I know, I get it. There are so many special days at school that require extra effort. Project days, dress-up days, fundraising days.

And then there’s Book Week. Argh! Is it really Book Week again already?

Maybe you’re thinking, ‘Why can’t I just send them in a superhero costume or their favourite movie character?’ Well you could, but…

Book Week is a big deal for book creators - writers, illustrators, book designers, editors, publishers and all the other people who work behind the scenes to get a book from an idea to a tangible item on a shelf. It’s the one week where they are in the spotlight and acknowledged for what they offer us with their work. Book Week is also super important for writers and illustrators in terms of promotion, sales, and an income stream from school visits which is crucial to making some sort of a living in this field. People who create books don’t do it for the money. (There isn’t much to be had!) Writers, illustrators, editors and publishers continue doing what they do because they love it. (This totally doesn’t justify the low wages, but that’s a whole other post!)

This year has been a particularly tough one, with in-person events at libraries and book shops unable to be held due to the global pandemic and associated restrictions. Authors and illustrators have had to embrace technology like never before and pivot like a ballerina who’s had too much coffee to reach readers through online events and activities.

Maybe you’re wondering, ‘What’s so special about children’s books anyway, and why do we need a week to celebrate them?’

Books provide children with a crucial (and safe) avenue for escapism. This is not limited to fantasy or adventure, but any story that gives them the chance to step outside their current world. They can see what’s going on for someone else, and this is also important in building empathy for others and their experience. Children’s books also provide a diverse range of characters for kids to relate to and feel seen and heard, and this plays a role in children seeing themselves as valued and capable. Having books in the home and reading for pleasure has also been found to be a strong factor in positive educational outcomes for children.

So now let’s go back to where you come in… That time your child dressed up as a character from their well-worn, know-off-by-heart-can-read-with-their-eyes-closed book? A writer’s eyes sparkled. An illustrator’s heart bloomed. And a publisher’s brain buzzed. They saw their book had connected with a reader in a meaningful way.

Even though the rescheduled Book Week is just around the corner, and we’re in the terrible last-minute panic zone, there is no need to reach for the nearest superhero outfit in desperation. I’ve put together a terrific collection of 50 fun and easy Book Week costume with last-minute low-cost parameters in mind.

To start things off, I set myself a challenge of seeing how many costumes I could put together just with things from the dress up box and every day items and this is what I came up with:

I also reached out to friends to pick their brains and was impressed with the variety of ideas from parents and kids’ authors. Thank you to authors Nat Amoore, Charlotte Barkla, Amelia McInerney, Shelly Unwin, Liz Ledden, and Vikki Conley (lion dress-up image is from @allthemumery which is a magical IG page), along with Amie and Kat for sharing their ideas and photos.

If ready-to-roll dress-up costumes are more your thing, I also took a peek online at Spotlight and was impressed to find these no-fuss costumes of well-known book characters along with other characters that could fit with a few different books.

Last but not least, the wonderful Matt Cosgrove has put together some free Dharma the Llama printables on his website for a quick and easy last-minute option that just requires printing and colouring in.

Whatever you choose to do - whether it’s raid the dress up box, craft it up, or buy a ready made costume - you are playing an important role in celebrating the magic and wonder of children’s books.