World Book Day Costumes

Our recommended World Book Day costumes

Recommended children’s World Book Day costume manufacturers

• Smiffys
• Amscan
• Rubie’s
• Wicked Costumes
• Morphsuits
• Orion Costumes
• I love Fancy Dress

All product images on this page are sourced from the costume manufacturers’ promotional material or served by Amazon.

World Book Day Resources for Teachers

Free Resources (No Subscriptions Needed)

• Skip the commercial sites and head straight to the official World Book Day website for free activity packs, author videos, and £1 book tokens. For assembly inspiration, the National Literacy Trust offers free lesson plans and storytelling toolkits. Try Book Character Bingo or Guess the Story quizzes. School Reading List has a ready-to-go 100-question, 10-round children’s book quiz for KS2 you can use. BBC Teach also has short, lively videos featuring authors like Michael Rosen, perfect for kicking off classroom discussions.

Cheap Costumes: Think Outside the Book

Why stick to characters when objects from stories can steal the show? Try these group-friendly ideas:

• The Wardrobe from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: A large cardboard box painted with snowflakes and a faux-fur coat peeking out.
• The Clock from Tom’s Midnight Garden: Multiple children can wear cardboard clock faces strapped like aprons, with hands stuck at midnight.
• The Enormous Crocodile’s Snout (from Roald Dahl): Craft a giant paper-mâché nose (easy cleanup, big laughs).

For teachers, keep it simple yet iconic:

• Michael Rosen’s “Chocolate Cake”: Wear a chef’s hat and hold a (fake) chocolate cake—bonus points for reciting the poem with dramatic flair.
• The Tiger from The Tiger Who Came to Tea: Ears on a headband + stripy jumper + teapot accessory.
• For SLT teachers who don’t like dressing up, claim to be The Demon Headmaster or Miss Trunchbull.

World Book Day Resources For Parents

Here are some cheap, cheerful & slightly bonkers ideas

Create object-inspired costumes

• Raid the recycling bin and let your kid become a literal page from their favourite book.
• A Giant Peach from James and the Giant Peach: Blow up orange balloons safety-pinned to a T-shirt, and add green felt leaves.
• The Box from Not a Box by Antoinette Portis: Literally a box. Let your child draw their own “not-a-box” rocket/car/robot.
• Charlotte’s Web: Dress in all black, glue cotton-ball spiders to a hat, and dangle a “SOME PIG” sign.

Think up quirky character outfits

• The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland: Pink leggings, a tail, and a painted-on grin.
• The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch: A brown-paper-bag dress + tinfoil crown.
• A Highway Rat Bandit by Julia Donaldson: Grey hoodie, toy sword, and a loot bag of plastic cupcakes.
• And for the child (more likely parent) who forgets and turns up in school uniform, claim to be Peter Hatcher from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Onyeka, from Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, Harvey Small from Small! by Hannah Moffatt, Elizabeth Allen from The Naughtiest Girl in the School or Bradley from There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom.

Quick Bookish Activities at Home

• Michael Rosen’s “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”: Act out the story with cushions (swishy grass), a fan (snowstorm), and a teddy bear finale.
• DIY Book Tokens: Cut-out paper “tokens” kids can exchange for 10 minutes of extra bedtime reading.

Beyond Fancy Dress

Use World Book Day to showcase picture book gems as well as modern children’s literature classics:

• Ages 4–7: Oi Frog! by Kes Gray, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, or The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt.
• Ages 7–11: The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood, or Varjak Paw by S.F. Said.
• Run book-tasting sessions for each year group using the newest titles in your school library.

Try these low-key activities:

• Book Cover Redesign: Use old cereal boxes to create new covers.
• Story Jar: Write book titles on lolly sticks; kids pick one for bedtime.

World Book Day isn’t a competition – it’s a celebration. Whether your kid arrives dressed as Hermione Granger or a literal clock, what matters is that flicker of excitement when they say, “This story? It’s my favourite.” Now go forth, raid that craft drawer, and may the bookish odds be ever in your favour!