Your kid's Book Week costume doesn't need to be book-related. Change my mind

"Some mums made snide remarks, and we lied about it being from a book. But would I rather he sit on the sidelines? No siree Bob."

If your kid has done the Book Week parade for a few years, you'll probably know that the novelty has slightly worn off. For both of you.

Unless there's some super-strict rule from the school, I found that in the last couple of parades my son did, there was a very loose interpretation of the theme and/or association with any published book.

Because here's the truth about Book Week as the kids get older: if you can get them out of uniform and walking one lap of the playground, that's a small miracle, and more than enough.

RELATED: Make your own Meg and Mog costume for Book Week

I know that will make some of you gasp and clutch your pearls.

What kind of uncultured book-hater am I? What heathen message have I taught my son? (Many, if you must know.)

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Can you guess the book this BMX outfit is based on? Image: Nama Winston

"A costume based on a book of a movie"

Well, don't worry, my son has inherited my love of books. I still have my collection from when it started in childhood, all the way through uni and into adulthood. My library is like an art collection to me. I lie in bed at night and admire the stuffed shelves.

But we're talking about Book Week.

Sure, Book Week started off for us like it does for everyone. Researching the theme, making a diorama to be displayed in the school library (one year we got a silver medal for making 1000 paper cranes - cheated by making 10 and sticking them to a mirror), sourcing the Parade costume, blocking out time to join in the classroom reading.

Great memories. It was fun while it lasted.

And then the kids grow up.

I found that by Years 5 and 6, the excitement had worn off for a lot of the older kids. Some of them were way too cool to dress up, or go further than a Willy Wonka hat.

I remember arriving at school for the last Parade my son ever did (he's now 17, not sure how that happened). A mum whom I couldn't relate to in any way was forcing her 11-year-old into an Alice in Wonderland costume... dressed as Alice.

She wanted the prize for the best costume, the most lateral thinking, the most creative approach. It was just a pity her kid DGAF. He wouldn't put on Alice's blue dress and apron. There were tears.

I looked at my son, over the moon to be wearing what he was wearing - which was based on a book... a book of a movie, that is.

Making memories. Image: Nama Winston

"We'd never seen the book, let alone read it"

My kid went to his last ever Book Week parade wearing the kit he wore for competing in BMX. Helmet, gloves, and everything. 

We agreed to tell people that it was based on the book of the movie of BMX Bandits (yes we had to Google it).

But we'd never even seen the book, let alone read it.

After years of over-committing to Book Week, by that stage I was just thrilled he still wanted to participate. Of course, it has more to do with showing off his cool BMX kit than books, but you've gotta take your wins when they're offered in this parenting gig. (That is, choose your battles.)

Would I prefer he'd sit on the sidelines and watch like some of his other too-cool-for-school classmates? No siree Bob.

Admittedly, yes, there were sniggers (I kid you not) from some mums on the sidelines who gleefully asked me "And what's he meant to be?" in front of the crowd (yeah, I still remember who you b*tches were and what you said) but at least we hadn't been fighting in the classroom about Alice in Wonderland.

That aside, I actually have amazing memories from that morning - great pics, feeling proud of how proud my son felt... and so happy that the outfit I could barely afford for a very expensive sport was giving me some value for money doing double-time. 

Now, that's the true spirit of Book Week.

Originally published as Your kid's Book Week costume doesn't need to be book-related. Change my mind