Children’s Book Week 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of this beloved national celebration, running from Saturday, 16 August, to Saturday, 23 August. Hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), this year’s theme—“Book an Adventure!”—explores the magic of storytelling through bold journeys, imaginative quests, and meaningful connections.
Book Week is a time for:
- Dress-up parades featuring favourite book characters
- Storytelling sessions with authors and illustrators
- Reading corners and book nooks filled with Australian literature
- Family engagement activities that celebrate shared reading
Book Week Activity Ideas
The following provides activities aligned with the 2025 theme “Book an Adventure!”
Story Map Explorers
Objective: Promote narrative structure and spatial awareness
Activity:
- Read an adventure-themed picture book (e.g Where the Forest Meets the Sea or The Treasure Box)
- Children create a large floor map or mural of the story’s journey using natural materials, drawings, and props
- Encourage retelling using the map as a guide
EYLF Outcome 5.2: Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts
Character Dress-Up Parade
Objective: Foster identity, creativity, and confidence
Activity:
- Invite children to dress as a character from a favourite book
- Host a mini “catwalk” or storytelling circle where each child introduces their character
- Include a photo booth with themed props
EYLF Outcome 1.3: Children develop knowledgeable and confident self-identities
Adventure Story Stones
Objective: Support oral language and imaginative play
Activity:
- Paint stones with symbols (e.g. dragon, boat, forest, compass)
- Children draw stones from a bag to co-create a group story
- Record the story and turn it into a class book
EYLF Outcome 5.3: Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media
Family Reading Safari
Objective: Strengthen home-service connections
Activity:
- Create a “reading passport” for each child
- Families log shared reading adventures at home (e.g. bedtime stories, library visits)
- Celebrate with a certificate or badge at the end of the week
EYLF Outcome 2.1: Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities
Adventure Book Nook
Objective: Create a literacy-rich environment
Activity:
- Transform a corner into a themed reading space (e.g., jungle tent, pirate ship, space pod)
- Stock with CBCA shortlisted books and adventure tales
- Include puppets, binoculars, maps, and magnifying glasses
EYLF Outcome 4.3: Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another
Book Week Activities For Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Here's a tailored set of Book Week activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, all themed around “Book an Adventure!” and aligned with EYLF outcomes. Each activity is developmentally appropriate, sensory-rich, and designed to spark curiosity and early literacy.
Babies (0–2 years): Sensory Story Explorers
1. Touch-and-Feel Story Time
- Use board books with textures (e.g. That’s Not My Dinosaur)
- Pair with real-life sensory items (e.g. soft fur, bumpy fabric, shiny foil)
- Encourage gentle exploration and cooing responses
EYLF Outcome 5.1: Babies interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes
2. Adventure Soundscapes
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Read a simple story aloud with sound effects (e.g., jungle noises, waves, animal calls)
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Use shakers, rain sticks, or recorded sounds to accompany the reading
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Watch for eye tracking, smiles, and body movement
EYLF Outcome 4.1: Babies develop dispositions for learning, such as curiosity and enthusiasm
3. Book Basket Adventures
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Create themed baskets (e.g. “Forest Friends,” “Ocean Explorers”) with books, soft toys, and props
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Allow babies to explore freely with adult scaffolding
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Rotate themes daily during Book Week
EYLF Outcome 1.1: Babies feel safe, secure, and supported
Toddlers (2–3 years): Movement & Story Play
1. Adventure Obstacle Course
- Set up a simple indoor/outdoor course: crawl through a tunnel, hop over “lava,” climb a “mountain”
- Link each station to a story moment (e.g., We’re Going on a Bear Hunt)
- Narrate the journey as they move
EYLF Outcome 3.2: Toddlers take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical well-being.
2. Story Prop Play
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Read a short adventure book (e.g. Maisy’s Pirate Adventure)
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Provide themed props: hats, treasure maps, toy animals
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Encourage role play and simple dialogue
EYLF Outcome 5.3: Toddlers begin to express ideas using play, movement, and emerging language
3. Adventure Song & Rhyme Circle
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Sing action songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “The Wheels on the Bus”
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Add puppets or visual cards to enhance engagement
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Invite toddlers to choose the next “adventure” song
EYLF Outcome 2.1: Toddlers develop a sense of belonging through group experiences
Preschoolers (3–5 years): Imaginative Literacy Builders
1. Create-a-Map Storytelling
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Read a book like The Gruffalo or Possum Magic
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Children draw or collage a map of the story journey
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Use the map to retell or invent new adventures
EYLF Outcome 5.2: Preschoolers use symbols and patterns to communicate meaning
2. Character Dress-Up & Role Play
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Invite children to dress as book characters
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Set up themed zones (e.g. jungle, space, castle) for dramatic play
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Encourage storytelling through movement and dialogue
EYLF Outcome 1.3: Preschoolers develop confident self-identities through imaginative play
3. Adventure Book-Making
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Children co-create a group story: choose characters, setting, and plot
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Illustrate pages and bind into a class book
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Share with families at the end of Book Week
EYLF Outcome 4.1: Preschoolers develop creativity, persistence, and cooperation
EYLF Learning Outcomes & Book Week Links
| EYLF Outcome | Book Week Connection |
|---|---|
| Outcome 1: Identity | Children explore characters, dress-up, and storytelling that reflect their interests and cultural backgrounds. Books like Possum Magic help connect with heritage. |
| Outcome 2: Community | Group reading sessions, shared storytelling, and family engagement activities foster belonging and collaboration. |
| Outcome 3: Wellbeing | Stories like The Very Cranky Bear support emotional literacy, while quiet reading spaces promote calm and self-regulation. |
| Outcome 4: Learning | Adventure-themed books introduce new vocabulary, concepts, and inquiry-based learning. Children ask questions and seek answers through stories. |
| Outcome 5: Communication | Children engage in discussions, retell stories, create books, and express ideas through drawing, drama, and storytelling props. |
Further Reading
Take Home Book Program For Preschoolers
Book Posters
Book Of The Day Template
Importance Of Reading To Children
Laying the Literacy Foundation: Pre-Reading Skills Through Play
Importance Of Storytelling To Children
Developing and Enhancing Literacy in Children
Teaching Phonics To Preschoolers
Creating A Literacy Rich Environment For Children
Start A Street Library In Front Of Your Early Learning Service
Children's Learning Through Literacy
For more information: Book An Adventure 2025