Costumes and cakes – Book Week shenanigans at Melbourne HS

Amongst the favourite of all Book Week activities at Melbourne High School is the Friday “Dress up as your favourite book character”. The whole day is very disruptive and fabulously enjoyable. The library hosts an impressive and very popular (from all accounts) morning tea, and students in costume are permitted to partake of the gourmet fare. Costumes immediately change the way people feel, even those just observing in civilian dress, and this day created its own vibe. We are grateful that a number of students and staff take the trouble to dress up, and the competition and parade at lunchtime are enjoyed by many. Here are a few highlights from the competition – Padraig was the witty MC, as well as being ‘the man in the black suit’. I’m including details students were required to provide about their choice of character.

Padraig is obviously the one in the black suit. I decided to make the boys grungey – trying out different photo editing apps.

Padraig dressed as the man in the black suit from book of the same name by Stephen King.
Padraig: “I chose this character because he is not only stylishly dressed but possesses insane laughter and evil. Much like myself.”

Daniel came dressed as the tabloid reporter Freddie Lowndes from Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
“This is one of my favourite books, where this character is a journalist who defames a person who turns out to be a serial killer. My character is tortured and set on fire.”
Special features: glasses, vest, hat and tie.

Carlo came dressed as Sadako from Sadako and the thousand paper cranes by Eleanor Coerr
“because I am fascinated with origami and I enjoyed making the many cranes.”
Special features: “the cranes themselves and I also made a special golden crane.”

Maxim came dressed as Tom Sawyer from The adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
“because this was a book I enjoyed and loved as a child, with Tom being the witty main character.
His special feature: straw hat.

Chi Rui came dressed as the hungry caterpillar from the book of the same name by Eric Carle
because it was “the most prominant book character from my childhood.”
Special features: mask and sleeping bag.

Christopher came dressed as the Zombie from The Dead by Charlie Higson.
“I chose this character because he’s awesome.”
Special feature: blood everywhere.

Mangala came dressed as B2 from Bananas in pyjamas “because
Bananas in Pyjamas was my favourite show/book when I was a child.”
His special features: the homemade hat and pyjamas.

Harry dressed as Scarface from Scarface, the 1932 American gangster film based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Armitage Trail.
He chose his character because “I like history  and 1920s gangsters have class.”
Special feature: cashmere jacket $1000, silver gold studded watch, gold studded belt like Scarface and life-like scar on left cheek.

Austin was Wally from Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford.
“I chose this character because I loved the books as a little kid.
My special feature: I am hiding somewhere in the room. Can you find me?” Well done, Austin, for being completely in character during the day and surprising us with your entrance.

Vivek dressed as Spongebob Squarepants from Spongebob: I ripped my pants.
“I chose the character because I had the hat.
Special feature: me!”

Jeremy came dressed as Dracula from Bram Stoker’s Dracula because “Dracula has a very recognisable image and a striking personality”.  Special features: “my cloak and ability to drink blood.”

The library staff didn’t disappoint – many of us came as characters from Alice in Wonderland. Here’s Di as Alice –

Maggie as The Cheshire Cat.

Marie as the March Hare

Denise dressed as Phryne Fisher, the main character in Australian author Kerry Greenwood’s series of Phryne Fisher detective novels.

Our lovely library student, Ally, came dressed as Madeleine from Ludwig Bemelmans’ classic Madeline children’s books.

Here are some of our well dressed teachers – can you guess who they are?

Our esteemed judges –

A portion of our audience –

I love the caterpillar’s moves on the catwalk –

Did I say how happy we were to see so many teachers get into the spirit of the day?

And finally, some pictures of our magnificent morning tea

And some of the cakes in our baking competition for The Big Cake Bake – talented students created this green eggs and ham

Maggie created an Animal Farm cake – love it!

Denise’s amazing picnic basket from Wind in the willows.

And so, another Book Week bites the dust. Y’all come back now!