At St Joseph’s Primary School, Merriwa, Book Week is about much more than dressing up – it is an opportunity to discover new stories, celebrate Australian children’s literature and bring families together through a shared love of books.
Ahead of the school’s Book Week celebrations, Teacher Librarian Bianca Hanrahan joined the ABC Upper Hunter Breakfast program to talk about the school’s distinctive approach to its annual parade.
Rather than dressing as popular movie or television characters, students are encouraged to choose characters from books shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards, as well as other notable children’s books.
For Mrs Hanrahan, the tradition is a wonderful way to broaden students’ reading experiences while celebrating the talented Australian authors and illustrators behind the stories.
“It means our parade is full of incredible homemade costumes inspired by Australian children’s literature. It’s a way of getting families to be introduced to new books and celebrate amazing work of Australian authors and illustrators,” Mrs Hanrahan said.
While the colourful costumes are a highlight of the celebrations, the learning begins well before the parade. Throughout the term, students explore the CBCA shortlisted books, engaging with the stories, characters and ideas and developing their understanding and appreciation of literature.
Speaking with the ABC Upper Hunter Breakfast host, Mrs Hanrahan explained that the craft and creativity surrounding Book Week are not separate from literacy learning – they are a way of bringing books to life and encouraging students to engage more deeply with the stories they are reading.
The celebrations also create opportunities for families to get involved, with students and parents working together to transform cardboard, recycled materials and other household items into creative book-inspired costumes.
Beyond the finished costume, Mrs Hanrahan said these shared experiences can become lasting memories for students.
“Students really share cool memories with their families making those costumes”, she said.
Listen to Mrs Hanrahan’s full interview with ABC Upper Hunter Breakfast below.
