World Book Day asks a lot of a costume. A boy has to sit through lessons in it, eat lunch in it and run around the playground in it, and still look like someone from a book at the end of the day. The costumes I put together for boys almost always start with clothes he already owns, plus one prop that does the explaining: a golden ticket, a striped hat, a medicine bottle or the book itself. Below are thirty characters, from wizards and troublemakers to animals and explorers, with notes on what makes each one work for a school day.
What Most Schools Will and Won't Allow
Every school sets its own rules for book day, so I always read the letter home before I start cutting anything. The same few limits come up again and again, and planning around them saves a costume from being confiscated at the gate.
- Toy weapons are usually banned, even foam swords and plastic wands that look sharp. A wand made from a smooth craft stick is generally fine; a cardboard shield is safer than a sword.
- Full-face masks tend to come off within the hour. Teachers need to see faces, and boys get hot. A face on a stick, or a mask worn on the forehead, solves both problems.
- Face paint is allowed at some schools and not at others. A washable face crayon wipes off with a damp cloth if a teacher asks.
- Shoes still have to be safe for the playground, and many schools say no to rain boots or slippers for the full day. Pack school shoes in a bag if the costume needs something different.
- Anything he can't carry and play at the same time will be left in the classroom. Label it with his name, because three other boys will have the same golden ticket.
1. Harry Potter Costume With School Robe
Harry Potter is the easiest uniform conversion there is. A white shirt, dark trousers and a burgundy-and-gold striped tie do most of it, and an old graduation robe or an oversized black cardigan stands in for the school robe. I draw the lightning scar with a washable face crayon rather than liquid paint, because a crayon line survives a morning of forehead-rubbing better. Round glasses, a craft-stick wand with sanded ends and a paper house badge pinned to the robe make it Harry. A small plush owl is a nice extra, but it's the first thing to go missing at lunch.
2. Willy Wonka Costume With Purple Coat
The purple coat and tall hat carry Willy Wonka on their own. Under them, black trousers, a white shirt, a patterned waistcoat and a big bow tie are enough. If you don't have a purple coat, a purple dressing gown with the sleeves rolled and the belt removed passes surprisingly well. I make the top hat from black poster board with the seam at the back, and add a strip of foam inside the band so it doesn't slide over his eyes. A cardboard cane wrapped in metallic tape and a golden ticket in his pocket finish the character.
3. Charlie Bucket Costume With Golden Ticket
Charlie Bucket is the costume I suggest when it's the night before and nothing's ready. Plain dark trousers, a soft knitted sweater and a slightly big jacket in brown, grey or navy, with a white shirt underneath, look exactly right because Charlie's clothes are meant to be modest. The ticket is the whole costume, so make it properly: gold card, a handwritten invitation, and corners rounded with scissors so it doesn't poke anyone. A wrapped cardboard chocolate bar in his other hand makes the story obvious.
4. Greg Heffley Costume With Backpack
Greg Heffley suits boys who hate dressing up, because the clothes are just a white T-shirt, black shorts and white sneakers, with black leggings under the shorts on a cold day. The work goes into the face prop. Draw Greg's cartoon head on white poster board and mount it on a sturdy craft stick, so he can hold it up for photos and put it down in class. Masks with eye holes tend to get banned or abandoned by mid-morning. A black backpack and a homemade black-and-white diary finish it.
5. Horrid Henry Costume With Striped Shirt
Henry's bold colours do the talking here. Blue jeans, a royal-blue sweater with one wide yellow stripe and a red shirt collar peeking out at the neck give you the character. If you can't find the right sweater, a strip of yellow felt held on with removable fabric tape works, though I'd add a few stitches at each end so it doesn't peel during PE. A little water-based gel lifts his hair into a cheeky spike, and red-and-white sneakers add one more bright note. His notebook of plans, homemade, is the prop that gets the laugh.
6. Peter Pan Costume With Green Tunic
Peter Pan needs green and not much else. Green leggings or trousers, an oversized green T-shirt and a felt overlay with a zigzag hem give the tunic shape without cutting the shirt. A brown belt with a small fabric pouch adds a bit of adventure. I make the pointed hat from green felt, glue the red feather in at the back of the band and tack it with a stitch, because glued feathers tend to wiggle loose. Sturdy brown shoes and a rolled treasure map are all he needs on top.
7. Fantastic Mr Fox Costume With Waistcoat
Mr Fox is a smart little outfit in autumn colours. Rust trousers, a cream shirt and a mustard or checked waistcoat look tailored, and a brown blazer goes over the top in a cold classroom. Felt fox ears on a soft headband and a felt tail are the giveaways. I attach the tail to the belt loop with a snap rather than a safety pin, so it pulls free if someone yanks it instead of tearing the trousers. A washable orange cheek colour, a black nose and a few whiskers finish the face, and a tote bag of plush vegetables makes the story clear.
8. The Gruffalo Costume With Purple Prickles
A brown hoodie and brown joggers are the base, and the purple prickles go down the back as felt triangles on removable tape. The Gruffalo's orange eyes, knobbly knees and terrible tusks are easy to suggest: cardboard horns and soft ears on the hood, and a green wart drawn on the end of his nose with a face crayon. Keep the horns light, because heavy ones pull the hood off his head. Purple gloves stand in for paws without stopping him holding a pencil. A plush mouse is the only prop he needs, and it's the one classmates recognise first.
9. Where’s Wally Costume With Striped Top
Few book costumes come together as fast as Where's Wally. Dark jeans, a long-sleeved red-and-white striped top, a red-and-white bobble hat and round black glasses are the full list. If you only have a plain white top, wide red fabric tape gives you the stripes in ten minutes. Skip makeup; Wally's face is plain in the books. A walking stick made from a cardboard tube is fun, though I'd leave it home on a bus day. It feels almost like his normal clothes, which is why energetic boys tend to keep it on all day.
10. Paddington Bear Costume With Blue Coat
Paddington is all about the blue duffle coat and the red hat. Brown trousers and a red sweater sit underneath, and brown felt ears can go straight onto the bucket hat so there's no separate headband to lose. Keep the brim turned up at the front so he can see where he's walking. The label is the detail people read: write 'Please look after this bear. Thank you.' on a luggage tag and tie it to a toggle with yarn. A small cardboard suitcase is lovely, but check whether school allows a marmalade sandwich as a prop before you pack one.
11. Dog Man Costume With Blue Uniform
Dog Man is a police uniform with a dog's head, and you can do both with clothes from the cupboard. Navy trousers and a bright blue shirt or sweatshirt make the uniform. I sew floppy brown felt ears onto a cap and add a paper shield badge; the cap also hides his hair, which saves time on a school morning. A painted nose and whisker dots are optional for boys who don't like their face touched. Skip gloves if he'll be writing, and give him a homemade comic book to carry rather than anything that looks like real police kit.
12. Cat In The Hat Costume With Striped Hat
Black clothes are the canvas here, and the oversized accessories turn them into the Cat in the Hat. A long-sleeved black top and black trousers, with a big white felt chest panel taped to the front, plus a floppy red felt bow tie. The hat is the hard part. Poster board with broad red stripes, rolled into a tall tube and taped at the back, gets very top-heavy, so I add a soft elastic chin strap and keep the hat no taller than his forearm. A cardboard fishbowl with a paper fish beats a real bowl in a school corridor.
13. Mr Bump Costume With White Bandages
Mr Bump is a blue tracksuit and some bandages, which makes it one of the comfiest options here. A royal-blue sweatshirt and joggers or a plain blue onesie make the body. Wide strips of white felt wrap loosely around the head and middle, held with fabric tape, never pins, and kept clear of his neck and joints so he can bend. Felt bandages beat real crepe bandages because they don't unravel. White sneakers and a round blue card sign on his backpack make it obvious who he is.
14. Burglar Bill Costume With Striped Shirt
Burglar Bill is a striped long-sleeved top, black trousers, a black knit cap and dark sneakers. The mask is where I'm careful: make it from soft felt with wide eye openings and tie it with elastic, so it doesn't narrow his view on the stairs, and expect him to push it onto his forehead within the hour. A pillowcase sack stuffed with tissue paper is light enough to carry all day. Tuck the book under his arm so nobody mistakes him for a generic robber.
15. George’s Marvellous Medicine Costume With Saucepan
George's Marvellous Medicine is a last-minute costume made from kitchen things. Jeans, a bright red shirt and a blue jacket or zip hoodie are George, and slightly messy hair suggests he's been busy mixing. The props tell the story: a light plastic saucepan, a wooden spoon and an empty plastic bottle with a handmade medicine label. I tape the bottle cap shut so nobody is tempted to fill it, and keep everything in a carrier bag for the walk to school.
16. Oliver Twist Costume With Flat Cap
Oliver Twist looks right in muted, slightly too-big clothes. Brown or charcoal trousers, a cream collarless shirt with rolled sleeves, a worn waistcoat and braces if you have them. A soft brown flat cap covers his hair. Go easy on the dirt; a little brown face paint on the cheekbones reads as dusty, while too much just looks like he fell over. The bowl is the prop that tells the story, a light plastic or wooden one, with a card that says 'Please, sir, I want some more.' Quiet boys tend to like this one because nothing about it feels silly.
17. Sherlock Holmes Costume With Detective Cape
A young Sherlock needs a check, a cape and a magnifying glass. Dark trousers, a shirt and a knitted vest make the base, with a checked coat, short cape or oversized tweed blazer on top. A deerstalker can be bought, or made by sewing ear flaps and a back brim onto a plain cap. Brown lace-up shoes suit the palette. A big plastic magnifying glass, a pocket notebook and a pencil are the props. I'd leave out the pipe entirely, even a toy one, because schools usually say no.
18. The BFG Costume With Giant Ears
The BFG works even on a small boy, because the giant ears do all the work. Cropped brown trousers, a loose cream shirt and an extra-long waistcoat with a wide belt make the clothes; mismatched socks are a nice touch. I cut the ears from peach felt, stiffen them with a layer of craft foam glued inside, and attach them to a soft headband, otherwise floppy felt ears just droop. A long cardboard trumpet painted gold and a couple of paper dream jars with funny labels finish the story. Choose sturdy shoes over sandals for the playground.
19. Max Wild Thing Costume With Gold Crown
Max wears a white wolf suit, so a white or cream hooded onesie or matching sweatshirt and joggers is the place to start. Small felt ears on the hood, a few felt buttons down the front and a grey felt tail stitched on at the back make the suit. The crown is the prop people spot first. Gold card is fine, but I line the inside edge with felt or foam so it doesn't scrape his forehead. White sneakers grip far better than costume paws, and a 'Wild Rumpus' sign gives the story away.
20. Tintin Costume With Blue Sweater
Tintin's clothes come almost straight from a boy's own wardrobe. Brown knee-length shorts, a pale blue collared shirt and a bright blue crewneck sweater, with white socks showing above brown lace-up shoes. The quiff is what makes him Tintin, and a small amount of water-based gel pushed straight up at the front holds it. A brown satchel, a reporter's notebook and a small white plush dog are all he needs; Snowy is the prop everyone looks for. It suits boys who want a proper character without a hat, mask or face paint.
21. Christopher Robin Costume With Teddy Bear
Christopher Robin is gentle and easy to wear. Navy or tan shorts, a pale yellow polo shirt and a soft red cardigan, with knee socks or cream tights underneath when it's cold. A neat side parting and brown school shoes keep it old-fashioned. The teddy bear in a little red shirt is the costume, really, so I'd pick a bear that's light enough to carry all day, or let it ride in a small backpack. It suits quieter boys who don't want to stand out too much.
22. Lost And Found Boy Costume With Penguin
The boy from Lost and Found needs only bright basics. Blue shorts or trousers, a red-and-white striped long-sleeved shirt and a red knit beanie pulled well down over his hair. Rain boots look right with the story, but check whether he'll be allowed to wear them all day or needs a pair of school shoes in his bag. A plush penguin under one arm is the key. I'd skip a wearable rowboat for younger boys, because even a narrow one catches on classroom doorways and chair legs.
23. Billionaire Boy Costume With Play Money
Billionaire Boy suits a child who'd rather wear normal clothes. Dark jeans or chinos, a plain polo shirt with no visible logo and a bright blazer or padded vest look smart on their own. The humour comes from the props: a wallet stuffed with homemade notes, oversized cardboard price tags on a toy watch and sunglasses, and a gold paper crown he can take off in lessons. I'd let him write the prices himself, since kids are funnier at this than adults. Clean white sneakers finish it.
24. Tom Gates Costume With Doodle Notebook
Tom Gates is a white long-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers and a lot of doodles. I draw the doodles on paper panels and tape them on, rather than marking the shirt, so the T-shirt survives for school afterwards. Messy hair, black-and-white sneakers and a big doodle-covered sketchbook do the rest. A flat cardboard guitar on a ribbon strap is a fun extra, but keep it light, because it bumps every desk he walks past. Arty boys love this one because they get to draw their own costume.
25. Captain Underpants Costume Over Pajamas
Captain Underpants can be completely school-appropriate as long as every piece goes over full clothing. A beige long-sleeved top and leggings, or pale pajamas, make the base, with big white shorts pulled on top and secured at the waist. I keep the red cape no longer than his knees and fasten it with hook-and-loop tape rather than a tie, so it comes away if someone pulls it. Thick cartoon eyebrows drawn with a face crayon, red socks and white sneakers finish it. A homemade comic book is the only prop needed.
26. Mr Stink Costume With Scruffy Coat
Mr Stink is a dressing-up game with thrift-store layers: brown trousers, a checked shirt, an oversized waistcoat and a long, worn coat, plus a scarf and fingerless gloves. Brush his hair the wrong way for an untidy shape. A grey face crayon gives him bushy eyebrows and a short beard; keep it light, since the beard area gets rubbed most. A cardboard sign with his name, a cloth bundle on a cardboard stick and a small plush dog for Duchess make the story clear. No smelly sprays or powder; the layers do it.
27. Jack And The Beanstalk Costume With Magic Beans
Jack is a farm boy, so brown trousers, a cream shirt, a green waistcoat and a soft flat cap are the outfit. I use a soft fabric cord as the rope belt, tied in a bow so it can't pull tight. A few washable freckles and brown boots finish him. The beans are the important prop: big painted cardboard beans in a small cloth pouch. A short beanstalk made from paper leaves on a cardboard tube is a nice touch, kept short enough that he can carry it without swinging it into anyone.
28. Pinocchio Costume With Yellow Hat
Pinocchio's clothes are cheerful and easy to find. Red shorts over cream tights or slim trousers, a yellow collared shirt, a blue felt bow tie and a dark waistcoat. A yellow felt hat with a blue band and a red feather sits on top. I never stick a nose to a child's face; a lightweight cardboard nose on a craft stick does the job and he can hold it up when someone asks who he is. Rosy cheeks, a few freckles, brown shoes and white socks finish him.
29. Percy Jackson Costume With Camp T-Shirt
Percy Jackson is regular clothes with a few clues. Jeans or dark joggers, an orange T-shirt with a handmade camp emblem on the front, and a grey hoodie underneath on a cold day. A temporary blue streak with hair chalk looks great, though chalk rubs off onto collars, so I'd only use it if he'll leave the hoodie down. High-top sneakers and a necklace of large painted beads add detail. A ballpoint pen in his pocket is a good in-joke for fans, and a cardboard shield with ocean patterns is safer than any sword.
30. Alex Rider Costume With Spy Backpack
Older boys usually want Alex Rider because it looks like clothes rather than a costume. Black cargo trousers, a charcoal T-shirt and a light bomber jacket, with dark sneakers comfortable enough for a full day. A slim black backpack holds the spy kit: a coded notebook, a cardboard ID card, a folded paper map and an ordinary digital watch. I'd skip any toy gadget that looks like a weapon or real security equipment, because schools tend to confiscate those. A copy of the novel in the backpack tells everyone who he is.
Building a Cardboard Prop That Lasts Until Home Time
Most of the props above are cardboard, and cardboard fails in predictable ways. It bends at the handle, it softens if it gets wet, and the glue lets go at the corners. These are the habits I've settled on for props that need to survive a school day.
Card, glue and tape
Use corrugated cardboard from a delivery box for anything with a handle, and run the corrugation lines along the length of the handle so it doesn't fold in half. Thin cereal-box card is fine for tickets, labels and signs. A glue stick won't hold card to card for long; white craft glue or hot glue, left to cool fully, does. Wrap any handle in a layer of masking tape or duct tape so small hands don't wear through it.
Edges and weight
Round every corner with scissors, because a sharp card corner will catch an eye in a crowded line. Keep props shorter than the child's arm so they don't swing into other people. If a prop has to be worn, like a sign or a guitar, put it on a wide ribbon strap rather than string, which digs into a shoulder by lunchtime. A coat of clear tape over painted surfaces stops the colour rubbing off onto school clothes.
When He Doesn't Want to Dress Up
Plenty of boys dread book day. The ones who struggle most are usually worried about looking silly or about being uncomfortable, not about the book. Costumes like Charlie Bucket, Tintin, Alex Rider and Greg Heffley look almost like normal clothes, and a single prop carries the character. Let him choose the book, let him make the prop, and offer a costume where the main piece can come off easily if he changes his mind. A boy who can take his ears off in maths will keep them on at break.
Let Him Pick a Book He Has Actually Read
A good book-day costume pairs a few character details with clothes a boy can wear for six hours. A striped shirt, a coloured coat, a school uniform, a tracksuit or a pair of jeans becomes a character as soon as you add the right hat, book, badge or prop. Let him help make the accessories, because a boy who drew his own Greg Heffley face will actually wear it. Keep masks easy to remove, props light and shoes good for the playground. Most of all, pick a character from a book he knows, or one he wants to read next.
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