Each year since 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers and librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading. You will often see parades with students dressed as their favourite book character.

This year, things are looking a little different as our librarians bring Book Week to life online! Join us for a week full of special storytimes as we revisit past Book Week favourites, get inspired with costume design and diorama-making workshops and learn about our children's illustration competition!

This page will be updated as event details are revealed later in October.

Children’s Illustration Competition

Submissions now open. Submissions close Thursday 3 December; winners announced Friday 4 December.

As part of Book week 2020, The Ewing Trust, Yarra Libraries and The Little Bookroom would like to see your Children’s book character creations. It's easy to enter:

1. Watch the how-to video featuring illustrator Lucinda Gifford 
2. Draw us the most interesting creature your imagination can create;
3. Tell us about your creature and enter it into our competition!

Submit your creature via our online submission form here.

Please note: the entry form will require you to sign in to your Google or Gmail account. If you don't have a Google account, please email us with a JPG of the entrant's artwork, the entrant's first name and age, plus name and contact phone number for a parent or caregiver. Lastly, make sure you tell us the name of the creature, plus a little bit of info about it - such as its favourite food and its most curious feature)

Competition terms and conditions: 

The competition will be split into three age categories: Pre-school, Prep to Grade 2 and Grades 3-6.
Prizes totalling $1,000 courtesy of The Little Bookroom will be awarded in each category for the most amazing creatures.

• Submissions are via this form only and close on Thursday 3 December at 11:59pm • Prizewinners will be notified by Friday 11 December via the supplied contact phone number or email. Only winners will be notified • The judges’ decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into • By submitting an entry you grant Yarra City Council permission to display the entry and entrant's first name in person and online and include these in promotion on its website and related social media • Yarra City Council reserves the right to reproduce the whole or any part of an entry for purposes of promoting The Ewing Trust. By submitting an entry, you grant Yarra Council permission to display or publish the entry including the entrant’s first name, on Yarra City council websites and social media pages • Yarra Council collects personal information about entrants and entrants parents or caregivers for the purposes of including them in this competition and use of this information will comply with the City of Yarra Privacy Policy

Podcast for Kids – Adrian Beck

Released Tuesday 20 October

Adrian Beck writes funny, action-packed stories for kids, including Derek Dool – Supercool and Kick it to Nick with AFL legend, Shane Crawford. But what made him want to be a writer? And how did he get started? In this special podcast for kids, Adrian reveals all!

Book Week Retrospective Storytimes

Daily at 11am between 17-23 October, livestreamed via our Facebook page

Join our Children’s and Youth Services Team as they share their favourite titles from previous years. On the last day, join us as we read 2020’s Picture Book of the Year!

Due to copyright agreements in place with each publisher, some storytime sessions will not be available afterwards.

CARP Productions Book Week Show Online

Saturday 17 October

Come this way… if you dare! And enjoy the Marvellous Monster Fair! Beware the curious creatures with wild minds, who will send goosebumps down your spine!
Celebrate Book Week 2020 with Carp Production’s Online Book Week Show livestreamed via our Facebook page! (Suitable for kids aged 5+.)

Book Week Costume design and diorama workshops will also be released on our Vimeo channel during Book Week.