A symphony of stories
Book Week 2026 is here!
With the theme ‘A symphony of stories’, we are again celebrating as a School community the richness, joy and importance of books and reading.
Beginning in 1945, Book Week is in its 81st year. I have such strong memories of Book Week as a child; classic costumes that have filled our family photo albums, celebrations in class, parades and fun.
Why do stories matter? As an English teacher, at the heart of every text we bring into the classroom is the belief that stories have purpose. They connect us to each other and the world around us. They help us understand people and ideas that are different from us. And whether we are reading The Merchant of Venice or Where is the Green Sheep?, stories build a frame around our own experiences and draw our imagination into new worlds and ideas.
This week as we celebrate Book Week, from the littlest Kindergarten children to our Senior students who are entering adulthood, it is a joy to witness the colour, imagination and community that Book Week brings. Whether it is a last-minute dash to Spotlight, a papier-mache creation that has been drying on your porch for a week or the glitter that is now permanently scattered throughout your entire car upholstery, I pray that this week has reminded you and your young people of some of the wonder and fun of stories – and why they still matter.
Stelle Carmichael - Head of Students
The very first Book Week occurred at a historically significant time for Australia. At the end of World War II as the country emerged from six years of global conflict, suffering and uncertainty, the Children’s Book Council chose the theme ‘United Through Books’.
It is unlikely that the founders of Book Week had any concept of the way Book Week would embed itself into Australian school culture. But it is wonderful to think that after such a difficult stage in Australia’s history, there were people who wanted to recognise that children matter and books matter.
