Children’s Book Week 2025 was last week, a popular and long-running initiative to foster reading and writing in young people.
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This year marks the 80th anniversary of Children’s Book Week in Australia, which was established by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
The 2025 theme is Book an Adventure, with local schools and learning institutions hosting a range of activities.
Details of celebrations submitted by St Joseph’s Jerilderie, Blighty Public School and Jerilderie Public School are outlined below.
St Jospeh’s Jerilderie
Group costumes were all the rage when St Joseph’s Jerilderie held its annual Book Week parade last week.
The Year 6 students, celebrating their final Book Week parade, all dressed as characters from Shrek.
Staff also got in on the fun, dressing as characters from Toy Story, and even ‘played dead’ when anyone yelled “Andy’s coming!”.
Across the school costumes included spacemen, sharks, a swagman from Waltzing Matilda, princesses, a piranha, Carl from Up, and even a fart from No One Likes a Fart.
A special moment in the parade was the participation of preschoolers at the school as part of the ‘Launch into Learning’ program, for those starting school in 2026.
The school was also delighted to welcome family members, our cherished friends from the hospital, and local daycare families as spectators.
Blighty Public School
It was a day filled with imagination, colour, and literary magic when Blighty Public School celebrating Book Week last week.
The school grounds were transformed into a storybook wonderland as everyone paraded dressed as their favourite book characters.
From ninjas to princesses and magical creatures, the effort and creativity on display was impressive.
Students also had the opportunity to browse a large selection of books that were available for sale - further encouraging a love of reading beyond the classroom.
Activities relating to NSW Public Education Week held earlier in the term were deferred to coincide with Book Week, and parents and families were invited to come along to watch the colourful parade and share in afternoon tea.
Jerilderie Public School
Celebrations began last Monday when the school was honoured to host the Jerilderie Early Learning Centre (JELC) for a very special Teddy’s Bear Picnic.
JPS students and preschoolers personalised binoculars, shared a picnic with their teddy bears, and read the classic adventure story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
The excitement grew as everyone traversed the school grounds, encountering a ‘library full of water’, a ‘music room filled with sticky mud’, an IT room that had been ‘overtaken by a forest’, and a snowstorm in the 3–6 classroom.
Finally, the journey led to the staffroom - transformed into a dark cave - where a bear was waiting.
A traditional book fair was hosted during the week, and the much-anticipated Book Week Parade was another highlight.
The staff also joined the fun, dressing as the cast of The Wizard of Oz.
“Book Week at Jerilderie Public School is about much more than costumes,” principal Laura Keech said.
“It is about igniting imagination, celebrating stories, and building a strong connection between school and community.”
• More photos online at www.southernriverinanews.com.au.
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