World Book Day is almost upon us for another year. The perfect time to highlight the importance of reading to children as well as showing them just how fun it can be too. One of the fun ways in which schools and nurseries get the child involved is by dressing up as their favourite character from a book – which gives them a great excuse to go through their bookshelves to see which book and character capture their imaginations this year (and for you to hope that it’s nothing too difficult for you recreate).
Dressing up for World Book Day
When it comes to deciding on how to create your child’s chosen character, you have two options you can opt to dress your little one in their favourite character fancy dress outfit or you can opt to have a go at being a little more original and making your own costume.
Make your own World Book Day Costumes
I can remember dressing up like a Christmas tree when I was younger, my Mam made the costume out of a pair of old green curtains. The outfit was complete with tinsel, baubles and even a star on my head (sadly no photos of that creation are available).
Coming up with a book day costume doesn’t mean that you need to run out and buy lots of bits and pieces either. The easiest costumes can be pulled together by items you may already have lying around the house. Dig out the witch’s outfit from Halloween and you’ve got yourself Meg & Mog, The Worst Witch, or The Witches. Fancy a pyjama day? Go as The Boy in Striped Pyjamas. David Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress is a popular choice each year, and couldn’t be simpler to create – if you haven’t got a dress, a baggy t-shirt will suffice.
Take a look at a couple of my make your own World Book Day costume suggestions…
Dr. Suess Thing 1 and Thing 2 Costume
Roo has dressed up as a couple of different characters over the year, most notably was when she and her best friend Niamh dressed as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Dr Suess books. A little bit of creative flair can really see a character come to life and the girls got some great comments from this costume choice.
Take a look at my step by step guide to making a Thing 1 and Thing 2 costume.
Little Miss Muffet Costume
This simple but effective Little Miss Muffet costume can be put together in a minute, which is great if you get given short notice for a school dress-up day.
Pair any coloured school gingham dress with a white apron or handkerchief pinned to the front. Plaiting hair into two and adding either a frilly hat or handkerchief knotted at the corners.
For the accessories grab a mixing bowl and wooden spoon from the kitchen and raid your Halloween supplies for a spider – alternatively you can make one from pipe cleaners.
Dorothy from the Wizard Of Oz Costume
This is a photo of my best friend’s little girl taken a couple of years ago but what a great costume to dress up in and with items that you have around the house.
Wearing a blue gingham school dress (or any colour would work), add a white apron or a handkerchief pinned on the front using safety pins. Whilst not everyone has red shoes to hand, you can pop a pair of red socks over a pair of shoes for a similar effect. For the finishing touches, a basket with a dog teddy bear, hair in bunches with red bobbles or ribbon.
Angelina Ballerina Costume
If your little one does ballet then you will pretty much have this costume sorted, simply add some cardboard ears to a headband and some whiskers on their face and you have a ready-made Angelina Ballerina.
If they don’t do ballet no need to worry… A pair of cream, white or pink tights with a long-sleeved top of a similar colour with their swimsuit over the top. If they have a little tutu then pop that on too and hey presto you have a little ballerina.
Star Wars Darth Vader World Book Day Costume
Looking to celebrate World Book Day Star Wars style? How about this easy to make last-minute Star Wars costumes using items from around the home? Take a look at this little list of things you’ll need for Darth Vader…
- Black long-sleeved top, trousers and shoes
- Darth Vader printable Star Wars mask – you can simply print off, stick on a piece of cardboard to add some rigidity to it or laminate
- Black bag or towel to make the cape
- Lightsaber – maybe light stick from a fireworks display or show you have previosuly attended but you could make your own using the tube found inside wrapping paper which you could then paint red and black
World Book Day Voucher
Don’t forget that as part of the World Book Day celebrations, the children will receive a £1.00 book voucher from their school or nursery. This allows them to purchase one of the special World Book Day book editions that have been released for £1.00 each or can be used as part payment towards another book.
What will your little ones be dressing up as this World Book Day?
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