Book Week 2025 runs from August 16–23, and it’s a highlight on the calendar for many families, teachers, and librarians. It’s a chance to celebrate reading, creativity, and the characters that capture children’s imaginations.
For young children, the magic happens when stories come to life — not just on the page, but in their play. That’s why pairing a great picture book with a simple, comfortable costume can make Book Week even more memorable.
Here are five eco-friendly, imaginative costume ideas from Paper Pops, each matched with picture book recommendations that parents and educators can use to spark excitement, learning, and meaningful play.
🐧 Gus the Penguin – Chilly Tales & Gentle Giggles
Gus is perfect for winter Book Week parades and stories that explore friendship, perseverance, and humour.
Book Pairings:
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Lost and Found – Oliver Jeffers
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Grumpy Pants – Claire Messer
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Be Brave Little Penguin – Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
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Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
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How Do Penguins Play? – Diane Muldrow
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Einstein the Penguin – Iona Rangeley
💡 Educator Tip: Use these books to introduce topics like animal habitats, seasons, and resilience. Follow up with art activities like making paper snowflakes or penguin fact sheets.
🐝 Maddie the Bee – Sweet Stories & Garden Wonders
Maddie is ideal for stories about nature, teamwork, and caring for the environment.
Book Pairings:
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Honey Bees – Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom
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Happy Beeing Me – Emma Middleton & Erica Bastianoni
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Down the Road, Little Bee – Sarah Jane Lightfoot
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Bee & Me – Alison Jay
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Bee – Britta Teckentrup
💡 Educator Tip: Pair reading with a “bee-friendly garden” activity, planting flowers or creating bee artwork to explore pollination and environmental care.
🐊 Billie the Crocodile – Snappy Stories for Cheeky Readers
Billie suits adventurous, bold stories with playful humour.
Book Pairings:
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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Storybook Favorites – Bernard Waber
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See You Later, Alligator – Sally Hopgood & Emma Levey
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The Enormous Crocodile – Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake
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The Watermelon Seed – Greg Pizzoli
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Click Clack Crocodile’s Back – Kathryn White & Deborah Allwright
💡 Educator Tip: Invite children to retell the story as a role-play, using props to act out key moments and practise sequencing.
🦖 Rory the T-Rex – Dino-riffic Adventures
Rory is a hit with dinosaur fans, perfect for sparking curiosity about prehistoric life.
Book Pairings:
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Dinosaur Dads – Lesley Gibbes & Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
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Tiny T-Rex and the Impossible Hug – Jonathan Stutzman & Jay Fleck
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The Dinosaur That Pooped a Planet – Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter
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Can You Tickle a T-Rex? – Gemma Carey & Angela Rozelaar
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Charlie Turns Into a T-Rex – Sam Copeland
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Tim Possible & the Time-Traveling T-Rex – Axel Maisy
💡 Educator Tip: Use these books as a springboard for a dinosaur “dig” sensory activity or a science lesson on fossils.
🦘 Mila the Kangaroo – Aussie Hops & Heart
Mila brings Aussie culture into Book Week, making her ideal for classrooms exploring Australian animals and landscapes.
Book Pairings:
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Where Are You, Blue Kangaroo? – Emma Chichester Clark
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Josephine Wants to Dance – Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
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If I Had a Kangaroo – Gabby Dawnay & Alex Barrow
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That’s Not My Kangaroo… – Fiona Watt & Rachel Wells
💡 Educator Tip: Follow up with a “kangaroo hop race” or create an Australian bush mural featuring native animals from the books.
Making the Most of Book Week
For parents, these pairings offer a ready-made way to create excitement at home — reading the story together, then watching their child step into the role.
For educators, they provide a classroom activity starter:
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Literacy: Read the story aloud and discuss key themes or vocabulary
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Creative Arts: Design props or scenery from the story
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Dramatic Play: Act out favourite scenes
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STEM Links: Explore related science topics like animal habitats, life cycles, or history
By combining storytime with costume play, children engage more deeply, remember details longer, and feel part of the story they’re reading.