Book Week on a Budget

Book Week is here… again. That magical time of year where schools celebrate literacy, creativity, and how unprepared most parents are to pull a costume out of thin air by Monday morning. If you want your kid to look cute, clever, and vaguely book-related… but without spending a fortune or sacrificing your last shred of sanity. Read on my friend.

Lower the bar significantly

This is not the Oscars. Your child doesn’t need custom prosthetics or a 17-piece replica of Hogwarts. If the costume says “book” and your kid is smiling, you’ve nailed it.
Repeat after me: Printed-out name tags count as effort.

Raid the wardrobe first

That blue hoodie? Bam. The Bluey book.
Red dress? Little Red Riding Hood.
Stripy t-shirt and glasses? Wally. Found him.
A green shirt and some pipe cleaners? The Very Hungry Caterpillar but make it fashion.

Chances are that your kid already owns at least one item of clothing that can be rebranded as “inspired by” a beloved character. Add a cardboard prop and boom. You’re done.

Get Crafty

Cardboard, sticky tape, and a Sharpie can create absolute magic. Trust me:

• Cardboard crown? Where the Wild Things Are.
• Cardboard book with string for straps? Your kid is now… a book. Literal genius.
• Blank cardboard sign with “Hi I’m Pig the Pug” written on it? Nailed it.

The key here is to stay positive. If your kids see you loving the costume they will love it too.

Hit the Op Shop

Op shops are Book Week treasure chests. Capes, hats, wigs, weird vests. If it looks vaguely whimsical or Victorian, it’s probably from Alice in Wonderland. Also, so many old people characters waiting to happen.

Recycle and reuse (steal from sibling, neighbours, anyone)

There is no shame in reusing last year’s outfit or swapping with other desperate parents. Book Week is a team sport. If someone has a Peter Pan hat gathering dust, offer them a glitter wand and call it even.

Tip: Start a “Book Week Costume Swap” WhatsApp group and prepare for absolute costume chaos and hero-level savings.

Remember, it’s about the books

At the end of the day, the goal is to get kids excited about reading, not stress their parents into bankruptcy or emotional collapse.

So, if your kid turns up with a cardboard box that says “This is a Book” on the front, they’re not lazy. They’re meta.

With a little creativity, a lot of cardboard, and a strong cup of coffee, you too can conquer Book Week on a budget.

Just don’t forget the gold coin for the parade. Obviously.