Get ready for Children's Book Week 2025 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 2025 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! a library scavenger hunt activity completed by a student on book week is seen sitting on a classroom floor in front of a book shelf

a library scavenger hunt activity completed by a student on book week is seen sitting on a classroom floor in front of a book shelf

Book Week is the perfect opportunity to explore the library with your class!

When Is Children's Book Week 2025?

Typically held in August every year in Australia, the Book Week activities and events in 2023 will run from the 16th to the 23rd of August.

What Is the CBCA Book Week 2025 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 2025 is Book an Adventure, and the featured artist is Australian illustrator Jess McGeachin.

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

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

Gwyn Perkins
Shaun Tan
Anna Walker

Who Is Jess McGeachin?

Jess McGeachin is an author and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. His debut picture book, Fly, was published in 2019 and received multiple award nominations. Since then, he has published nine books, including Deep and Kind, which were released in 2022. Deep won the 2023 CBCA Eve Pownall Award, while Kind and The Tree at Number 43 won the Environment Awards for Children's Literature. Jess also works at Melbourne Museum, where he contributes to exhibition design and often finds himself exploring the museum's fascinating spaces. 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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Book an Adventure! Book Week Display

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