Very Hungry Caterpillar Costume Guide for Book Week Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the most-loved children's books in Australian primary schools — first published in 1969 and still on every Foundation reading list more than 55 years later. That little green caterpillar shows up at every Book Week parade because the costume is recognisable from across the school hall, the book itself is short and easy...

If you're hunting for a Harry Potter Book Week costume that actually gets the nod from the teacher (and not the dreaded "is that meant to be a witch from a movie?" question), the secret is picking a Hogwarts house first and building the look around it. A black robe on its own reads as "generic wizard." A black robe with a red-and-gold scarf, round glasses and a tiny lightning...

If you're hunting for a Roald Dahl book week costume that actually feels like the book — not just a generic schoolgirl pinafore or a fox-coloured tracksuit — you're in the right spot. Roald Dahl is the gift that keeps on giving for Aussie parents: ten or fifteen iconic characters across the classroom, all instantly recognisable to teachers and grandparents, all forgiving enough to put together the night before parade...

Ask any Aussie mum what her daughter wants to wear to the Book Week parade and you'll often hear the same three names — Matilda, Hermione, and "a princess from any book at all, please". They're brilliant choices, and they're also the ones turning up five times in every Year 2 line-up. If you're after a girls' book week costume tied to a real story, comfortable for a long school...

Tired of Wally? Here are 20 fresh boys' book week costume ideas Aussie kids will actually want to wear — from Wimpy Kid to Captain Underpants to Harry Potter. Comfortable, recognisable, and tied to a real book.

Parade is this week? These 15 last-minute book week costumes are under $40, ship fast from our Melbourne warehouse, and look brilliant in school photos. Easy ideas for boys and girls — no panic required.

Book Week 2026 runs 22–28 August. Theme: Symphony of Stories. Find out key dates, costume ideas and ordering deadlines for Australian families.