Book Week celebrations provide a great time to look at some of the top recommended books around for kids and adults. The annual Children’s Book Week event celebrates books, authors and illustrators from across the country and around the world.

Schools and libraries all around Australia run events, activities and competitions in conjunction with Book Week to highlight the importance of reading, while making it fun and enjoyable. This year, the Book Week theme is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’.

To celebrate Book Week, we’re taking a look at some of our favourite children’s books as well as share some of The Westport Club’s staff best book recommendations. We’ve even got some inspiration for your child’s Book Week Costumes!

Top Children’s Books

There’s some books that just seem to stand the test of time. And, we all have our favourites, many of which still resonate with children today. Who can go past ‘The Cat in the Hat’ by Dr Seuss?

Here’s 10 of our favourite children’s books inspired by Time’s Top Children’s Books:

  • Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
  • Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, byJudith Viorst
  • The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss
  • The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
  • A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond
  • Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
  • Diary of a Wombat, by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
  • The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

 Do you have a favourite book that you remember reading as a child, or books that you now enjoy reading with your children? Many have been so inspiring, they’ve been turned into television series and movies.

Favourite children's books to read

Best Book Week Costumes

Of course, how can you celebrate Book Week without the annual Book Week Costume parade?

For some, the thought of designing a Book Week Costume is exciting and planned months in advance! Others face it with a dreaded fear of failure.

We thought we’d find some inspiration for Book Week 2019 with some of the best book week costumes around! Here’s some of the most popular Book Week Costume ideas around:

  • Harry, from Harry Potter by JK Rowling
  • The Cat-wearing hat, from Dr Seuss
  • Stripe-wearing Wally, from Where’s Wally by Martin Handford
  • The Green Sheep, from Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox
  • Little Red Riding Hood, by Charles Perrault
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Here are some more Book Week Costume ideas – check out Book Week at Spotlight and another handy list of 100 easy ideas for Book Week Costumes.

Book week - top recommended books

The Westport Club Staff – Favourite Books

With the focus on Book Week and the best books, we asked some of our very own Westport Club team about their favourite books to read.

Kacia, Jimmy’s Bar & Lounge

Kacia, what’s your favourite book?

Mine is ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ by Dr Seuss! It was the first book I read to the twins and they laugh and giggle every time! Dr Seuss books have always been a favourite though, since I was a kid too. So, I love reading the books I read when I was younger to my girls now!

 Do you like to read digital books, or ‘traditional’ books?

We read paper books at home every night before bed. We go shopping with the kids and buy them locally.

Caitlyn, Hastings Café Co.

Caitlyn, do you have a favourite book?

Yes, mine is ‘On the Jellicoe Road’ by Marlena Marchetta.

Do you prefer to read paper books, or digital?

I read both digital and print books. I usually buy books from op shops

Do you have a favourite spot to sit and read?

I’ll read anywhere! But, I particularly love sitting under the big tree in Westport Park on a sunny day overlooking the water.

Jess, Gaming Host

Jess, it’s Children’s Book Week – do you have a favourite?

My favourite book to read to my children is The Wonky Donkey. If you haven’t read it and need a laugh, do yourself a favour!

Do you have a favourite reading spot?

I like to read at a cafe or in the sun on the grass with an ‘old school’ paperback book!

Letitia, Events Coordinator

Letitia, do you have a favourite you enjoyed reading to your children?

A favourite of ours to read when my son was young was ‘Guess how much I love you’ with little nut brown hare. l love the message and it’s fabulous to see the book has evolved now for younger generations to continue to enjoy.

Pam, Aqua Restaurant

Pam, tell us about your favourite books.

Favourites in our house with my girls are any of Roald Dahl’s books. But for me now, I love to read biographies which I find at op shops around town. I actually just finished reading ‘Please don’t make me go’ by John Fenton.

Are you a paperback book or digital book reader?

Always paper copies! And, I enjoy reading in the sun or late at night with a glass of red wine.

Bronwyn, Graphic Design

Bron, do you have a favourite book you’ve read?

‘Shantaram’ and ‘Marching Powder’ are both excellent biographies that I loved reading. I prefer books recommended by others, and to pass on the ones I love. That is how I received both above-mentioned books. Another excellent series that I would recommend all girls read is ‘The Clan of the Cave Bear’. There are about seven books in the series and they’re brilliant!

What do you prefer? Paperback or digital books?

Paper books for sure are the go! I love reading in bed on a rainy day, or next to a pool in Thailand…

Emily, Reception

Tell us about one of your memorable reads Emily.

‘A memoir’ by Kunal Nayyar.

Where do you go to buy good books?

I tend to look for books online and then get them from Sydney when I’m there. I also prefer paper books rather than digital books.

Jesse, Head Chef

Jesse, what’s one of your favourite books?

‘Kitchen Confidential’ by Anthony Bourdain (ed: ‘Of course it is!’ J). It’s the best book for apprentice chefs to read.

Thanks team for sharing your top recommended books!!!