12 easy World Book Day costumes
World Book Day 2024 is on 7 March. We've put together some easy costume ideas to help you turn your child into their favourite book character for the day.
World Book Day is all about celebrating the joy of books, sharing a story together, and for millions of children, it’s the chance to spend the day dressed as a character from their favourite book.
We’ve put together some easy costume ideas with simple instructions and absolutely no sewing required. Read on to find out how to make costumes for the mouse from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo, characters from the Peanut Jones books by Rob Biddulph, and Mango and Brash from our World Book Day book, InvestiGators: High-Rise Hijinks by John Patrick Green.
Dress up as Mango or Brash from The InvestiGators
InvestiGators: High-Rise Hijinks
World Book Day 2024 selection
In a special, never before seen adventure especially for World Book Day, a mysterious figure has robbed the bank – but it’s not just the money that’s gone missing, the whole building has disappeared! – and it’s up to secret agents Mango and Brash to go undercover and solve the mystery. Armed with super hi-tech spy technology, crack the case with Mango and Brash in InvestiGators: High-Rise Hijinks, a laugh-out-loud adventure.
Dress up as Tunde from The Boy With Wings by Lenny Henry
Make your own wings
The Boy With Wings: Attack of the Rampaging Robot
by Sir Lenny Henry
Tunde has awesome friends, embarrassing parents and loves football – sounds normal, right? Except Tunde is also a secret superhero with wings! But when a new kid starts at school and is better than him at everything, not even Tunde’s friends seem on his side. And to make matters worse there’s also an evil robot about, threatening to destroy the town. Find out whether the Boy With Wings can save the day before it’s too late!
Dress up as Peanut Jones, Rockwell Riley or Little-Bit Jones from the Peanut Jones books by Rob Biddulph
Choose from three Peanut Jones characters
Peanut Jones and the Twelve Portals
by Rob Biddulph
Some legends are born, some are drawn . . . This second title in the funny, exciting adventure series for boys and girls of 8 to 12 fizzes with magic, danger, friendship and art. Famous works of art are disappearing from all over the world, and Peanut Jones and her friends suspect it might have something to do with the magical world of Chroma and the wicked Mr White's plot to wipe out colour, art and creativity. It's time to head back to the Illustrated City and help the resistance fight back.
Dress up as Mouse from The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Dress up as Witch from Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Dress up as Ladybird from What the Ladybird Heard
by Julia Donaldson
1. Wear all black clothes.
2. Make some wings using black and red card.
3. For extra effect, you could use face paints to finish this costume off.
Dress up as Peter from The Detective Dog
by Julia Donaldson
Peter is just wearing his normal clothes, but to make it special you could take in a toy dog or with a piece of wire and a dog lead, make a pretend dog. Don’t forget an armful of your favourite books!
Dress up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
This is simple if you have the right dress – a simple white or blue outfit teamed with a headband would work perfectly.
Dress up as Broccoli Boy from The Astounding Broccoli Boy
by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Especially great if you love your greens! Wear a pair of jeans and white t-shirt and then simply use face paint to colour yourself green. You could complete the costume by carrying some broccoli!
Dress up as Moone Boy
by Chris O'Dowd
Find yourself a Moone Boy hat and then you can choose your favourite weekend outfit to wear. There are lots of activities available which might add some magic to your costume on the Moone Boy website.
Dress up as Goth Girl
Simply wear your black clothes and add a purple feather to your hair. A toy mouse you can hold in your hand would complete this costume.
Dress up as Andy or Terry from the 169-Storey Treehouse
by Andy Griffiths
There are so many floors in Andy and Terry’s Treehouse that you can make loads of exciting costumes! Wear your favourite outfit, and then bring along something from your favourite level of their Treehouse.
Props could include:
- Something from the secret underground laboratory.
- A man-eating shark.
- Marshmallows from the marshmallow machine.
- A baby dinosaur from the baby dinosaur petting zoo.