Book Week 2023 — Read Grow Inspire

Organised every year by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA), Children's Book Week is an opportunity for you to promote a love of reading in your classroom and to celebrate Australian authors and illustrators. The August event has been observed since 1945, and primary schools and libraries across Australia have the chance to join in the fun of celebrating literature with in-class Book Week activities and even favourite book character parades.

In addition to the various activities in this teaching resource collection, you can also encourage your students to participate in the CBCA Book of the Year awards by reading and reviewing the shortlisted books!

Typically held in August every year in Australia the Book Week activities and events in 2023 will run from the 19th to the 25th of August.

Every year since 1987, the CBCA has chosen a Book Week theme to inspire teachers, librarians and children in their participation. Artwork for the event is then developed by the winner of the previous Picture Book of the Year illustrator.

Read, Grow, Inspire is the theme for 2023, and the featured artist is Australian illustrator Matt Ottley whose book Luke's Way of Looking was a CBCA Honor Book in 2000.

In addition to illustrating the 2023 CBCA Book Week Theme, Matt Ottley has illustrated more than 40 books, including children's picture books, young adult novels, and works of adult fiction. He's also authored several books, including the picture book 'Requiem for a Beast,' which won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award in 2008. You may want to add it to your classroom book nook this year!

Keep an eye on this Book Week teaching resource collection as we add more themed Book Week activities for your primary students!

Sometimes a look at past themes can help inspire your ideas for Book Week costumes and activities.

Past Children's Book Week themes have included

• Dreaming with eyes open...
• Reading is My Secret Power
• Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

Looking for some inspiring illustrators whose work you can share with your students this year? Some of the illustrators who have been honoured with a chance to create the imagery that inspires young readers include

• Gwyn Perkins
• Shaun Tan
• Anna Walker