Easy Book Week costume ideas inspired by music

ABC Classic

Topic:Books

Getting on board with Book Week's musical theme this year is easier than parents might think. (Supplied: Deneale Deppeler)

Across Australia, the Children's Book Week parade with its costume displays is a cherished and sometimes dreaded tradition for generations of parents and kids.

This year, there's a musical twist to the theme: Symphony of Stories.

We talk to musically inclined parents, an author and an ABC Classic presenter to get ideas on how your kids can take part in the Symphony of Stories.

They also share tips on how to take some of the stress out of Book Week costume crafting.

Choosing books about music

ABC Classic presenter Danielle McGrane reads stories to her children every night.

"It's part of the ritual of going to bed," McGrane says.

For families looking to embrace this year's Symphony of Stories theme, books inspired by music can offer both reading inspiration and costume ideas.

McGrane's collection includes stories inspired by classical music, such as Carnival of the Animals and The Planets, which she's currently reading with her child.

"The Planets is a book about young explorers going to all the different planets and there's a little button that can be pressed to play the music from Gustav Holst's The Planets," she says.

Book Week celebrates the simple joy of reading, says Danielle McGrane. (ABC Classic: Lucy Zee)

Musical storybooks can be a great way to introduce young children to different instruments and composers.

"I've been reading and playing Carnival of the Animals with my kids from quite a young age," McGrane says.

"There are so many book versions of this story. And what it does is give instruments like the cello or the tuba a personality that kids can relate to."

Other books, such as The Flying Orchestra, can show children that "music is a tool for emotional expression," McGrane says.

Books like these can provide simple inspiration for Symphony of Stories costumes.

McGrane has some tips for parents who are anxious about jazzing up their costume game: "Pick two costumes you feel you can achieve, and offer your child the choice between those two."

Whether you're dressing your child as an animal from Carnival of the Animals or an instrument from The Flying Orchestra, McGrane says "the important thing is to feel the link between the story and the music."

Choosing books with musical connections

Blue Mountains author Jodie McLeod feels differently about Book Week, depending on which hat she's wearing.

"As an author, I can't wait to share my love of books with schools and students, but as a parent, I'm nervous," she says.

One of McLeod's books, Leonard the Lyrebird, has been inspiring Book Week costumes since it was published in 2018.

McLeod has seen children dress up as lyrebirds, which are famed for their mimicking abilities and impressive performances in the Australian bush.

"They would be wearing greys and browns, carrying some feathers and props with musical notes," she shares.

Author and parent Jodie McLeod has mixed feelings about Book Week depending on which hat she's wearing. (Supplied: Jodie McLeod)

Those musical touches feel especially fitting because Leonard the Lyrebird has found a second life as a stage musical, joining a long tradition of books that have been adapted for new audiences, from Gumnut Babies to Matilda.

McLeod says the boundaries between books, theatre and screen adaptations have become increasingly blurred, opening up even more possibilities for Book Week costumes.

"Tim Minchin's Matilda, for example, has a lot of iconic grey and white school uniforms with ties and blazers, and there's a lot of gorgeous choreography in that musical."

McLeod says practicality and cooperation of her kids are the deciding factors for Book Week.

The Book Week parade also gives teachers a chance to rock their costumes. (Supplied: Jodie McLeod)

As a parent of older children on the cusp of their teenage years, she has to take their likes and dislikes into account.

"My children have never been very inclined to wear elaborate costumes to school," McLeod admits.

"The best costumes have been those where my kids can dress up mostly as themselves, but have some feature or prop that distinguishes them as a character from a book."

This approach might be handy for families learning a musical instrument, especially one that's easy to carry.

For parents who don't have the time, budget or enthusiasm for elaborate costume-making, McLeod points out there's another way to embrace this year's musical theme: "incorporate some singing and dancing into the Book Week parade"

Find musical elements in books you already have

Book Week is the highlight of Ballarat-based mum of four Deneale Deppeler's year.

"I do love dressing up as a way to express my creativity through Book Week," Deppeler says.

Book Week is the highlight of the year for Ballarat-based mum of four Deneale Deppeler. (Supplied: Deneale Deppeler)

She even organises a Book Week version of trick-or-treating on her street, called "Books n' Bon Bons".

"I get a lot of joy out of it, but I know not everybody will feel the same," she says.

Deppeler is strict about ensuring her children dress up as characters from books rather than "just any TV characters".

Deneale Deppeler loves a bit of ceremony and an occasion to dress up. (Supplied: Deneale Deppeler)

But Deppeler says getting on board with this year's Symphony of Stories theme is easier than parents might think.

"Music might not always be in the front seat of a storybook, but you'll often find musical elements hidden throughout stories, even if it's not the main thing."

That means parents don't have to start with an obviously musical book to embrace the theme.

Deppeler points to popular favourites including Grug, Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear and Ruby Red Shoes as potential sources of inspiration.

To keep Book Week as stress-free as possible, Deppeler has a few costume-making rules of her own, including deciding what costumes her kids will wear.

The aim is to create costumes using materials already in the house and items from her children's wardrobes.

Some of the examples Deppeler suggests include making cardboard cut-outs of a violin, or using a paper towel roll to create a clarinet or a microphone.

"This is where my creativity comes in," Deppeler says. "I just need a shoe box and some folding paper and bam, I've got an accordion; a Milo tin makes a drum."

Deppeler creates costumes mainly using items from around the house and her children's wardrobes. (Supplied: Deneale Deppeler)

Many popular children's stories, including Grug, feature musical elements between its pages. (Supplied: Deneale Deppeler)

Deppeler also recommends reusing costumes from previous Book Week parades.

"If you've got a bear costume from Paddington Bear, there's no reason why you shouldn't reuse it for stories like The Very Noisy Bear, which is about trying out different musical instruments," she says.

Ultimately, Deppeler says the most important thing about Book Week is "getting kids to become passionate about reading and discovering what other people are reading through their costumes."

ABC Classic celebrates Children's Book Week from Saturday 22 — Friday 28 August, exploring the connection between literature, imagination and classical music.

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