I know lots of parents find it a pain to organise costumes and some just pull out something they already have, like an Elsa dress, when we all know that's a movie, not really a book. But I enjoy it for lots of reasons.
It really makes my kids think about what books they like. They think about it for weeks, they talk about it with their friends at school, they hear about other books that they might not have read. The kids actually talk about books without even thinking they are talking about reading, they discuss likes and dislikes of characters and story lines.
This year our school organised a few guest visits too. Miss 9 walked to the car holding a heap of drawings, drawn after a presentation from Leigh Hobbs, I am not sure what he spoke about, but the drawings were great. Books are not just words, they are illustrations and art, be it the cover only or a full picture book. You should never really leave picture books behind, if you do, you will miss out on so many gorgeous stories, told simply and often with great artwork.
Immy was more than excited to learn that the author of her favourite book ever, 'All Through the Year', Jane Godwin, was coming to school to speak to them.
After school, I asked her what Jane Godwin was like. At first, she said, well, she is really different than I expected, because she has brown hair. I didn't think she was a brown hair lady. I have no idea why she had an image of what Jane Godwin's hair should look like in her mind! With the hair issue quickly behind her, Immy went on to tell me all about Jane's new book about a bear and a cave and the way it's written and how it's going to take a VERY long time to get the book here from China, but can we please please get it as soon as it arrives.
I checked out Jane Godwin on instagram and said hello, and Jane showed me the cover of the new book, then I noticed that she has a new book for Christmas this year too, so I am going to grab that for Immy's birthday in December.
Immy had been dressed as Mr Huff from a book that she only selected a few weeks ago because she thought it was a Jane Godwin book, it's actually an Anna Walker book, but Anna was the illustrator for All Through the Year...it was a great way to remind Immy that books often have someone who writes them and someone who draws the pictures, but not always.
Still, it was a good day when she had met Jane Godwin, and then Anna Walker commented on her Instagram image.
The teachers at school were all dressed as the Crayons from The Day the Crayons Quit, so that has been added to the book wish list this week too.
I am restraining myself from running to the book shop - yes, I still go to the book shop and hardly ever buy books online, I am not sure if it is because I despise paying postage or I just need things instantly, or I don't have time to get to the post office when they are not left at the door, or that I just love going and checking out all the new books.
This is only our second book week, and one of the benefits of changing schools was Miss 9 could wear the same outfit as last year, because Hermione is still the greatest character she has ever met.
Book week 2015 has certainly not been difficult, or expensive and didn't take too much effort at all, especially when I think of how it just encourages kids to think about books. And as the school captains reminded the kids at assembly, remember the words of Dr Suess:
"You can find magic, wherever you look, sit back and relax, all you need is a book"
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