World Book Day 2024: The Ultimate Costume Guide

World Book Day 2024: The Ultimate Costume Guide

Get ready for an exciting World Book Day on Thursday, 7th March 2024! Originating in 1995, this tradition has inspired children in the UK to dress up as their favourite characters from literature.

Ready-Made Costume Ideas

Here are some characters you can find online to buy:

  • The Gruffalo
  • The Cat in the Hat
  • Thing One/Thing Two
  • Animals: Tiger (Who Came to Tea, Tigger, Shere Khan)
  • Frodo Baggins
  • Pirates (Long John Silver, Molly Rogers, Captain Pugwash)
  • Mary Poppins
  • Fairy Tale Icons (Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood)

Photo credit: daynurseries.co.uk

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Costume Ideas

Classic Characters

Willy Wonka

Items Needed:

  • Top hat
  • Long purple or red coat
  • Waistcoat
  • Large bow tie
  • Cane

Dennis (The Boy in the Dress)

Items Needed:

  • One dress
  • Football socks and boots

Harry Potter

Items Needed:

  • Black robe
  • Round glasses
  • Lightning scar (red face paint)
  • Wand

Modern Heroes

Isadora Moon

Items Needed:

  • Pink collared dress
  • Black and white stripy tights
  • Bat wings
  • Fairy wand
  • Fangs

Eddie and Charlie

Items Needed:

  • Red cape, cardboard saucepan hat, and wooden spoon
    • OR -Aviator hat and goggles, teddy bear rucksack

Captain Pugwash

Items Needed:

  • Pirate hat and coat
  • Red and black striped top
  • Dainty beard and moustache

Villains

The Queen of Hearts

Items Needed:

  • Red, white, black and yellow clothes
  • Red hearts

Dolores Umbridge

Items Needed:

  • Twee pink clothes
  • A hair bow

Bill Sikes

Items Needed:

  • Shabby, Victorian clothing
  • Handkerchief around the neck
  • Stick
  • Toy dog (bull terrier, ideally)

Burt

Items Needed:

  • Red and white stripy top
  • Shaggy black wig
  • Sunglasses
  • Stubble

So, there you have it—an exhaustive list of both ready-made and DIY costumes for World Book Day 2024. Whether you’re going for the classics or leaning towards modern-day heroes and villains, there’s a literary character for everyone to emulate. 

Happy World Book Day! 📚🎭

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