Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories Teaching Resources
Get ready for Children's Book Week 2026 with printable worksheets, activities, crafts and more ideas to celebrate the joy of books with your students!
This teacher-created resource collection has hundreds of fresh ideas designed to be used in the primary classroom to encourage students to get hooked on a book.
Is this your first year teaching on Book Week, or are you just looking for more information? Explore this primer from our teacher team, including a look at the 2026 Book Week theme.
What Is Book Week?
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!
Book Week is the perfect opportunity to explore the library with your class!
When Is Children's Book Week 2026?
Typically held in August every year in Australia, the Book Week activities and events in 2026 will run from the 22nd to the 28th of August.
What Is the CBCA Book Week 2026 Theme?
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.
The theme for 2026 is "Symphony of Stories," and the featured artist is Australian illustrator Briony Stewart, known for books such as Gymnastica Fantastica.
Past Book Week Themes and Illustrators
Sometimes, looking at past themes can help inspire your ideas for Book Week costumes and activities.
Past Children's Book Week themes have included
- Book an Adventure
- Reading is Magic
- Read, Grow, Inspire
- Dreaming with eyes open...
- Reading is My Secret Power
- Curious Creatures, Wild Minds
Some of the illustrators who have been honoured with a chance to create the imagery that inspires young readers include
- Jess McGeachin
- Gwyn Perkins
- Shaun Tan
- Anna Walker
Who Is Briony Stewart?
Briony Stewart, an award-winning author and illustrator from Perth, Western Australia, has created 25 books for children, including the popular Kumiko and the Dragon series. Her work is driven by a deep belief in the power of children’s literature to shape culture, spark imagination, and connect readers of all ages.
Beyond writing and illustrating, Briony has shared her expertise as a lecturer in children’s literature at Curtin University and travels widely to deliver talks and creative workshops. Her outreach spans from bustling cities to some of Australia’s most remote communities, where she inspires both children and adults to engage with stories.
Keep an eye on this Book Week teaching resource collection as we add more themed Book Week activities for your primary students!
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Design Your Own Book Cover Template
Design a new book cover and summarise a book using this one-page, printable template.
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Summarising a Story Graphic Organisers
Use these graphic organisers to help students when summarising a story.
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Book Recommendation Flower Garden - Template
Create a book recommendation flower garden with this easy-to-use template.
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10 - 100 Book Challenge Reading Log Bookshelf Template
Start and track progress through the 100-Book Challenge with a fun reading log bookshelf template!
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Book Review Chatterbox Template
Help your students review a book using this hands-on chatterbox.
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Reading Acrostic Poems – Templates
A set of 7 acrostic poem templates.
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Library Scavenger Hunt – Lower Primary
Explore the school library with a scavenger hunt!
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Would You Rather? Books and Reading - Movement Game
Engage your students in thought-provoking discussions and fun exercises in this books and reading edition of 'Would You Rather...?'
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Generic Reading Response Templates
Get kids talking about the books they have read with these printable book review templates.
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Library Scavenger Hunt – Upper Primary
Explore the school library with a scavenger hunt!
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Library Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Take a journey through the classroom library with a book scavenger hunt activity.
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Making Predictions Graphic Organiser Pack
Enhance reading comprehension by using these Making Predictions Graphic Organiser templates in your classroom.
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Book Tasting Placemat and Brochure Templates
Expose your students to new books, authors and genres with this student-centred book tasting activity.
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Fun With Fiction Task Cards
Build a foundation of literary concepts and skills with this set of 12 fiction reading response cards.
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Book Report Bunting – Template
Share your students' favourite books with a printable book review template in the shape of bunting.
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Book Wish List
Nurture your students' interest in books and reading with this book wish list.
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Making and Checking Prediction Graphic Organiser Pack
Use these making and checking predictions templates with your early years students to help with predictions before, during and after reading.
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Reading Log Bookmark Templates
Motivate and track your students’ reading habits with our printable Reading Log Bookmark Templates.
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Just-Right Books Anchor Chart Pack
Teach your students how to pick just-right books with a printable ‘Just-Right’ Book Anchor Chart Pack.
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Making an Inference Graphic Organiser Pack
Use these graphic organisers with your students when teaching them how to use text evidence to make inferences.
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Classroom Book Truck – Resource Pack
Introduce your students to new book genres with an exciting food-truck-themed book tasting.
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Cereal Box Author Study – Template
Research and write biographical text to create a literacy-themed book bin using an author study biography report template.
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Character Emotions Worksheet
Make inferences about character's feelings with this one-page worksheet.
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50-Book Challenge Tracker – Printable Bookmark
Inspire your students to read fifty books during the school year with a printable 50-book Challenge Bookmark Tracker.
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories Templates
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Foundation Year
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 1
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 2
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 3
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 4
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 5
- Book Week 2026 — Symphony of Stories for Year 6