With World Book Day fast approaching, are you looking for ideas for costumes? If your child (or you!) aren’t feeling costume inspiration from your book collection this year, don’t worry. There are loads of familiar characters on children’s TV that started off in print, like the Octonauts and all the Julia Donaldson animations.
So there’s lots of choice, even if your child knows a character from watching them, as well as reading about them. Read on for our top 17 picks.
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1. Paddington
Paddington is such a popular character with children of all ages and it’s really easy to get the Paddington look. Just grab a blue coat, red wellies and a red hat and you’re good to go. Accessorise with a suitcase and/or luggage label if you like.
2. Sophie from The Tiger Who Came For Tea
Have you read the book or seen the lovely animation which came out a few years ago? For Sophie, you will need some patterned leggings or tights, a pinafore dress and a long sleeved top underneath, with black or brown shoes.
3. Stick Man Or Stick Lady
So many Julia Donaldson books have been animated now that your child may be familiar with them from the books, the TV, or both. For Stick Man or Stick Lady, wear a brown or black top and leggings or trousers as a base layer. You can add facial features for most World Book Day characters by adding them as part of a hat or hair band. So make a cardboard tube for a hat (roll a piece of brown paper, sellotape it and attach elastic or string if you need) and add a mouth and eyes using a marker pen.
4. Kwazi From Octonauts
Who knew that Octonauts was based on a series of children’s books by Meomi Design? For cat-pirate Kwazi, dress your little one in a cat mask/eyepatch and orange or blue clothing. Accessorise with a toy telescope. See here for more Kwazi inspiration.
5. Dashi From Octonauts
Dashi is the photographer character from Octonauts. To make a Dashi costume, use a dog eye mask or dog’s face mounted on a headband. Add one or two hairclips like the ones Dashi wears to keep your little one’s hair off their faces. A brown or blue top and pink skirt or shorts will complete this costume. Accessorise with a toy camera if you have one.
6. JoJo From JoJo & Gran Gran
Did you know that JoJo & Gran Gran was the first cartoon series with a Black British family as its main characters? Based on a book by Laura Henry-Allain, get the JoJo look with two bunches and colourful hair bands. JoJo’s clothes are what any three to four-year-old would wear. Bright leggings, top and a cardigan are all you need.
7. The Highway Rat
Another Julia Donaldson favourite. Voiced by David Tennant in the animated version, go full-on Highway Rat robber with a black eye mask, cape and cowboy hat. There are other animal characters you can improvise such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the Gruffalo and Superworm. For Superworm, use a woolly bobble hat.
8. Harry From Harry And His Bucket Full Of Dinosaurs
Harry is a small boy who goes on adventures with his toy dinosaurs (who become life size when they enter the magical world of his imagination) .For this costume you will need…(yes, you’ve guessed it!) a bucket and six or seven toy dinosaurs. For Harry, wear blue joggers or jeans and a checked shirt or red top.
9. Love Monster – World Book Day Costumes
Go red and loud with a red onesie, red hoodie or fleecy/towelling poncho to create the Love Monster look. Add a mask for the eyes or you can use a hat with the eyes and facial features drawn on.
10. The Room On the Broom Witch
For the Room On The Broom witch, you just need a black witch hat and tutu. There are many witch characters in children’s books such as Meg the Witch, Hermione and the The Worst Witch. You can also go for a wizard like Dumbledore or Harry Potter. Check out our last-minute Halloween costume ideas for more.
11. Little Miss Whoops From Mr Men And Little Miss
Go for a blue top and trousers. Then grab a roll of toilet paper and wrap it around your little one for the bandages Little Miss Whoops wears. And voilà! You can do the same for Mr Bump. This is a simple and easy last-minute costume – check out our blog post for more last-minute ideas.
12. Peter Rabbit
Start by making some rabbit ears for Peter Rabbit. It’s simple to do this by cutting out ear-shaped pieces of cardboard, felt or fabric and attaching them to a headband. Then add a blue top, jacket or jumper. Carry a carrot to make this one feel authentic!
13. The Boy From The Snowman
Here’s another one where your little one can wear their pyjamas, a dressing gown and slippers. The boy in The Snowman has so many adventures just wearing his nightclothes and your toddler can too!
14. The Whale From Snail And The Whale
This one’s easy. Just grab a blue top or t-shirt and dark leggings for the base layer. You can make a whale ‘hat’ by making a blue crown of paper and attaching a circle of blue card with the whale’s eyes and mouth drawn on. You can add a cardboard tail as well. Also look here for some snail inspiration.
15. Maid Marian Or Robin Hood
Wear a long dress in purple or pink for Maid Marian in the animated Disney version, or green dress/robes/cape for the everyday living-in-the forest look. Add boots and a hairband or cap if you have one. You can create a similar costume for Robin Hood.
16. Captain Hook
Dig out those Pirate eyepatches, hats and outfits for one of the most famous pirates of all! The beauty of this outfit is that it can be a cross-over with Kwazi from Octonauts.
17. Jasmine from Aladdin
Jasmine from Aladdin originally appeared in Arabian Nights and is a really popular costume choice with lots of children. A green sparkly top plus trousers or dress and a tiara, hairband or crown is all you need. Go homemade with the tiara if you want to.
Can you wear Elsa for World Book Day?
Some people say Elsa from Frozen isn’t technically a World Book Day character as she is a film rather than a print character, but you will find plenty of parents who do send their children in Elsa, Anna, Olaf or Sven costumes. After all, Frozen is a children’s story which follows the conventions of fairy tales, so it’s easy to see why it’s so popular with both parents and little ones. If your school or nursery is particular about costumes, it’s best to check with them first. You could always go for a generic ‘fairy tale princess’ costume if needed.
Can You Wear PJs For World Book Day?
Yes – there are loads of characters who wear pyjamas in children’s books and films. Take any Jill Murphy book such as the elephants in Five Minutes Peace and All in One Piece or the bears in Whatever Next, One of Those Days and Peace at Last. They spend a lot of time in bed!
What Other Popular Characters From Children’s TV Could I Use For World Book Day Costumes?
- Bing Bunny, Sula, Coco or Flop from Bing Bunny – based on the series by Ted Dewan
- Thomas, Gordon, James or Toby from Thomas The Tank Engine – based on the series by the Rev. W. Awdry. Learn how to make a train or car out of a cardboard box if you want to add more than a mask or hat.
- The Jolly Postman – from the illustrated books by Allan and Janet Ahlberg
- Postman Pan, Jess, Mrs Goggins, Lucy Selby, Ted Glen from Postman Pat – based on the books by John Cunliffe
- Fireman Sam – from the books written by Rob Lee
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