Celebrate the magic of reading and get your kids into the dress-up spirit this Book Week! While organising costumes in the past may have been a mix of excitement and a little stress, it doesn’t have to be that way this year.

Mum and craft enthusiast Despina Notaras (@diaryofdespina) has shared some fun DIY costume ideas you can easily recreate at home. From reimagining everyday items to upcycling cardboard into magical creations, discover how to bring this year’s Book an Adventure theme to life with a costume that’s sure to stand out at the parade.

The first look is inspired by the book I Am Jellyfish by Ruth Paul and it’s guaranteed to make a splash!

What you will need:

-          1 clear or light-coloured kids' umbrella

-          Ribbon and streamers in various shades of purple, blue, teal, and white

-          A black marker and construction paper to create the eyes

-          Scissors

-          Clothes such as a dress or T-shirt and pants in purple, blue, or white

-          Scissors

-          Hot glue gun and glue sticks OR sticky tape

Step 1: Cut out your jellyfish tenacles

Cut your chosen ribbons and streamers into varying lengths. Aim for lengths that will hang down to your child's knees when the umbrella is held over their head.

Step 2: Attach the tenacles to the umbrella

Using your hot glue gun or sticky tap, carefully attach one end of each ribbon and streamer to the inside rim of the umbrella. Alternate colours and textures to create a lovely, flowing effect. For a real swirly look, gently twist some of the streamers and ribbons as you attach them.

Tip: Add less streamers to the front so your child can see through. This will aslo be where you add the eyes

Step 3: Give your jellyfish some eyes

Using the marker, draw two big irises and cut out ovals around them on the construction paper. Attach them with glue or tape to front part of the umbrella.

Step 4: Put the whole look together!

Have your child wear their coordinating outfit and hold the umbrella above their head to become a fun jellyfish!

Now, let’s grow a bean stalk! This costume is inspired by the classic ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ tale by Joseph Jacobs.

You'll Need:

-          Jack's Outfit: Rustic-style pants, shirt, belt and pouch, dried beans

-          Beanstalk: Green pool noodle, fake green vines

-          Clouds: Cotton wool balls

-          Giant's Castle: Cardboard from cereal boxes, coloured paper, paints, small egg toy

-          Tools: Scissors, hot glue gun, craft glue, string/twine.

Step 1: Create the mighty beanstalk

Wrap and hot glue the fake green vines around the green pool noodle.

Step 2: Craft the Giant's castle

Using a cardboard box as the base, cut out other castle shapes from cardboard and turrets from the coloured paper. Paint the castle brown, then hot glue it onto a flat and sturdy cardboard base.

Step 3: Build the clouds

Glue cotton wool balls around the castle and the top of the beanstalk to make large, fluffy clouds. Add a golden egg to complete the look.

Step 4: Put the whole costume together

Have your child dress in rustic-style pants, a plain shirt, and a belt with a pouch attached – don't forget to add some dry beans too – and hold the beanstalk. Now your little adventurer is ready to climb to new heights as Jack!

These ideas can easily be applied to other favourite kids' books. Make these two Book Week 2025 costumes yourself by heading in-centre to shop everything you need.