We all know the feeling – the sinking dread of realising your child is the only one not in fancy dress as you turn up at the school gates. Between our increasingly busy lives and our kids forgetting to tell us about the countless dress-up and event days, it’s no wonder parents are starting to dread a day that should be a celebration of books and reading.
The statistics show that World Book Day is needed now more than ever. A 2024 survey revealed that one in ten children aged 5–18 in the UK don’t own a book, with just one in three kids aged 8–18 actively enjoying reading, a decrease of 8.8% in the preceding 12 months.
But with recent figures showing that 24 million of us are living below the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), affecting almost half of all children living in the UK, it’s no surprise that items like books are being forgotten in favour of essentials. Not to mention the expense of a unique, fun World Book Day costume for one or more kids!
Luckily, we are here with ten of the best DIY World Book Day outfits you can put together in less than five minutes, with items you likely already have at home – perfect for that last-minute scramble on the morning of 6th March!
A super-simple costume that’s still seriously cute – simply give your little one a stripy top and a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Bonus points if you can find a stripy hat with a pom-pom on the top!
This costume has the added benefit of essentially being normal clothes, meaning your child is unlikely to be uncomfortable or overheat in an overly complicated costume.
From the beloved Roald Dahl book Matilda, Miss Trunchbull is a great character to dress up as for World Book Day. She’s an iconic character in the story, so your little one can have fun playing the part, and her outfit is really simple to put together.
All you need is a pair of black trousers, a grey sweatshirt and a huge belt. Slick your kid’s hair back into a tight, low bun and the look is complete!
This well-known series offers endless opportunities for easy World Book Day costumes! Whether your little one is a total Mr Greedy, a sunny Little Miss Sunshine or typical Mr Messy, simply dress them head to toe in their chosen character’s dominant colour.
Mr Bump could wear all blue with a few bandages tied around their head or arms, while Little Miss Shy can also wear all blue, with a dusting of bright pink blusher on both cheeks. Mr Happy can dress completely in bright yellow – with a huge smile as the only accessory required!
We’re thinking specifically of Violet before she becomes a huge blueberry! Another Roald Dahl invention, this time of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory fame, the character of Violet has become known for the bright blue tracksuit she sports in the 2005 film version – so simple to recreate.
To finish off the look, grab some purple or blue eyeshadow and smudge a little across your child’s nose and the tops of their cheeks, to mimic the moment when Violet begins to turn violet! If you want to go one step further, add in a sleek, blonde wig.
The brilliant series of books by Andrea Beaty gives us multiple World Book Day costumes. Have your little one dress up as Ada Twist, a scientist with a red and white spotty dress, white socks and black shoes. You could even add some yellow hair accessories to really complete the look.
You can also go for Rosie Revere, an engineer with a white dress and a red and white spotty headscarf. Or dress up as Iggy Peck, an architect with a black and white patterned jumper, black trousers and a signature pencil behind the ear!
This classic Beatrix Potter character makes for a super-simple costume. Just dress your little one in neutral colours – white or brown works best – and then add a blue, button-up jacket on top. Finally, add a pair of rabbit ears to complete the look.
If you have face paints at home, you can even decorate your child’s face with a cute bunny nose and whiskers!
Have you got an old Halloween witch costume gathering dust somewhere? Reuse the pointy hat, cloak and black skirt or dress to transform your little one into the kindly witch from Julia Donaldson’s brilliant Room on The Broom.
Simply add a red top and an old broom. If your child has long hair, style it into a single plait and fasten with a cute bow. Bonus points if you have a toy cat or a sparkly wand they can carry!
Another Julia Donaldson creation, Princess Pearl is a really easy DIY costume, especially if your kids already have a doctor or nurse dress-up set! All you need is a red dress, a long, white coat and a toy stethoscope.
Go the extra mile by adding blue shoes, white tights and a green headband – just like Princess Pearl’s!
This lovely Ian Whybrow book provides us with another great World Book Day costume idea. Simply dress your little one in blue jeans, trainers, a stripy top and a red coat to reflect Harry’s clothes on the front cover of the book. Or, have them wear their favourite dinosaur-themed outfit!
Then, pop all of your toy dinosaurs into a plastic bucket for them to carry throughout the day.
Judith Kerr’s iconic cat is another great character for your kids to dress up as – go for head-to-toe grey and add a pair of cat ears. Bonus points if the clothes have grey stripes!
You can even tie a grey scarf around their waist to mimic a tail, completing the look. If you have face paint at home, add a cute pink nose and some simple whiskers.
And if you only remember it’s World Book Day when you turn up at the gates and your kids are already in their school uniforms? Just tell them to say they’re a character from Mallory Towers, St Claire’s or the Murder Most Unladylike series!
Which of these 10 easy, DIY costumes will your children be trying out this World Book Day?
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