Book Week 2023: Read GROW Inspire

Children's Book Week is a national event organised by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). This year the event will take place from Saturday 19 August until Friday 25 August. Children's Book Week has a long history in Australia; it was first held in 1945! 

Since 1987 Children's Book Week has had a national theme, with the campaign artwork for the given year typically developed by the winner of the previous Picture Book of the Year Winner. The theme for Children's Book Week in 2023 is Read, Grow, Inspire with the artwork designed by illustrator Matt Ottley. 

Although the CBCA designates a week in the calendar for Children's Book Week, many schools, libraries and community groups will fit their children's book celebrations into their calendar when it works best for them. The CBCA is happy with this approach, as in their eyes, any celebration of books and reading is to be seen as a positive! 

Book Week is perhaps best known as the time when schools host the famous Book Week Parade, a chance for children to dress up as their favourite book characters or authors, however it is also known for the time when the CBCA awards the Children's Book of the Year. Ahead of the awards, the CBCA will release a shortlist of children's books for that year's awards. You can find and download a copy of this year's shortlist here. You can also view the list in visual form, below.

Lots of great ideas in the centre

Stuck for ideas on how to dress your kids up for Book Week 2023? Big W have done all the hard work for you, putting together a whole collection of costume ideas matched with the relevant book. Head to the Big W website here and click on the book or character your child is interested in; not only will you find a whole range of costumes and accessories suitable to that character, but you will also be able to purchase the book as well. Best&Less have also put together a collection of costumes suitable for Book Week, with some items starting from just $7.

Budget friendly ideas

North Home Variety and The Reject Shop both offer a range of dress ups, costumes, hair spray, wigs and accessories. Best&Less and Lowes also offer affordable basics to help you build a costume from scratch. 

Whatever costume you and the kids decide on this year, we hope that you enjoy Book Week 2023, celebrating the books you know and love with your family and community.