Book Week is an annual celebration dedicated to the joy of reading. Book Week brings together readers, authors, and communities to celebrate literature.  

In Australia, Book Week was established by the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) in 1946. Since this time, Book Week has become a significant event in the educational calendar. Each year, Book Week has a different national theme. This year’s theme is Reading is Magic. 

One highlight of Book Week is the annual Book of the Year Awards, where outstanding Australian children’s books are recognised across various categories, including: 

• Picture Book of the Year 
• Younger Readers 
• Older Readers 
• The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books.  

These Awards honour the work of authors and illustrators and provide readers with a curated list of quality books to explore. After reviewing the shortlisted books in their Library sessions over recent weeks, our ELC children were delighted to learn that the winner of this year’s Book of the Year: Early Childhood is Gymnastica Fantastica by Briony Stewart. Our ELC children also voted for their Student Choice Winner which was The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham. 

Another highlight for the children during Book Week is dressing up as their favourite book character. This year we have seen children dressing up as the Gruffalo, Where’s Wally, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Clarice from Paris, just to mention a few. The children in Banksia and Wattle Rooms were excited to join our Junior School students and staff for the annual Book Week Parade. The children delighted in transforming themselves into characters and exploring the imaginative world of storytelling.   

Book Week serves as a reminder of the transformative power of reading. It encourages children to explore new worlds, develop empathy, and cultivate a lifelong love of literature. By celebrating books and the joy they bring, Book Week plays a vital role in promoting literacy and the importance of reading in our lives.