World Book Day solved! Lots and lots of quick and easy costume ideas

World Book Day is Thursday 7 March. If you’re having a costume crisis, then worry no longer! Here are loads of really simple, low-cost, no-sew outfit ideas for boys and girls…

By Misti Traya

I love World Book Day; yet I am filled with dread when it comes to helping my child choose a costume to wear to school. This anxiety has nothing to do with her desire to go as a character from a film or animated series instead a book – though that does get my goat. And it’s not because she only wants to be a princess (I love Frozen but I am glad that chapter of our lives has come to a close.)

No, the terror I feel stems from my absolute worthlessness when it comes to sewing. That is why I have done a roundup of the best Book Day no-sew costumes around. If you’re like me, I hope this helps.

Work with what you have

You might not know it, but you’ve probably already got most of the makings for a great costume in your cupboards and wardrobes. So do as all those stylists in the glossies tell you, and ‘shop your closet’! If you’re missing an item, ask to borrow something before buying it. Book Day shouldn’t break the bank. Besides, what are neighbours and class Whatsapp groups for? 

Nb – I’ve divided these 21 costume ideas into Boys, Girls, STEM-inspired and Wild Things – but that’s just going by what the characters in the books are. No reason why your girl shouldn’t wear a Boy costume, or your wild thing a Girl one, and so on…

Click on the links for visual inspiration!

Girl characters

Lots of the girls in classic children’s literature are easy to recreate…

1) Matilda from Roald Dahl’s Matilda – Simply wear a blue dress and carry a book. If your child wants to look like the film version, tie a red ribbon around their hair.

2) Sophie from Roald Dahl’s The BFG– Get the look with just a nightie (if you have pink, great; if not, who cares?) and glasses. Optional accessories are a Snozzcumber (cucumber) and a dream jar like this one on Pinterest. The materials required are LED lights and a translucent bucket.

3) Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Pair a blue dress with a white pinny. Tie a thin black ribbon around your child’s head and fashion it into a bow. Add white tights and Mary Janes and your child will be ready for recitations and tea faster than the Cheshire Cat disappears without warning.

4) Dorothy from Frank L. Baum’s The Wizard of Oz – The most important part of this outfit is the ruby slippers. You can click your heels and repeat “there’s no place like home,” but without the appropriate footwear, you will never get there. Wear a blue and white checked dress with plaited pigtails, carry a basket and a small toy dog who will be playing the role of Toto for the day.

5) Wendy Darling from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan – A long nightgown and a sensible demeanor and you’re done.

6) Jane Goodall from Patrick McDonnell’s Me . . . Jane – To look like this top primatologist as an adult, don head to toe khaki. For her childhood look, opt for a white button down, blue blazer, and a blue tartan skirt. If you have a toy monkey who can be Jubilee, even better.

Boy characters

Literary boys are possibly even easier to recreate than girls – and with some of these, the scruffier they get, the better!

7) Burglar Bill from Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s Burglar Bill – A Breton shirt has never been more useful. To get Bill’s look pair a stripy top with a flat cap. Carry a bag of loot (a bin liner filled with crumpled newspaper) and wear an eye mask. If you don’t have one from a superhero costume, make one. Book Aid gives easy instructions.

8) Charlie Bucket from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – This is perfect for the child who feels like a winner in scruffy clothes. Let them make their own Golden Ticket.

9) William from Richmal Crompton’s Just William– A school uniform, hat, tie (scruffy as you like) and a cheeky glint your eye. I’d suggest a slingshot for an accessory but I’m pretty sure that’s prohibited at school.

10) The Boy from Oliver Jeffers’ Lost & Found– All you need is a red and white striped top, a beige or brown beanie and if you have a toy penguin I’m certain he’d love to be part of the ensemble.

11) The Boy from David Walliams’ The Boy in The Dress – The outfit is in the title. Wear a frilly frock and football boots.

12) TinTin from Hergé’s TinTin– White shirt with a collar, sky blue jumper, trousers tucked into tall socks, trench coat if you’ve got one, white toy dog to play Snowy, satchel and or rucksack, hair product for that signature quiff. You can even use orange hair chalk if your child doesn’t have naturally ginger locks.

13) Mr. Bump from Roger Hargreaves’ Mr. Bump– Dress your child in blue and wrap bandages around their head, legs, arms, etc. Add some plasters for good measure.

STEM-inspired costumes

Is your kid more a science whizz than a fiction fan? Try one of these Science-Technology-Engineering-Maths-inspired costumes…

14) Rosie from Andrea Beatty’s Rosie Revere Engineer – This Rosie the Riveter inspired costume is 100% girl power. Rosie wears her great-aunt Rose’s red spotty handkerchief in her hair and a white short-sleeved dress that is black and red around the hem. If you have a white dress, it’s easy to recreate these hemlines with some no-sew hemming tape and ribbon. Or if you can’t be bothered, don’t.

15) Ada from Andrea Beatty’s Ada Twist Scientist– This costume is for science lovers who are also fashion forward. Red and white spotty dress, knee socks, yellow rubber gloves, safety goggles, and high pigtails tied with yellow pompoms.

16) Iggy from Andrea Beatty’s Iggy Peck Architect – Iggy is the coolest kid in grade 2. Snag his signature style with skinny black jeans, a cowl neck jumper, and green high top Converse.

Wild Things

Got a little animal at home? Let them express themselves…

17) Angelina from Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig’s Angelina Ballerina– Does your child take ballet or just have lots of tulle in the dress up box? Great! You’re more than halfway there. If you don’t have mouse ears and don’t fancy buying any, make some. My favourite are made out of wire. Draw on a mouse nose and whiskers. 

18) The White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – a white collared shirt with a blazer, a waistcoat, rabbit ears, a pocket watch, and floppy silk neckerchief tied into a bow. If you don’t have rabbit ears, make some from cardstock or felt.  

19) Peter Rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit – a light blue coat or cardie and rabbit ears will guarantee your little one is the best dressed bunny in the vegetable patch.  

20) Paddington Bear from Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear– Blue duffle coat, red Wellies, a floppy wide-brimmed hat, and a tag reading “Please look after this bear. Thank you”. Optional accessories include a mini suitcase and a jar of marmalade.

21) Max from Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – White onesie with large buttons on the front, whiskers drawn on, bright gold or yellow crown, tail made from a feather boa.

Whatever you do, have fun! Don’t stress yourself or your child. World Book Day isn’t about perfect costumes; it’s about celebrating stories.

Misti Traya is a writer from London and mum to a 7-year old daughter.