Book Week
Book Week focuses on the importance of reading for children, and most Australian schools mark it with a character parade. Your kids will often be encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character, and a painted face finishes a costume that a bedsheet cape started.
You do not need to be an artist. A stencil gives you a crisp emblem in seconds, a splitcake lays several colours in one stroke, and our free step by step guides cover dragons, tigers, cheetahs, frogs and more, one step at a time.
Book Week runs in August, so order in July if you need a particular character stencil.
Shop Book Week
Everything on this page is in the Book Week collection, so stock and pricing here are always current.
Character ideas that actually work
Six starting points, chosen because they are quick, recognisable and forgiving.
Superheroes
Capes, masks and logos. A stencil gets a clean emblem on a cheek in seconds, which matters when a whole class is lining up.
Dragons and monsters
Scales, horns and green shading. Our free Dragon and Godzilla step by step guides walk through both, start to finish.
Fairies, unicorns and princesses
A single splitcake does the whole face. Add a crown or a horn in white line work and it is done.
Animal characters
Cats, tigers, cheetahs and frogs cover most of the animal characters in the school library, and all four have free guides.
Painting a whole class
A kit keeps the colours consistent and the queue moving. Beginner kits come with the colours already chosen to work together.
Never painted before?
You do not need to be an artist for Book Week. Wordboards let children point at what they want, and a stencil does the hard part.
Stencils do the hard part
Superhero emblems, animals, symbols and shapes. Crisp results in seconds, which matters with a class queued up.
Book Week questions
When is Book Week in Australia?
When is Book Week in Australia?
Book Week runs in August each year, organised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Most schools hold a character parade during that week, so order your supplies in July to be safe.
Is face paint safe for children?
Is face paint safe for children?
Yes, when it is cosmetic grade face paint made for skin, which is all we sell. Never use craft or acrylic paint on a face. Patch test on the inside of the elbow first if a child has sensitive skin or known allergies.
I cannot draw. What should I buy?
I cannot draw. What should I buy?
Stencils and splitcakes. A stencil gives a crisp shape with no drawing skill at all, and a splitcake lays several colours in one stroke. Between them you can produce a convincing character in under a minute.
How do I paint a whole class quickly?
How do I paint a whole class quickly?
Work with a small palette, keep designs to cheek art rather than full faces, and use stencils for repeated emblems. A beginner or school kit keeps everything in one tray so you are not hunting for colours.
How do I get the paint off afterwards?
How do I get the paint off afterwards?
Warm water and a gentle soap or cleanser for water activated paints. Take your time around the eyes. Never scrub.
Do you ship in time for Book Week?
Do you ship in time for Book Week?
We ship Australia wide every business day from Wantirna South in Melbourne. Order in July for an August parade, especially if you need a specific stencil, since popular character stencils sell out.
Free help before parade day
Fourteen free step by step design guides, sixteen free inspiration sheets and printable wordboards so children can point at the design they want.


