World Book Day this year is on Thursday 7 March 2024, which is just around the corner! If you're trying to find a way to encourage your kids to get involved and to get reading, there's nothing better than getting dressed up as your favourite book characters.
- 100+ easy and cheap World Book Day costumes for kids
- Fun adult costumes for WBD
- More inspired World Book Day ideas
DIY World Book Day costumes and outfits for teachers and kids
Wearing a costume from your kids' favourite books is a fantastic method for parents and teachers alike to draw them into their imaginations. Or you could dress up as someone from a book they haven't read yet, as a way to introduce them to something new.
So have a browse through our picks of the 20 easiest and best World Book Day costumes for adults, and see which one matches up with what you have in your wardrobe!
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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Got a green shirt, green jeans, a red beanie, and black flats? Bosh. You have an easy Very Hungry Caterpillar costume!
At least you'll have the perfect excuse to spend the day comfort-eating.
Image thanks to Becky Bedbug.
2. The Rainbow Fish
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You just need to find a blue top and blue skirt, then glue-gun some semi-circles made of felt or cardboard into a scale pattern, and you'll look like the titular Rainbow Fish.
To really tie it together, you could get out the face paint or makeup and extend the scale pattern onto your face.
Image thanks to @learningtobloomclassroom on Instagram.
3. Harry Potter
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This is a simple costume, and it gets even better the more you can add to it. It's also a fun way for teachers to turn the tables on their students!
For the basics, you just need some round black-framed glasses, some eyeliner for the scar, a white shirt (ideally with a red and yellow tie), and some black trousers.
Need a wand? Grab a handy stick! If you've got a red or grey jumper, or a black cloak left over from another costume, then you've got an even better outfit.
Remove the scar, add pigtails and wet hair, and you've also got the basis for Moaning Myrtle.
Image thanks to CoolestParties on Pinterest.
4. Burglar Bill
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This costume from Burglar Bill is perfect for World Book Day, and is really simple to get right.
All you need is a black and white striped top, a grey flat cap, and a black eye mask (here's a template from Book Aid International to make it even easier!).
If you've got something to use as a swag bag, brown trousers, and a toy stuffed cat, it'll be a perfect match.
Image thanks to pantry81 on Instagram.
5. Where's Wally?
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Another genius and yet simple costume for World Book Day, dressing up as Wally or Wenda from the Where's Wally? books is an easy win.
To make this costume work you'll need a red and white striped top, blue jeans for guys (girls can go for jeans too, or a blue skirt with stripey tights to match the top), a red bobble hat (with white stripes if it's findable), and big round glasses.
Image thanks to @emmagarnet87 on Twitter.
6. Miss Trunchbull
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Everyone loves to hate Miss Trunchbull from Matilda, and it's a pretty easy adult costume to replicate for World Book Day. Perfect for teachers and parents who get told they're too strict!
A dark blazer and skirt, a white shirt with a red tie, a thick belt (ideally leather), and some eyeliner for the monobrow, then scrape your hair into a high pony and you're ready to terrify some kids! Extra points for finding a few cheap medals to hang around your neck.
Image thanks to Money Savvy Teacher on Pinterest.
7. Dennis the Menace
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If you're a fan of the classic old-school Beano bad boy Dennis, then this is the perfect costume to bring out this World Book Day.
For this costume, you'll need a red and black striped shirt or jumper, black knee-length shorts, red socks, and big black boots.
Also works for Minnie the Minx: just put your hair in pigtails and add a black beret (with a red bobble on top if you can manage it).
Image thanks to Becky Bedbug.
8. Room on the Broom
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A simple witches' costume from Room on the Broom that can pull double duty (with a few minor tweaks) as a costume for The Worst Witch or even a teacher from Harry Potter.
You'll need a witch's hat, a red top, a black cardigan (or cape if you have one), a purple skirt, and black shoes. And, of course, a broom!
Image thanks to Money Savvy Teacher.
9. The BFG
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If you know your snozzcumbers from your whizz-pops, then you'll love this simple Big Friendly Giant costume.
A brown waistcoat, white shirt, green trousers, and sandals make up the outfit, while you can make a set of big ears using paper plates coloured in with paint or marker, and glued/stapled to a headband.
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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Combine a white shirt, black shorts, a black backpack if you have one, and this free printable Greg Heffley mask, and you've got a quick, easy, and recognisable costume.
11. The Cat in the Hat
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A black top and jeans, white gloves and shoes, a red scarf, and a red and white hat made out of card. That's all you need to put together this iconic outfit from Dr Seuss' The Cat in the Hat.
Image thanks to @maskerix on Pinterest.
12. Pippi Longstocking
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The hair is the most important thing to get right for this classic children's character. While two plaits (and some red hair dye) will work fine, if you can braid pipe cleaners in to get them to stand out it'll look perfect. Or, you could try Amazon for a wig if you have the spare cash.
Combine it with a blue overall dress, a red shirt, long socks (at least one of them stripey - mismatched works fine!) and some low boots. Don't forget the freckles!
Image thanks to Parties Costume.
13. Alice in Wonderland
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Another children's classic with a fairly simple outfit, perfect for an adult World Book Day costume.
Wear a blue dress, a black hairband, white socks and black pumps. Even better if you can find a white apron.
To make it perfect, find a small glass bottle with a stopper, fill it up with a colourful drink, and attach a 'drink me' label.
Image thanks to Becky Bedbug.
14. Ms Frizzle
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Everyone's favourite kooky teacher makes for the ideal easy costume. If you happen to be a redheaded science teacher, we're pretty sure you're legally required to do this costume at least once in your life. Male or female. Weird, we know, but hey, we don't make up the rules!
You can make your own dress by cutting out the shapes from felt and attaching them to a blue dress, or you can find a similar science-themed blue dress from a shop. A frizzy red wig, a thin purple or pink belt, and a lizard plushie, and you're golden!
Image thanks to @embutch on Pinterest.
15. Oompa Loompa
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This one is great if you can make it a group outfit. Dress up the whole family, or if you're a teacher, get the head to dress up as Willy Wonka and the rest of the faculty as his minions. Art imitating life!
You'll need: a white skirt or shorts, a brown shirt (turtle neck is ideal), white suspenders, white gloves, black and white striped socks, and a green wig. You can use white surgical tape to make the lines on the collars and cuffs, as well as turning black socks into stripey ones. Oh, and don't forget the orange face paint.
Image thanks to @popsugar on Pinterest.
16. Funny Bones
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Another great group costume, though of course it will work just fine solo too. You'll just have to find a black top, black trousers, some white card, safety pins and this free printable Funny Bones mask from Penguin.
This is another fun pick for teachers, as your kids are sure to get a laugh out of your new spooky, goofy look!
Image thanks to @ForestWaySchool on Twitter.
17. Max
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If you want to look like Max, hero of Where the Wild Things Are, it's pretty easy to pull off.
You need: a white hoodie and pyjama bottoms (or a hooded white onesie), a crown made of gold card, black pipe cleaners for whiskers, and white gloves with black card claws stuck on the fingers.
Image thanks to @michellec7383 on Pinterest.
18. Tinker Bell
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Put your hair up in a high bun, and find a strapless green dress, fairy wings, and green flats (even better if you can stick a white pom pom on them).
If you're not blonde and don't have a wig that works, then just say you're Tink's sister! If they don't believe you, then get weaker and weaker until they start clapping.
Image thanks to @zaritapurple on Pinterest.
19. Thing 1 and Thing 2
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Perfect for parents who want to dress up together for World Book Day, Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat make for an adorable group costume. Even better if you dress your kids up in smaller versions too!
You'll need: Red shirt and trousers (or a red onesie), red gloves, and blue wigs (or hair dye). Plus you'll need some white card, a black marker, and safety pins or glue to attach it.
Image thanks to Woman's Day.
20. Tin Tin
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Hair gel is your best friend if you're wanting to look like Tin Tin this World Book Day. That, and an aquamarine jumper, white shirt, and red trousers tucked into white socks. Bonus points for a white toy dog.
Not necessarily a part of every man's wardrobe, sure, but once you've used them, you might be able to recycle them as an Ace Ventura costume.
Image thanks to @lookbookdotnu on Pinterest.
What's the easiest book character to dress up as?
When you're in a pinch and need an easy costume for World Book Day, don't panic! Sifting through your closet can be surprisingly effective. One of the simplest get-ups comes from grabbing a striped shirt and a red t-shirt - voilà, you're Wally from 'Where's Wally.' Chances are, the kids will get a kick out of searching for you all day! Remember, the perfect costume can sometimes be the easiest one. Throw on a pair of glasses for full effect, and you'll be ready for schools to celebrate the joy of books, without the stress!
What to wear if you don't have a costume for World Book Day?
No costume? No worries! World Book Day costumes can be as straightforward as pulling out a blue dress and suddenly you're Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland.' Or snagging a black dress and claiming your place as Wednesday from 'The Addams Family.' It's all about getting creative with what you've got. For the gents, why not a white T-shirt, some jeans, and you're Holden Caulfield, the main character from 'The Catcher in the Rye'? These simple ideas make dressing up for the day fun without the fuss, leaving more time for you and the kids to dive into your favourite stories!
What can adults wear for World Book Day?
As an adult, joining the kids for World Book Day is a blast, and your costume doesn't have to be elaborate to be effective. A fan of Harry Potter? Put together an easy costume with a robe or even a makeshift cape paired with a wand. If you're feeling playful, channel your inner Cat in the Hat with a top hat and a bow. Get creative with accessories and basics from your regular wardrobe – a beanie and round glasses can quickly transform you into Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. World Book Day costumes can be as simple or as detailed as you like - the important thing is to have fun with it and demonstrate to the kids just how magical books can be!
For more brilliantly easy World Book Day costumes, take a look at the articles below. If you've got some clever tips to share with other parents, head on over to our Forum!
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