Each year, schools and public libraries across Australia spend a week in August celebrating books, and Australian authors and illustrators.

Teachers and librarians conduct activities relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.

Local schools across the Snowy Monaro came alive during Book Week, with many holding book week costume parades, book fairs, reading activities, and storytelling.

The theme for this year's Book Week, held from Saturday, August 16 to Saturday, August 23, was "Book an Adventure" - aimed at encouraging children to explore new worlds through stories.

At Cooma Public School, Book Week was a fun and colourful celebration, with many students wearing homemade costumes of their favourite book characters.

The students dressed in everything from Sylvie the Flamingo, Anne of Green Gables, Piranhas eating bananas and Horton, to The Lorax, Pippi Longstocking, and even Minecraft Creepers.

School staff also wore costumes including Diva Chickens, the Snow Queen, Dorothy, and the witch from Room on the Broom.

Cooma Public School thanked the parents for their great support in helping make the book parade such a success. Local pre-schools also joined in, with the young children dressed up and excited about books.

"Book Week and the Book Week parade help students focus on reading, and to enjoy the adventures found in books," Tammy, from Cooma Public School, said.

At Saint Patrick's Parish School a large gathering of parents and family was treated to an entertaining parade of smiling and energetic book characters.

The school students (along with their parents/carers/family members) created some imaginative and vibrant costumes with Harry Potter, B1 and B2, Where's Wally, princesses, among many others, capturing the attention of the appreciative audience.

The day's activities included a book fair in the primary school library, which attracted many interested and excited young readers.

Other schools in the region also celebrated with costume parades and various book week related activities (more photos will appear in next week's paper).