or even the week before.

    The 2026 theme, Symphony of Stories, celebrates the way stories work together — which makes it a great year for group costumes,

    Read more »
  8. Dinosaur outfit – ideal animal onesie for this book week!

    Dinosaur outfit – ideal animal onesie for this book week!

    G'day, parents, carers, and book week champions. Another year, another frantic scramble through the costume box. You have been here before. The note came home yesterday. The parade is Friday. Your kid has changed their mind six times, and you are rapidly running out of patience and craft supplies. Let me make this easy for you. The dinosaur costume is the ideal animal theme outfit for this book week, and I have got the reasons to prove it. Take a breath, mate. You have got this.

    First and most important, dinosaurs are everywhere in children's literature. You cannot walk through the picture book section of any library without tripping over a stegosaurus or a T Rex. There is the classic "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" parody that involves a dinosaur hunt. There is "Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs" for the slightly older readers. There is the glorious "How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?" series that has saved countless bedtime routines from utter chaos. Your child dressing as a dinosaur is

    Read more »
  9. Spiderman costume for your son this book week – is it a good idea?

    Spiderman costume for your son this book week – is it a good idea?

    G'day, parents and book week survivors. Let me guess. You have just received the note from school. Book week is arriving shortly. Your son has left his run until the absolute last minute, and now you are staring at the costume cupboard wondering what on earth to do. The Spiderman suit is right here to the rescue. But is it actually a good idea for book week? We are here to tell you that yes, mate, it absolutely is. And let us explain why.

    The whole point of book week is to celebrate reading and to encourage kids to connect with characters from stories. Spiderman is not just a movie character. He did not start on a screen. Peter Parker was born on the page, in the pages of Marvel comics, written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko back in 1962. That makes Spiderman a literary character, plain and simple. Your son would be dressing as a hero from a comic book, which is a perfectly valid and wonderful form of literature.

    The real beauty of sending your son as Spiderman is the genuine

    Read more »
  10. Cheerleader dress - leading the celebrations and making sure everyone is included!

    Cheerleader dress - leading the celebrations and making sure everyone is included!

    G'day, party planners and themed event enthusiasts. There comes a time in every social calendar when you need a costume that does three things perfectly. It needs to be recognisable instantly. It needs to be comfortable enough to wear for hours. And it needs to bring an undeniable energy that lifts the whole room. That is the cheerleader costume in a nutshell, mate. It is a great addition to your themed event wardrobe, and once you have got one hanging in the cupboard, you will find excuses to wear it again and again.

    Let us start with the obvious. The cheerleader look is iconic. You show up to a party wearing that little pleated skirt, the sleeveless top with the contrasting collar, the knee high socks, and the matching hair bow, and nobody has to ask what you are supposed to be. They just know. And more importantly, they immediately smile. There is something about that uniform that reads as pure, uncomplicated fun. It says that you are here to support the team, to lead the chant, and

    Read more »