Book Week Costumes in Sydney
Book Week sneaks up every year and panic sets in. Costume Crazy stocks one of Australia's biggest ranges of Book Week costumes — character outfits from the books your kids actually love, ready to ship from our Sydney warehouse.
Whether your child wants to be Harry Potter, Where's Wally, the Cat in the Hat, Alice in Wonderland or a character from this year's CBCA shortlist, we've got the costume sorted. Free Australia-wide shipping and most orders ship same or next business day.
What is Book Week?
Book Week is Australia's longest-running children's literature event, run by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). It's held annually in late August and includes the Book Week Parade — where kids dress up as their favourite book characters at school. The CBCA picks a different theme each year, but kids can dress as any book character regardless of theme.
Book Week is a huge deal in Australian primary schools, and getting the costume right matters. Below are the costumes Sydney parents reliably buy year after year, plus tips on getting it sorted in time.
Most popular Book Week costumes
Harry Potter and friends. Gryffindor robes, Slytherin robes, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, plus Hermione, Dumbledore, Snape, Luna Lovegood and Hagrid. Easily the most requested Book Week costume year after year.
Where's Wally. The classic red-and-white striped shirt, beanie, glasses and walking stick. Quick to throw on, instantly recognisable, parents love it.
The Cat in the Hat. Dr Seuss is a Book Week staple. The classic red-and-white striped hat with the rest of the Cat in the Hat get-up.
Alice in Wonderland characters. Alice herself, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit.
Roald Dahl characters. Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, Matilda, James (and the Giant Peach), the Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox, the BFG.
Disney book characters. Many Disney films are based on books — princesses (Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Snow White), Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Alice, Mary Poppins, Jungle Book characters.
Superhero comics. Comics count as books — Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America are perennial favourites.
Star Wars characters. Star Wars novelisations and graphic novels mean Jedi, Stormtroopers, Princess Leia and Yoda are all valid Book Week choices.
Aussie classics. Possum Magic characters (Hush and Grandma Poss), Wombat Stew animals, Animalia, The Cat from Mortal Engines, Mem Fox characters.
Newer favourites. Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Greg Heffley), Dog Man, Bluey, Wings of Fire dragons.
Last-minute Book Week ideas
The night before Book Week, panic. Here are simple, recognisable costumes that ship fast or you can throw together quickly:
- Where's Wally — striped top, beanie, glasses. Done.
- Harry Potter — robe, glasses, lightning bolt drawn on the forehead.
- Cat in the Hat — the iconic red-and-white striped hat does most of the work.
- Pirate — works for Treasure Island, Peter Pan and any pirate book.
- Witch or wizard — covers Harry Potter, Roald Dahl's Witches, Wizard of Oz.
