If World Book Day has crept up on you and left you frantically trying to figure out a last minute costume for your child, we can help.
Having been around in the UK and Ireland since 1997, World Book Day looks to encourage young people to discover a love of reading. As part of the event, many schools host costume days for children which can help add to their excitement about reading.
However, for many parents this can mean a mad dash the night before to assemble an appropriate costume.
In recent years, organisers have offered alternatives such as wearing pyjamas to help alleviate pressure on parents but if you’re looking for advice on pulling together something using what you already have at home, here are 20 easy, last minute World Book Day costume ideas.
13. Non-fiction costumes
If you’re really struggling for ideas, there’s no need to look only to fictional books. Instead look to non-fiction for inspiration – there are children’s books about sports people, scientists, animals, baking, space and more which could help you narrow down an easy costume from items you already have at home. | Canva
14. George's Marvellous Medicine
Another easy costume from a Roald Dahl book, to represent George's Marvellous Medicine your child can dress up in their regular, everyday clothes – though a red t-shirt and jeans would best represent George. All you then need is an empty bottle, which you can fill with “medicine” by mixing some dark paint with water or getting creative and using household items such as stock cubes. If you’re not comfortable sending your child into school with a water bottle they can’t drink from, an empty bottle with a label would also work. | Puffin
15. Artemis Fowl
For a last minute World Book Day costume idea which can take advantage of your child’s school uniform, or if they have a suit for different occasions, you can easily dress them up as Artemis Fowl. To create the young genius, all you need is a dark suit with a white shirt and black tie. | Disney
16. Pippi Longstocking
There are a number of ways you can go about turning your child into Pippi Longstocking at home for World Book Day, most of which use regular clothes but with a twist. The real focus here should be on how you accessorise – wild braided hair is key, as are stripy socks that are preferably mismatched. Otherwise? Stripy shirts and jeans could work, as can dresses with shorts underneath or even overalls. | OUP / Oxford