Book Week rarely needs a sewing machine or a boxed character set. Almost every look below starts in your child's own wardrobe and gets its character from one or two homemade pieces: a felt label, a card hat, a prop they can carry. I've kept the list to costumes a child can sit through a full school day in, because the best costume in the parade is useless if it's in their bag by morning break. Let your child choose the book and do some of the decorating. They wear what they helped make with far less fuss, and that matters even if you're putting it together the night before.
A Dress Rehearsal the Night Before Book Week
Most Book Week costume trouble shows up within the first hour of school, so I always do a short trial at home the evening before. Get your child fully dressed, then ask them to sit cross-legged on the floor, climb the stairs, go to the toilet on their own and put a coat on over the top. Anything that fails one of those tests needs changing before the morning.
- Hats and headpieces: have them shake their head and bend down. If it slides, add a strip of elastic under the hair at the back or sew a hair clip inside.
- Card pieces: check they clear the shoulders and the knees. Card that sits wider than the body catches in doorways and on chair backs.
- Capes: use Velcro or a big press stud at the neck so the cape pulls away if it's grabbed. A tied ribbon can tighten.
- Face paint: patch-test a dot on the inner arm the night before. Most children's paints are fine, but a red patch in the morning is better than a rash at school.
- Shoes: they need to wear their usual school shoes or trainers unless the costume shoes are ones they already run around in.
Put the costume, the prop and the book in one bag by the door. Mornings with a child who suddenly wants to be someone else are much shorter when everything is already packed.
1. Where’s Waldo Costume
Waldo is my first suggestion for a late start, because the red and white stripes do the recognising for you. A striped long-sleeve top, blue jeans, a red and white bobble hat and round black glasses cover it; red or plain white trainers are fine. Skip the brown wig unless your child has very light hair, since a hat over their own hair reads the same. A painted cardboard tube makes the walking stick and a paper camera on a ribbon adds a second prop. Hand them a copy of the book and nobody in the hall has to guess.
2. Matilda Costume
Matilda is mostly a blue dress or a blue skirt with a matching top, with a white cardigan over it on a cold day. White socks and black Mary Janes keep it in line with the illustrations, and a red ribbon or headband holds the hair back. The part that sells the character is the stack of books. Tie three slim paperbacks together with ribbon, not hardbacks; a child carries that stack all day and heavy books come home on a parent. A little paper library card in the pocket is a nice touch for older readers.
3. Harry Potter Costume
Harry Potter is basically school uniform, which is why I suggest it so often. A white shirt, black trousers, a grey jumper and black lace-ups form the base, and the robe can be an oversized black cardigan or a borrowed graduation gown. Make the red and gold tie from ribbon stitched or glued onto an old tie so it doesn't flop. Round glasses and slightly messy hair do more than anything else. Draw the lightning mark with brown eyeliner, not black, because it softens and smudges less across a forehead by lunchtime. A brown-paper spellbook and a printed house badge pinned to the jumper avoid the wand-sword-fight problem entirely.
4. Hermione Granger Costume
Hermione is the comfortable choice for a child who wants magic without a cape. White collared shirt, grey jumper, a dark pleated skirt or trousers, knee socks and black school shoes are all it takes, with a striped red and gold ribbon tie. An open black cardigan stands in for the robe. Brush the hair out for volume; plaited overnight and brushed in the morning gives that bushy wave without heat. A thick book labelled “Spells” and a few rolled parchment pages are props that can't break, which I'd choose over a wand for younger children.
5. Cat in the Hat Costume
Those red and white stripes read from the far end of a school hall, so the Cat in the Hat is worth the effort of the hat. Black long sleeves and black leggings make the base. A felt bow tie and a white oval belly panel stuck on with removable fabric tape keep the top usable afterwards. For the hat, wrap red and white paper strips around a poster-board tube and tape a ring of card inside the brim so it sits on the head instead of resting on the ears. Draw three whiskers each side with washable paint, add a tail made from stuffed black tights, and carry the book.
6. Thing 1 Costume
Thing 1 suits a child who wants a sibling or best friend to match, though it stands alone too. Red T-shirt, red joggers or leggings and red trainers are the base, with a white felt circle reading “Thing 1”. Felt circles stuck on with fabric glue tend to peel off a polyester sports top, so I safety-pin them from the inside instead. The blue hair can be a cheap wig, a temporary colour spray or blue tissue strips on a headband; tissue is the gentlest choice for children who hate things on their heads. Pink cheeks and blue gloves finish it, and if two of them are dressing up, the second shirt says “Thing 2”. A copy of The Cat in the Hat links it to the story.
7. Very Hungry Caterpillar Costume
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is green clothing doing almost all the work: a green T-shirt with green leggings, track pants or jeans. Overlap light and dark green felt circles down the front for the body segments. I tack these on with a few big stitches rather than glue, because they curl at the edges once a child has leant on a desk all morning. The red hood or headband takes purple felt antennae and yellow eyes with green centres. Green paper shoe covers look good in a photo but tear in a playground, so plain school shoes are fine. Cardboard fruit with punched “bite” holes, or a small basket of them, is the prop.
8. Alice in Wonderland Costume
Alice comes together quickly from a knee-length blue dress and a white apron, either a ready-made one or a rectangle of fabric tied at the waist. White tights, black Mary Janes and a black ribbon headband are the details people look for. Long hair can stay straight or loosely waved, and a yellow yarn wig helps if your child's hair is dark and they want the storybook version. A card key, a paper teacup or a hand-drawn deck of playing cards gives them something to hold. I'd avoid a real china cup in a school bag for obvious reasons.
9. Mad Hatter Costume
The Mad Hatter is the costume that forgives everything, so raid the dressing-up box. Patterned trousers, a bright shirt and an oversized blazer start it, with a loud bow tie and striped socks. The card hat is the centrepiece: cover it in green or purple paper and tuck a handwritten price card into the band. Tall card hats tip backwards, so I glue a strip of elastic inside to go under the hair at the back. Fluffed hair or an orange yarn wig, a bit of coloured eye shadow, a plastic teacup and a cardboard pocket watch cover the rest. Clashing prints are the point, but every piece should still let them sit cross-legged on the carpet.
10. Little Red Riding Hood Costume
Little Red Riding Hood relies on one thing: the red hooded cape. Under it, a white blouse with a navy or black skirt works, as does a gingham dress. Fleece makes the easiest cape because it doesn't fray, so you can cut it straight from a blanket and leave the edges raw. Fasten it at the front with a big press stud or Velcro rather than a tied knot, which can tighten if another child tugs it. White socks, flats or ankle boots, and two plaits finish the look. Keep the wicker basket light, with a folded cloth and paper snacks, because a full basket gets set down and forgotten.
11. Goldilocks Costume
Goldilocks is a lovely pick for younger children because nothing about it is scary or bulky. A pale yellow or floral dress, or a white blouse with a yellow skirt, plus a white apron, ankle socks and brown Mary Janes is the outfit. Curls can come from plaits or rag rollers overnight; a golden yarn wig on a soft headband is the alternative if their hair won't hold a curl. A blue ribbon keeps it out of their face at lunch. A wooden spoon and an empty bowl point to the porridge, and three card bear faces in graded sizes tell the story at a glance.
12. Peter Pan Costume
Peter Pan is good for an energetic child because nothing hangs off it. A long green T-shirt or tunic goes over green leggings, brown trousers or thick tights. Cut a zigzag edge into a separate strip of green felt and pin it around the shirt hem, so the shirt itself goes back in the drawer undamaged. Add a slim brown belt and soft ankle boots. The pointed hat can be felt or folded card with a red paper feather; felt survives being sat on, card doesn't. A paper map labelled “Neverland” makes a safe prop, and I leave the toy dagger at home for school.
13. Paddington Bear Costume
Paddington is mostly winter clothes, which is handy if Book Week falls on a cold morning. A blue duffle coat or raincoat over brown trousers and a plain shirt is the base, with a floppy red hat and red wellies, brown boots or trainers. Small bear ears on a headband can sit just under the hat brim. A brown nose and a couple of whisker lines in washable face paint are enough. Tie the cardboard luggage label loosely to the toggle with soft ribbon, never tight around the neck. A small suitcase or decorated lunch box finishes it, and because the coat comes off, your child won't overheat the way they would in a furry bear suit.
14. Winnie The Pooh Costume
Winnie the Pooh is my go-to for little ones who refuse capes, masks or wigs. It's a yellow long-sleeve top with yellow leggings or joggers and a cropped red T-shirt over the top, cut loose so it doesn't ride up when they reach. Yellow trainers are a bonus, though ordinary school shoes are fine. Round bear ears go on a yellow headband. Paint a small black nose and soft eyebrows with face paint, and patch-test it on the inner arm the evening before if your child has sensitive skin. An empty tub labelled “Honey” in big handmade letters is the only prop needed.
15. Fancy Nancy Costume
Fancy Nancy is the one costume where more really is more. A bright party dress, or a patterned top with a layered tutu and coloured leggings, is the base. Pick shoes they can run in; sparkly trainers beat dress-up heels on a school day. Pile on bows, clips and a toy tiara. A feather boa sheds everywhere, so it's for the parade and then into a bag. For makeup, I use glitter-free shimmer and pink lip balm because loose glitter ends up on every classmate and the classroom carpet for a week. Oversized sunglasses, plastic bead necklaces and a little bag with a paper fan finish her, with nothing sharp in the jewellery.
16. Olivia The Pig Costume
Olivia's wardrobe is simple: a red dress, or a red pinafore over a white T-shirt, or a red skirt with a red and white striped top. White tights and black flats or school shoes go underneath. Two pink felt pig ears glued to a headband are the main homemade part, and a pink pipe cleaner curled into a tail clips on at the back. Bend the pipe cleaner ends over so the wire doesn't poke through. A pink dot on the tip of the nose with rosy cheeks is all the makeup she needs. A small book, a paper paint palette or a card theatre ticket nods to her busy imagination.
17. Pippi Longstocking Costume
Pippi is a chance to use up odd socks, because mismatched is the whole idea. A patterned dress or big T-shirt over a contrasting long-sleeve top, odd striped knee socks, shorts or leggings, and odd trainers or boots make the outfit. The sticking-out plaits are the hard part. I wrap each braid around soft craft wire, then fold the wire ends back on themselves and cover them with a hair elastic so nothing sharp sits near the face. Orange temporary spray or an orange yarn wig helps, washable freckles go across the nose, and a toy monkey or a card suitcase is the prop.
18. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Costume
A Diary of a Wimpy Kid costume proves simple can still be obvious. Greg Heffley wears a plain white T-shirt, black shorts, white socks and black trainers, with a black backpack. The headpiece is Greg's round cartoon face drawn on white poster board with his three strands of hair. Cut a face opening and fix the board to a wide headband, because a child won't hold a sign up all day. Check the board's edge against their shoulders; if it's wider, it catches in doorways. Skip makeup so the drawing does the job, and add a white diary with a black border and a stick figure on the cover.
19. Dog Man Costume
Dog Man mixes a police outfit with homemade dog bits: a blue button-down shirt, navy trousers and black trainers or boots. Add a yellow paper badge and a blue cap made from felt or card. The floppy brown felt ears attach to the cap sides; felt hangs nicely, while card ears stick straight out and look stiff. A black dog nose and a few dots by the mouth in washable paint, plus a short fabric tail clipped to the waistband, finish him. I'd swap any toy police kit for a handmade comic or a card speech bubble, which suits the books better anyway.
20. Captain Underpants Costume
Captain Underpants gets laughs, and it can stay school appropriate if everything goes over a full base layer. A fitted beige or light tan long-sleeve top with matching leggings or trousers comes first. Oversized white shorts go over the bottoms, loose enough to fully cover the base. The red cape needs a breakaway fastener, like Velcro, at the neck so it pulls free instead of choking if it's grabbed. Red socks and red trainers tie the colours together. A bald cap only if it fits snugly; otherwise slick the hair back and draw on eyebrows. A handmade comic or a card sign with his initials is the prop.
21. Mr. Bump Costume
Mr. Bump is all blue with white bandage strips. A royal blue sweatshirt with matching joggers or leggings is the base, and blue trainers are optional. Cut long strips of white felt and attach them diagonally across the top, trousers and a headband. Don't wrap real bandages around a child's arms or legs; they tighten as the child moves and loosen just as fast. A blue beanie or a round card headpiece covers the hair. Black face paint for curved eyebrows and a smile, plus the book or a blue card circle with his face, gives classmates the joke.
22. Little Miss Sunshine Costume
Little Miss Sunshine is bright yellow from top to bottom: a yellow long-sleeve shirt with a matching skirt, leggings or trousers, and yellow socks. Shoes can be yellow, white or black. Her round body is two big yellow poster-board circles joined at the shoulders with ribbon. Leave the ribbons long enough that the circles hang above the knee, otherwise your child can't climb stairs or sit on a chair. Draw her face on the front and short black arms on the sides. A yellow wig works, or style real hair into two high pigtails with a red bow, keep the makeup to rosy cheeks, and carry the book.
23. The Day The Crayons Quit Costume
Choose one crayon colour and go head to toe in it for The Day the Crayons Quit. A plain shirt, trousers or leggings, socks and trainers all in that colour make the base. A black paper band at the collar and another at the waist copy the crayon wrapper. Roll matching poster board into a cone for the pointed tip and draw a black wavy line near its edge. Pin a big vertical label with the colour name to the shirt, and carry an oversized paper letter explaining why that crayon quit. It's the easiest costume on this list for a group of friends or a whole teaching team, since each person just picks a different colour.
24. Paper Bag Princess Costume
A real paper bag tears within an hour, so I make the Paper Bag Princess from fabric or kraft paper over normal clothes. A tan T-shirt dress, a big brown tunic, or a kraft-paper panel fixed to a soft brown shirt works for the base. Tan leggings go underneath with brown flats, boots or trainers. Roughen the panel edges a little for the storybook shape without tearing big holes. Messy ponytail or loose waves, a light smudge of grey face paint on one cheek, and a gold paper crown carried in hand finish it. A card speech bubble with a brave, clever message gives the story's point.
25. Max Wild Thing Costume
Max from Where the Wild Things Are starts with a white hooded pyjama set, tracksuit or sweatshirt with matching trousers. Grey felt ears and a yellow paper crown go on the hood, with big white buttons down the front and a soft grey tail at the back. If you're tempted by slippers, check for non-slip soles; school corridors are polished and plain slippers skid. Hair tucked into the hood and small black whisker dots on the cheeks keep it simple. A card cut-out of a leafy forest plant or a light paper boat is the prop, and no animal suit is needed.
26. The Gruffalo Costume
The Gruffalo can frighten small classmates if you go full monster, so I keep it friendly. A brown sweatshirt with brown leggings or joggers, brown boots or trainers, and a soft fabric tail at the waistband make the base. Rounded felt ears and two short white felt horns go on a brown hood or headband; felt horns stay floppy-safe where card ones would poke. Purple felt triangles make the prickles down the back, and green and orange circles add his features. Paint a brown nose and friendly eyebrows, add purple gloves, and give them a plush mouse to carry.
27. The BFG Costume
The BFG is a secondhand-shop costume: oversized clothes are the point. A checked shirt under a worn brown or green waistcoat, loose cropped trousers and a wide soft fabric belt, then long socks and sturdy boots or school shoes. The big ears are peach felt on a headband. Stiffen them with a layer of iron-on interfacing so they stand out instead of drooping by mid-morning. Brush the hair back or tuck it under a cap, and add a little brown shading at the brows and cheeks. A clear plastic jar with paper stars labelled as a dream jar is the prop, plus an optional light card trumpet for the parade.
28. Mary Poppins Costume
Mary Poppins suits a child or a teacher equally, which is why staff often pick her. A neat white blouse and dark skirt, a fitted black cardigan or blazer, a red bow tie, black tights and low ankle boots or lace-ups make the outfit. The small black hat gets fake daisies and a red ribbon; a hair clip sewn inside keeps it from sliding off a bun. A tidy low bun, rosy cheeks and red-tinted balm are enough makeup. A closed black umbrella and a carpet-style tote finish it, with both light enough to carry. White gloves are for the parade and can come off in class.
29. Willy Wonka Costume
Willy Wonka needs bold colour more than an exact match. Black trousers and a white shirt go under a bright purple blazer, long cardigan or thrifted coat, with a patterned waistcoat and a big bow tie in gold, pink or green. Striped socks, black lace-ups and a tall brown or black top hat are the rest. A thrifted women's blazer often fits an older child better than a kids' one, and the slightly long sleeves suit the character. Natural hair under the hat or a short wavy wig, rosy cheeks and neat eyebrows finish him. Carry handmade golden tickets or an empty decorated sweet box, not real sweets, since many schools have food rules.
30. Sherlock Holmes Costume
Sherlock Holmes is the last one, and it's built from cold-weather clothes. Brown trousers, a white collared shirt, a knitted waistcoat and a long tweed-style coat make the base, with a checked scarf and brown boots. The deerstalker can be fabric or stiff paper; a fabric one survives being stuffed in a bag at playtime. Hair stays tucked under the cap, and a little eyebrow pencil is optional. A big plastic magnifying glass and a small notebook with a pencil give your child something to actually do all day. Leave pipes and realistic props at home. It works for any age, so it's a reliable last-minute pick for a parent or teacher too.
What Holds Felt and Card to School Clothes
Nearly every costume here needs something stuck to a T-shirt or jumper, and the fixing method decides whether it's still there at home time. I choose by the fabric and by whether you want the garment back afterwards.
Safety pins and tacking stitches
These are my default. Pin felt letters and circles from the inside of the shirt so the pin heads don't show and can't poke. A few big tacking stitches by hand take five minutes and pull out in seconds afterwards. Both hold on polyester sports tops, where fabric glue usually peels off by lunch.
Fabric glue and fabric tape
Glue is fine on cotton, but it needs a full night to cure, so it isn't a morning fix. Double-sided fabric tape grips well on smooth cotton and lifts off without marking. Hot glue is quick, but it lets go once a costume gets cold outside on a parade, and it stays stiff on the skin side.
Card hats and headpieces
Poster board softens and bends if it gets wet, so on a rainy day a fabric or felt version is more reliable. For any tall hat, glue a narrow card ring inside the brim to fit the head, then add elastic. Afterwards, flat felt pieces store well in a labelled envelope, and they'll often get used again for a younger sibling's Book Week.
The Book Goes in the Bag Too
What makes Book Week work is a costume your child recognises, can wear all day and helped make. Everything above relies on clothes you own, coloured card, felt and a light prop rather than a bought character set. The night before, check that hats stay put, shoes are fine for walking, and nothing made of card stops them sitting down. Label anything removable and send a small bag for whatever comes off during lessons. And send the book with them when you can, because that's what turns a costume into a conversation about reading.
Related posts:
