Promoting Book Week 2025: “Book an Adventure” to Achieve an Exceeding Rating in Early Childhood Education
Perfect for CBCA Book Week 16 – 22 August 2025
by BEST Childcare Consulting
Book Week 2025, themed “Book an Adventure”, is a valuable opportunity for early childhood educators to celebrate the power of stories in shaping young minds. Book Week is more than a celebration of stories — when thoughtfully planned and embedded into your program, it becomes a powerful example of Exceeding practice under the National Quality Standards (NQS). By using rich literature and engaging storytelling experiences, educators can promote responsive relationships, extend children’s learning through intentional teaching, and foster a strong sense of belonging and identity. Exceeding services go further by reflecting critically on book choices, ensuring cultural and linguistic diversity, and meaningfully engaging families and communities in the learning process. Documenting how children’s voices, interests, and backgrounds shape your Book Week program — and how the learning continues beyond the event — provides clear evidence of high-quality, embedded, reflective, and collaborative practice.
Early Childhood Shortlist book suggestions for Book Week 2025
– *Don’t Worry, Felix* by Yohann Devezy & Katharine Alice
– *Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)* by Briony Stewart
– *How to Move a Zoo* by Kate Simpson
– *One Little Dung Beetle* by Rhiân Williams
– *Spiro* by Anna McGregor
– *The Wobbly Bike* by Darren McCallum
BEST tip
Not everyone enjoys reading or has access to these books. Check out Story Box Hub. Story Box Video Library is a subscription-based online platform where children can access stories read aloud by various Australian and New Zealand storytellers, including authors, actors, and other notable individuals. It aims to inspire a love of reading, enhance literacy skills, and provide engaging content for young learners.
Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice
Standard 1.2 – Practice
Educators facilitate and extend each child’s learning through intentional teaching.
– Embedded Practice: Book Week learning is woven into the daily program through book-based provocations, dramatic play, and storytelling corners. Environments are designed to reflect stories explored during the week—e.g., a zoo relocation scenario inspired by *How to Move a Zoo*, a dental dramatic play space following *Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy*, or a bike repair station after *The Wobbly Bike*.
– Critical Reflection: Educators critically examine how the shortlisted books reflect children’s identities, interests, and emotional growth. For example, *Don’t Worry, Felix* might spark meaningful discussions around anxiety and resilience.
– Meaningful Engagement: Children’s curiosity leads planning. When a child is fascinated by beetles after *One Little Dung Beetle*, learning might extend into nature walks, insect observation, and storytelling about habitats.
Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children
Standards 5.1 & 5.2 – Responsive and Collaborative Relationships
Children feel respected and secure; relationships are built through sustained, shared experiences.
– Embedded Practice: Daily story time supports connection and emotional safety. Books like *Spiro* or *Don’t Worry, Felix* offer emotional entry points for conversations about feelings, difference, and belonging.
– Collaborative Learning: Children are supported to co-create stories inspired by the books, act them out using puppets or dramatic play, and share them with peers. These shared storytelling moments deepen relationships and encourage confident communication.
Quality Area 6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Community
Standard 6.2 – Community Engagement
The service builds and maintains respectful, collaborative relationships with families and the wider community.
– Embedded Practice: Book Week is a key part of the service’s annual curriculum. Planning includes family voice and consideration of cultural context.
– Critical Reflection: Educators reflect on the inclusivity and cultural relevance of the CBCA shortlist. Families’ languages, backgrounds, and values help inform book selection and associated programming.
– Meaningful Engagement: Families are invited to participate by reading stories in home languages, sharing childhood favourites, or contributing to a Family Storytelling Afternoon. Services may run a home reading challenge or community book exchange to support literacy at home.
Ideas for your early childhood educational program during book week
1. How to Move a Zoo – Zoo Relocation Dramatic Play
- Create a zoo relocation station with maps, boxes, and animal toys
- Encourage children to “plan” how to move their animals safely
- Integrate measurement, sorting, and problem-solving tasks
2. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy – Dental Health Learning
- Set up a dentist office with props for dramatic play
- Explore healthy habits and brushing routines
- Link to Health & Hygiene learning and Regulation 77
3. The Wobbly Bike – Repair Station & Risk-Taking Discussion
- Build a bike repair workshop with tools and wheels
- Invite children to share stories of learning to ride
- Discuss perseverance, balance, and growth mindset
4. One Little Dung Beetle – Insect Exploration & Nature Play
- Set up magnifying glasses, bug catchers, and field journals
- Observe bugs in the garden or sandpit
- Create dung beetle collages with recycled paper
5. Spiro – Movement, Art & Imagination Station
- Use spinning tops, spirals, and rotating patterns in art
- Explore motion with ribbons, hoops, and swirling paint
- Create a “Spiro gallery” where children display their movement-inspired art
6. Don’t Worry, Felix – Emotional Literacy Circle Time
- Discuss how Felix might feel in different parts of the book
- Role-play calming strategies or talk about emotions using puppets
- Create a “feelings tree” where children name and draw their feelings
Links to resources to support book week
Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Main site with information on Book Week, the theme, shortlisted books, and promotional materials https://cbca.org.au
CBCA Book Week 2025 Page Detailed info on the theme “Book an Adventure,” downloadable resources, and event ideas. https://cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week
CBCA 2025 Shortlist & Winners View the full shortlist, honour books, and winners across categories. https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2025
Book week Exhibition 16 August 2025 till 15 January 2026 at Perth State Libraryhttps://slwa.wa.gov.au/whats-on/book-adventure
Book week Event Sat 23 Aug 2025 10:00am – 4:30pm At State Library of Western Australia
https://slwa.wa.gov.au/whats-on/birthday-book-adventure-family-day
Reading Australia – Book Activities & Teacher Notes, Free downloadable teaching notes aligned to Australian Curriculum and the EYLF. https://readingaustralia.com.au
Early Childhood Australia – Literacy and Language, Learning, Articles, webinars, and literacy resources for educators https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au
Better Beginnings (State Library WA) Promotes reading and literacy from birth; includes free parent and educator resources. https://www.betterbeginnings.com.au
ABC Kids Listen – Story Podcasts & Music, Songs, audio stories, and podcasts ideal for literacy and language experiences. https://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten
Raising Children Network – Reading & Storytelling, Practical advice for parents about reading with young children. https://raisingchildren.net.au
State & Territory Libraries – Book Week Events, State Library of WA: https://slwa.wa.gov.au
Let BEST Childcare Consulting Help You Shine
At BEST, we help early childhood services bring themes like Book Week to life through intentional, high-impact practice. Book Week is more than a dress-up day — it’s a chance to embed literacy, culture, and wonder in your program.
Ask us how today.
