Book Week – Easy costume ideas from the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Notables
Book Week, one of the biggest literary events in the calendar. And let’s face it, the highlight (and big stressor) of many Book Week celebrations is a book character dress-up parade. Finding a costume, especially at the last minute, isn’t always easy. So that’s why I create lists of super-easy, super-affordable and super-book-related costumes that you can throw together with wardrobe staples. And what’s more impressive than having a costume from one of the CBCA Book of the Year Notables books.
Madison’s Costume Mandates
Here are my personal beliefs about Book Week Costumes
- Make it easy. Use what you have in your wardrobe, dress-up box or craft box.
- Homemade costumes are awesome. Costumes shouldn’t have to cost you much.
- Child-driven costumes make the child more comfortable in what they are wearing and builds excitement.
- Plan early but have a back-up plan
- It’s okay to work backwards from the costume to the book.
- No costume is wrong. No costume shaming, please. Movie character, book related t-shirt. Honestly, everything is okay if it makes the child (or staff member) comfortable enough to dress up. You can even make a school uniform work.
- Print out the cover of your book and pin it to the front of your costume or add it to a ribbon to be worn around the neck. Makes it super easy to see which character you are.
Older Readers 2025 Notables
Thunderhead by Sophie Beer
- Band t-shirt and jeans.
- Headphones
I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough
- Football outfit
- Football
Younger Readers 2025 Notables
Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram
- Green dress or shirt and pants
- Pink feather boa
- Star-shaped glasses (create from cardboard or buy at a discount shop)
Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr
- Space helmet – bike helmet covered in foil
- Women’s Weekly Birthday Cakes book (or printout of cover)
Ming and Ada Spark the Digital Age by Jackie French
- Pink dress
- Bonnet
- Notebook
- Apron
Shower Land 1: Break the Curse by Nat Amoore, illustrated by James Hart
- Shower cap
- Preferably wear clothes rather than nothing, but aim for skin-coloured outfit.
- Shield (create from cardboard)
Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French
- Boots
- Dark coat
- Hat
- Coloured material to wrap around your neck
Jy Goes for Gold by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler Samantha Campbell
- Football uniform
- Football
Early Childhood 2025 Notables
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t) by Briony Stewart
- Pyjamas
- Bright socks
- Side bag or pouch filled with glitter or confetti for fairy dust
- Fairy wings
Kittens Do Not Care for Baths by Ali Rutstein, illustrated by Niña Nill
- Cat ears and tail
- Dark pants, purple shirt
The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith
- Singlet or t-shirt and pants
- Bike helmet
- Bicycle
- Runners
Over or Under? by Pip Harry, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper
- Rash shirt and boardies
- Swimming goggles
- Beach towel
Picture Book 2025 Notables
The Truck Cat by Danny Snell, text by Deborah Frenkel
- Flannel shirt
- Jean shorts
- Boots
- Yellow cap
- Toy cat
General Waste by Michel Streich
- Yellow jacket or raincoat
- White or cream pants
- White or yellow hat
- A bag full of a random assortment of items, gadgets and stuff.
Why I Love Christmas by Tom Jellett, text by Michael Wagner
- Green and red outfit
- Santa or elf hat
- Thongs
- Fairy lights or tinsel for a bit of extra sparkle
Eve Pownall 2025 Notables
Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants by Tania McCartney (NLA Publishing)
- The most floral print shirt or dress you can find.
- A flower crown or floral headband, floral scarf
Unreal by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Leila Rudge (A&U Books for Children and Young Adults)
- Blue cap
- Red jack, brown pants, black t-shirt
- Animal toys or jar with fake animal or rubber toy inside