Book Week is just around the corner, and this year’s theme is Symphony of Stories. It’s all about celebrating how different tales, characters, and voices come together to create a beautiful masterpiece.

Of course, with this comes the Book Week parade and the last-minute all-nighter to create a costume. Enter content creator and mum, Tegan Jean (@tegan_jean) with her three easy DIY ideas inspired by books from this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia shortlist – sure to be a hit with the kids and perfectly match what they’re reading in the classroom. Which books have her children chosen to dress up as this year?

• A Farm by the Sea by Jillian Packer. This was a top pick because of her daughter’s love for the animals that the main character, the young farmer girl, looks after and the beautiful, big farm that the family lives on.
• Dear Broccoli by Jo Dabrowski. The story is told through funny letters between a boy who refuses to eat his greens, and the title character, Broccoli, who defends his place on the dinner plate. It was her youngest’s favourite because story is ”really silly” and he couldn’t wait to dress as broccoli.
• Bob and Dob by Sean E Avery. They chose this book because her daughter loved how cute the birds in the story were, especially the main red bird Dob, who liked telling tales that got his brother Bob in trouble.

Best of all, you don't need to be a master tailor to bring these character costumes to life. Just some everyday wardrobe pieces and simple craft supplies will do the trick.

Costume 1: The young farmer girl from A Farm by the Sea

This look takes inspiration from the rustic, coastal countryside feels of the book A Farm by the Sea by Jillian Packer. The young farmer girl costume is easy to put together and can be created with everyday pieces.

What you will need:

• Denim jeans or overalls from Kmart
• Striped long sleeve t-shirt or flannel shirt from Kmart
• Gumboots from Spendless Shoes
• Accessories like a flower hair clip from Kmart

How to build the costume:

1. Start with a classic pair of denim jeans or overalls and the stripy t-shirt.
2. Pop on a pair of comfy rubber gumboots.
3. Add the flower hair clip to tie the countryside aesthetic together.

 This costume is so simple to put together – no need to stick, sew or make anything.

Costume 2: Broccoli from Dear Broccoli

If your little one loves a laugh, then Dear Broccoli by Jo Dabrowski and this costume is sure to a favourite. The real fun lies in bringing the main character, Broccoli, to life. By layering different shades of green, you can easily recreate the unique shape and texture of the iconic vegetable into a playful, wearable outfit.

What you will need:

• Matching green jumper and green trackpants from Kmart.
• Green curly wig from Kmart or Vivid Dollar
• Green pom poms from Kmart
• Card paper in different shades of green from Newsextra Newsagent
• Stapler from Newsextra Newsagent

How to build the costume:

1. For the broccoli stem, cut the green variations of card paper into strips and attach them to the green jumper with a stapler.
2. Put on the green jumper and trackpants.
3. Place the wig on and hold the pom poms for the final look.

This costume is bright, unique, and guaranteed to stand out in the Book Week parade.

Costume 3: The Feathered Friends from Bob & Dob

Get inspired by the adorable birds in Bob and Dob by Sean E Avery. This costume is all about using key details like feathers and bright colours to bring the characters to life, with just a little bit of DIY crafting.

What you will need:

• Matching red jumper and red trackpants from Kmart
• Red bandana from Vivid Dollar
• Red feather boa from Vivid Dollar
• Craft supplies: orange and white card paper, black marker, glue stick, safety pins and twine Newsextra Newsagent
• Scissors from Newsextra Newsagent
• Single hole punch from Newsextra Newsagent

How to build the costume:

1. For the beak, cut out a triangle of orange card paper and add a hole to two corners to thread the twine through.
2. For the eyes, cut two circles from the white card paper and stick them to the red bandana.
3. Pin the feather boa to the red jumper, starting from one hand, going across the back of the shoulder to the other hand.
4. Put on the red jumper and trackpants, then the bandana and beak to complete the look.

This feathery costume comes together with just a few simple clothing items and a little afternoon crafting.

Whether you're choosing the coastal farmer from A Farm by the Sea, the hilarious veggie from Dear Broccoli, or the bright feathered friend from Bob & Dob, Nepean Village has you covered. From kids' clothing essentials to craft supplies and accessories, you can find everything you need to translate these stories and more into wearable creations right here in-centre.