Book Week 2016 Australia Story Country

This years theme for Book Week in Australia is Australia: Story country.

Each year, around Australia, Schools, Libraries, Booksellers, Authors, Illustrators and children celebrate book week. 

During this time you will often see Children's Book Character Parades and talented librarians creating amazing displays. 

I really had to put my thinking caps on to come up with fantastic but easy costumes to tie in with this years chosen theme for those who have book week parades.

there are plenty of books about Australian Animals but not necessarily the easiest costumes to make. so what about these ideas.

Based on the book Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French

Costume: giant carrot with carrot cut from orange felt with arm openings and head openings and a hat made from green felt to represent the top leaves. See here for examples.

Dress up as an Australian Animal 

Koala from The Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall.

Sew your own koala mask with this pattern from Ebony Shae Designs.

Possum from Possum Magic by Mem Fox

Wombat from Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French

Wombat mask from schooza teamed with a woolie brown jumper and trousers.

Emu from Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles

Dress up as a farmer based on the book My Farm by Alison Lester.

There are plenty of Australian stories involving bushrangers such as Ned Kelly. Cover a round box with tin foil, cut out eye holes as Ned's Armour, 

Or as a bushman based on Waltzing Matilda with a straw hat with corks, old trousers and shirt and a billy can. Grab a toy sheep and your child will be set.

There are also many Australian books that celebrate our Australian Aboriginal heritage, dream time stories and outback.

My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan

You and me: Our place by Leonie Norrington

Or get creative with a costume as a snake, or colourful bird from the books above.

Or what about an indigenous Australian with dot face paint or a convict costume?

Be creative with a costume as an early settler or gold miner complete with gold pan and  gold nugget (rock painted gold), small garden shovel.

So while this years book theme may be harder and isn't focused on Harry Potters, super heroes and fairies, there are still plenty of dress up ideas from those mentioned above.

If you have photos of your child in costume I would love to see them.