OLSOTS students participated in this years book week parade.
Each year, primary schools around Australia participate in what the Children’s Book Council of Australia calls a “week long book party”. More familiarly, this week is known as book week.
Book week is all about encouraging children to read and for schools like Our Lady Star if the Sea Catholic Primary School in Esperance, that is something unquestionably worth celebrating.
“We try and make a big deal,” school librarian Debbie Herbert said.
“It’s about encouraging reading and unlocking imagination.”
Jessica Casey, Teal Dell’Agostino, Amanda Grzybowski, Caleb Bailey, Luke Shaw, Casey Mackean and Manoli Karaterpos (front).
OSLOTS has found ways to extend its book party beyond the official book week dates by holding a fundraising book fair in the week leading up to the event.
“All the kids can choose a book the week before and get some fresh ideas,” Ms Herbert said.
“We try and get the book fair before the parade so kids can come and get a book to read.
“They can individualise their parade costume to the book.”
The well-known book week costume parade takes place on the last day of the week, marking the height of the festivities.
With this year’s theme “Reading is Magic”, students at OLSOTS were encouraged to dress up as their favourite magical book characters.
Teachers went all out, dressing up as Trolls from the popular DreamWorks movies and books.
Ms Herbert said that the book week parade was often an exciting day for students as much as for parents.
“Kids enjoy the fact that parents are taking so much interest in getting into character. It is special,” she said.
In 2025, Children’s Book Week will celebrate its 80th year.
Schools like OLSOTS aim to continue the annual tradition of book week into the future. Debbie Herbert said it was important for the students to know that “no book is too simple. Anything is great to read and every character counts.”
