As Book Week approaches, there’s something magical about watching a child choose a story that means something to them. For Helen (@helencaceres_) and her daughter Sofia, this year’s Book Week began not with a costume, but with a memory of her grandfather. Selected from the 2026 Book of the Year shortlist, they chose My Nonno Loves by Adelle Frittitta, a book with a story that connects two generations through shared memories and love.

My Nonno Loves is a story about a grandfather and his granddaughter, exploring the everyday magical moments and the lasting impressions they leave. For Helen, it brought back a wave of nostalgia. For Sofia, it started a conversation about her own Abuelo and Papou: the way they make her laugh, the things they say, the time they spend together.

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Building the look

With the story chosen, Sofia took charge of the creative vision. Drawing from the world of the book, she identified the key elements that would bring the young girl character to life and went searching for them in-centre.

The result was a costume that felt considered, playful, and entirely Sofia's own. A striped tee, denim skirt and a pair of cheerful gum boots. Simple pieces, thoughtfully chosen, that captured the warmth and meaning of the story without overcomplicating it.

This is the heart of a story-led costume: the memory comes first, the book second, the costume last. Rather than copying a look by every detail, let what the story means to your child shape the costume. Ask which moments felt familiar, or which characters reminded them of someone they love and let that lead. A costume drawn from a real memory is one they'll remember long after Book Week is over.

One of the most enjoyable parts of Helen and Sofia's Book Week wasn’t the costume – it was the experience in-centre spent making it. Browsing the racks, trying things on, Sofia reaching for the pieces that reminded her of her own Abuelo and Papou. Each choice tied to a memory, each piece chosen for a reason.

Shop the pieces in-centre at The Reject Shop, Red Dot, Big W or Kmart.

Your Book Week story starts here

Stories like ‘My Nonno Loves’ remind us that the best books don't just entertain, they connect us to our memories and the people who shaped us.

This Book Week, take a page from Helen and Sofia's story, and let your child choose the book that means the most to them. Let them lead the way and head in-centre together to find the pieces which they feel most connected too, rather than those which replicate the character. Long after the costume’s packed away, the memory of bringing it to life stays.

Visit Ellenbrook Central and create a costume that is close to your heart.