It's book week, a time when many parents are scrambling for a Harry Potter wand, a witches' cauldron or a Cat in the Hat outfit. Book week is celebrating 80 years as a fixture of Australian school life. The week, including the costume parade, is all about lifting literacy and encouraging a love of reading. Some families relish the chance to dress their kids up as characters from a book. "I'm a big homemade costume lover," Jenna said. "We recycle boxes from my workplace and make the best creations. The kids love seeing them come together at the end." For others, the week can stir up mixed feelings. "Book week was always a challenge for me as a single mum with seven kids and limited funds," Gaye said. Creating something out of nothing Ebony, Andrew and their kids are big on book week. "I think it's just a really nice opportunity to get together as a family and create some fun, happy memories," Ebony said. The family has created realistic trucks, dirt bikes and space suits. "When my son Ryder was in prep … he really wanted a Kenny the Kenworth truck from the Kenny the Kenworth books," said Ebony. Dad Andrew got busy researching. "He definitely did it justice and pretty much created an exact replica in a very small version that Ryder was able to strap onto his shoulders and walk into school with working lights an operational horn and the whole shebang," she said. These days the whole family gets involved, spending hours putting together costumes for book week. "I think every costume every year that we've ever built really consists of a brand new cardboard box … and a roll of fabric or vinyl tape," she said. The family never loses sight of what book week is all about. "Book week is about inspiring young readers," Ebony said. Giving parents a book week break At Kingston Primary School in Tasmania's south, a book week costume library is open for business in the days leading up to the book week parade. The costumes have been donated and come with a book to match. The idea for the costume library came about after Angela Briant attended a book week parade at her grandchild's school. "I thought this had to change. We have to do something more … so every child is included in book week." Over the past three years, Ms Briant and Tasmanian independent politician, David O'Byrne, have put together costume libraries for five schools. So far, close to 300 children have borrowed outfits. "Because it's so busy and cost-of-living pressures as well, but mainly to have every child included and them have agency so the child chooses the book and the costume that they want," Ms Briant said. Fiona Harms, the school's library manager, said the system helps those who simply don't have the time to make their own costume. "There are so many families that have difficulty with resourcing, be it time organising or whatever … so to have that opportunity for parents to be able to have the relief of the library is absolutely phenomenal," Ms Harms said. What our readers think For schools without a costume library, parents have shared with the ABC some tips and tricks to get through book week. "Never underestimate the power of Pintrest, cardboard and a glue gun! Even op shops, and pulling pieces from [your] own wardrobe," Amber said. "My daughter is going as a black cat, so will be wearing black tights, long sleeve shirt, gloves, tutu and slippers. I made some car ears on a headband and will paint whiskers and a nose on her face for the day," Gianne said. "Most of the things can just be worn as part of regular outfits, or the whole costume could be used again for Halloween." "I've stopped worrying about going big with book week, and let my son decide what he wants to go as. It's usually so simple," one parent shared. "This year it's a soccer player and he already has the uniform! I know some families go all out, cardboard cut outs and clothes hangers, face paint and sparkles. But as long as your kid is excited about what they're wearing — who cares!" It's not all about the costume Jo Panckridge is the national board chair for the Children's Book Council of Australia. She said the book week parade didn't need to be high stress for parents. "The idea behind it being that children connect emotionally to a book or to a particular character and want to dress up and emulate them," Ms Panckridge said. She said book week shouldn't be a chore. "We have lots and lots of costumes on our YouTube channel that are simple costumes that have been made by children with adult supervision that look brilliant that really are just leftovers, craft scraps at home, things that they find in their wardrobe." Ms Panckridge said book week is all about celebrating books and Australian writers. "I would like to see it far more about reading, the love of reading, reading for pleasure and joining in creating this big youth culture where reading matters and reading is important."