Book week creeps up on us each year. While we adore celebrating everything about reading, the annual costume parade can be stressful. But never fear, we’ve got the best book week ideas for the perfect dress-up.

Children’s Book Week 2020 runs from 17 October – 23 October 2020, and the theme this year is ‘CURIOUS CREATURES, WILD MINDS’.

I am not sure how your school does it? Our primary school doesn’t stick to the theme at all. The kids are just encouraged to dress as their favourite book character.

So we’ve compiled some last minute Book Week ideas for creative costumes to get you out of a pickle.

Harry Potter

A cape, a scar, a wand, and you’re done. You could be Harry, Hermoine, or Ron. Take your pick. Maybe grab a broom and you are set! Now this is one of those Book Week Ideas that I can actually pull off.

Cardboard

Buy two pieces of cardboard, a bit of tape over the shoulders, to make an instant sandwich board.

You can turn it into a bookcover, or how about a character from the Mr Men series?

Do you even need a costume? Think about all your favourite regular kid characters – Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Andy Griffiths Tree House series, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Spy series, Dork Diaries, Judy Moody.

If you already have a costume Why not raid the dress up box for a favourite costume and then head to the library to find a book that fits the theme.  The possibilities are endless. One of those genius book week ideas, that I pretty much do every year – haha.

Get ready for book week with @bigwaustralia classic costumes and books! ???? #bookweek #costume #whereswally A post shared by Armada Arndale (@armadaarndale) on Aug 7, 2018 at 6:53pm PDT

Draw a mask

A simple mask can get you out of trouble in a flash.  Fantastic Mr Fox, BFG, Blinky Bill, Hungry Caterpillar or what about the Gruffalo? Or just simply draw a hat for Cat in the Hat!

Book Week Yo! ???? Eli: “Trunkinator” – Tree House series @andygbooks Chloe: “Dogman” – @dav_pilkey @petey_haw_haw #Bookweek #inspireyoungminds A post shared by Nothing Fancy (@rollercoasterpip) on Aug 8, 2018 at 3:57pm PDT

Tea towel

Grab an old tea towel or pillow case and attach for a cape and away you go. Or use it as a head scarf and draw an eye patch for a Pirate.

Pyjamas!

Don’t even worry about getting the kids dressed – send them to school in their PJ’s as one of the many Pyjama day/party books.

Underpants

Chuck on some white underpants over their school trousers and you have Captain Underpants.

Don’t stress!

Ideas are endless. If you have a scarf, beanie, coat, gloves and a hat they could even dress as a scarecrow!

If the worst comes to the worst grab some everyday items from around the home and google a book that you think they may match. Voila!

Just pick one of these book week ideas. It doesn’t have to be hard.

Do you go all out for book week or keep it very simple? What are your best book week ideas for costumes?

Share your comments below.