Book Week 2025: Fun Ideas to Inspire a Love of Reading in Your Preschooler

If you’ve ever seen a group of preschoolers dressed as wizards, animals, or superheroes, you’ll know just how magical Book Week can be.

Book Week 2025 is not only a time for creative costumes, it’s an opportunity to celebrate stories, spark imaginations, and help children develop a lifelong love of reading. For families with children aged 0-5, it’s also the perfect chance to create special memories together.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • When is Book Week 2025?
  • This year’s Book Week theme
  • Simple, stress-free Book Week ideas for preschoolers
  • How we celebrate Book Week at Milestones Early Learning
  • Ways to keep the reading magic going at home

When is Book Week 2025?

This year, Book Week runs from Saturday, 16 August to Saturday, 23 August 2025, with schools, early learning centres, and libraries across Australia joining in the fun.

The event is organised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), which has been bringing books to life for children since 1945. Each year, CBCA also announces the Book of the Year winners during Book Week, which is a great place to find new reading inspiration for your child.

Tip: Pop the dates in your calendar now so you have time to plan costumes and activities without last-minute stress.

You can read more about the official event on the CBCA website.

The Book Week 2025 Theme

The theme for Book Week 2025 is "Book an Adventure", a wonderful invitation for children to see reading as a journey of discovery.

This theme encourages children to:

  • Explore new worlds through stories
  • Meet unforgettable characters
  • Unlock their imaginations
  • See themselves reflected in books

For preschool-aged children, this can be as simple as reading a picture book about animals, travelling to space through a story, or pretending to be a favourite character in the backyard.

Book Week Ideas for Preschoolers (That Won’t Break the Bank)

Costumes and activities don’t need to be complicated or expensive to be memorable. Here are some Book Week ideas to help you celebrate at home or in your child’s early learning centre.

1. Easy Costume Ideas

For little ones, comfort is key, especially if they’ll be wearing their costume for most of the day. Here are some simple ideas you can put together with clothes you already own:

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Green top and pants, with a paper caterpillar headband.
  • Where’s Wally? - Red-and-white striped shirt, beanie, and jeans.
  • Bluey - Blue t-shirt and shorts, with ears made from felt or cardboard.
  • Spot the Dog - Yellow t-shirt with brown felt spots, plus a paper tail.
  • Peter Rabbit - Blue jacket or cardigan with a soft bunny toy.

Tip: Let your child help choose the costume - it’s part of the fun and encourages independence.

2. Story-Inspired Activities

Even if you’re not into costumes, you can still join in with themed activities:

  • Storytime picnic - Take your child’s favourite books outside with a blanket and snacks.
  • Treasure hunt - Hide picture books around the house and encourage your child to find them.
  • Puppet show - Use sock puppets to act out a short story.
  • Craft time - Make a wand for a fairy tale or binoculars for an adventure story.

Imagine this: Your child dressed as a little explorer, searching the backyard with homemade binoculars to find “hidden” characters from their favourite book. That’s the Book Week magic.

3. Celebrate Diversity in Books

Book Week is a great opportunity to introduce children to stories from a range of authors and cultures. You might choose:

  • Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy
  • Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing
  • The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran

These kinds of books help children see the world from different perspectives while building empathy and respect for others.

How Milestones Early Learning Celebrates Book Week

At Milestones Early Learning, we believe reading is one of the most important foundations for learning. During Book Week 2025, our centres will be filled with stories, laughter, and creative play.

Here’s what you can expect if your child is celebrating with us:

  • Dress-up days - Children (and educators!) are encouraged to dress as their favourite book characters (optional, but so much fun).
  • Daily story sessions - Educators read from both new releases and timeless classics, often chosen by the children.
  • Themed learning activities - Craft, music, and outdoor play all connect to the Book Week theme.
  • Family involvement - Parents are invited to share a favourite book from home.

Our celebrations tie in with our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, which promotes language, literacy, and a love for books from the very start.

Keeping the Reading Magic Alive at Home

While Book Week is a great annual celebration, the real magic happens when reading is part of your everyday life. Here are some ways to nurture your child’s love of books year-round:

1. Make Reading Part of the Routine

Bedtime is a classic reading time, but you can also read during breakfast, after playtime, or in the car. The key is consistency.

2. Create a Book Nook

Set up a cosy corner with a few favourite books, cushions, and a blanket. Rotate the selection regularly to keep it fresh.

3. Follow Their Interests

If your child loves dinosaurs, find dinosaur picture books. If they’re fascinated by the ocean, explore stories set under the sea.

4. Visit the Library Together

Your local library often runs free storytimes and activities for preschoolers. It’s also a great way to let your child choose their own books.

5. Model a Love of Reading

Children are more likely to value reading if they see you enjoying books too. Share what you’re reading and talk about your favourite stories.

Where to Find More Book Week 2025 Inspiration

Final Thoughts

Book Week 2025 is about so much more than costumes - it’s a celebration of imagination, language, and connection. For children aged 0-5, these moments can spark a lifelong passion for stories and learning.

Whether you’re crafting a homemade costume, reading under the stars, or joining in the fun at your local Milestones Early Learning centre, this year’s theme - Book an Adventure - is the perfect reminder that the best journeys often start with a good book.

Mark your calendar now: Saturday, 16 August to Saturday, 23 August 2025.

If you'd like your child to be part of magical learning moments like Book Week, we'd love to welcome you to your local Milestones family. Find your nearest centre and book a tour here.