How to Bring Book Week's "Symphony of Stories" to Life - One Drawing at a Time

Children's Book Week 2026 is just around the corner (22-28 August), and this year's theme, "Symphony of Stories," is all about the way books create rhythm, colour and music in our imaginations. At Toon Creations, we reckon there's no better way to celebrate that than by picking up a pencil.

Why Drawing and Reading Go Hand in Hand

Every great story is already a picture in a child's head before it ever reaches paper - the hero's cape, the villain's scowl, the shape of a faraway castle. Drawing is how kids test out what they're imagining. It slows reading down just enough for a child to notice detail, character and emotion, which is exactly why book-inspired art activities are such a natural fit for Book Week.

Try This at Home or in Class: Draw Your Favourite Character in 3 Steps

You don't need to be an artist to have a go. Adam, our founder and lead facilitator, teaches every character using his signature "hidden shapes" method - breaking any character down into simple circles, ovals and lines before any detail goes in.

1. Start with shapes, not features. A circle for the head, an oval for the body - get the proportions right before you draw a single eye or button.

2. Add one expression. Is your character surprised? Sneaky? Sleepy? The eyebrows and mouth do almost all the work.

3. Finish with one signature detail. A cape, a hat, a scar, a favourite object - one strong detail makes a character instantly recognisable.

It's a simple structure, but it's the same one we use in every school incursion and holiday workshop - because it works for five-year-olds and eleven-year-olds alike.

Bringing This Into Your School or Library

If you're a teacher, librarian or OOSH coordinator planning Book Week activities, this is exactly the kind of session we run as a school incursion - tailored to whatever books, characters or reading goals your students are focused on that week. Sessions can run as a single one-hour session or a full-day program, and we work in with your existing Book Week schedule rather than around it.

Get in touch if you'd like to lock in a Book Week session for your school or library - spots for August tend to fill quickly given the shared date range across NSW.

Want more drawing tips like this? Explore our school incursions, vacation care & OOSH programs, or get in touch via our contact page.