115 easy World Book Day costume ideas for 2024

Liz Pichon's Tom Gates books are a HUGE hit with kids.

And the good news is, they make for a really easy World Book Day costume. Woo hoo!

Simply draw Tom Gates' face on a piece of card and cut out. Add elastic for your child to wear round their head, or attach to a lolly stick so they can hold up.

Then your kids can get creative with their Tom Gates doodles on a plain white t-shirt. Simple but really effective

This builder costume by Instagram user @takeitfrommummy is great for fans of Bob the Builder or Goodnight Digger.

Raid the dressing-up box for a hi-vis jacket and hard hat and then create a digger out of cardboard.

If this looks too much like hard work, you could cut out a cardboard digger for your child to hold.

He's one of the best-loved Harry Potter characters. So it's only natural your child might want to dress as Dumbledore for World Book Day.

To get the look, make or buy a cape and add a long, grey beard. Your child will need a wand too.

Are they a super fan? Here's 15 magical Harry Potter days out for the whole family.

Miss Root is a famous character from David Walliams' book Demon Dentist.

If you're looking for a slightly scarier costume idea, this one from Instagram user @emmafayveld is perfect!

Bright stripey clothes, a crazy colourful wig, a huge painted smile and you have a Cheshire Cat.

This is quick and easy, but also really clever. Simply dress your kids in black, give them a diary to hold and draw a Wimpy Kid face onto a piece of cardboard.

We love this costume idea based on David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny.

Dig out some suitable Granny clothes (wrinkly tights a must) and add a few accessories and you've got Gangsta Granny.

This is a really easy way to make a Very Hungry Caterpillar costume for World Book Day.

Simply attach circles cut from two different types of green-coloured card together to make the caterpillar.

We love this easy dress-up idea. And you could also use other fairy tales for inspiration too.

Okay, you do have to make spider legs for this costume. But if you use our instructions for no-sew animal tails, they are quick and easy to do!

The large cut-outs make your kids look like they’ve just stepped out of the pages of a Charlie and Lola book. Really effective and easy to do.

This Mr Messy costume is inspired.

You could make any of the Mr Men characters. All you need is a large sheet of card to draw your character on. Easy but brilliant.

This is a beautiful and detailed homemade Queen of Hearts costume.

You could simplify by cutting red hearts from felt and sticking them on a dress with a glue gun.

Use our step-by-step instructions to make a Queen of Hearts dress.

Dig out an old black handbag and white gloves - or have a trawl through the charity shops.

Then all you need for this Grand High Witch costume is a blue dress and a face drawn onto some card.

Black cloak, toy cat, stick wand and curled hair and you've got one fab Hermione Granger.

For Harry Potter add glasses and a scar (eyeliner on forehead) and for Ron add a ginger wig.

Jamie Smart's Bunny vs Monkey books are a huge hit with primary school-aged kids.

Skunky is an easy character to do for World Book Day. Use coloured hair spray for a skunk effect, and add a fancy dress lab coat.

If you've got time you could also make a skunk tail out of black and white material.

This golden ticket costume is ideal for girls and boys. Check out even more Roald Dahl costume ideas for World Book Day.

Add patches to a denim pinafore and then add stripey socks and a red wig and you've got a great Pippi Longstocking costume.

A golden ticket, a pretty dress and a hairband and your Veruca Salt costume is complete.

We love this clever Saucepan Man costume from Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree.

You’ll need to either eat a lot of takeaways to create all the saucepans (oh go on then!) or you can make them from cardboard and tin foil.

A simple cotton dress and a cardie along with a pile of books and your child is transformed into Roald Dahl's Matilda.

Bonus points for drawing a lizard on the outside of a jar and filling it with water!

We love these Fantastic Mr Fox costumes on Pobble Education's Pinterest, suitable for boys and girls. If you’re going to copy this idea, probably leave out the scissors in the pocket!

Follow our guide to make the perfect Mr Fox outfit.

This one posted to Pinterest by U Me and the Kids is so simple to make.

Follow our step-by-step instructions to make a cat costume, draw on some whiskers and make a red and white striped top hat out of an empty kitchen roll.

This Stick Man costume is amazing.

If you want to attempt an easier version, cut a tree shape out of a large piece of card and paint it brown for your child to carry.

Or dress them all in brown and draw black lines on their clothes to look like the ridges in a tree trunk.

This one is great for siblings or friends.

You can either make the Little Miss costumes with a simple no-sew tabard as a starting point, or cut out the shape of your character from card.

A colourful and zany Mad Hatter - complete with tea cup! – posted by mum @sarahyewman.

If you like this costume we found on @gibbosmiff's Instagram, based on the classic children's book, follow our step-by-step instructions for making a crown.

The BFG is a really popular dress-up idea for World Book Day, as shown here by U Me and the Kids on Pinterest.

Get your hands on some novelty ears and a waistcoat and you’ve pretty much got the outfit sorted.

A toy monkey and some yellow clothes and you’re good to go with this cute Curious George costume, which U Me and the Kids shared on Pinterest.

If your kids want to go as Roald Dahl’s The Twits, all they need is backcombed hair, a monobrow and a cane cut out from some cardboard.

A great costume if you’ve forgotten about World Book Day and only have a few hours to make a dressing-up outfit.

Add rabbit ears to a top hat, plus a fob watch and what do you have? The White Rabbit from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, of course. Just don't be late!

Any furry tiger hats and gloves hanging around? Put them to good use for a super-cute outfit straight out of The Tiger Who Came To Tea, brought to life here by @lynds_v on Instagram.

Make a cardboard house and pop your Alice in to show how she bursts out of it when she eats the cake marked 'Eat me'. Brilliant work from @notspidermansmj on Instagram!

Ah, the power of the underpants. Add orange clothes and go wild with the felt tips.

Fashion a shield and a sword out of cardboard for a character from Beast Quest this World Book Day, just like mum @jobjo75 did on Instagram.

Customise an old summer dress, add a pair of red shoes and hey presto - your child is transformed into Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

If you like this outfit we found on @hungermama's Instagram, we've got more tips on how to make a simple Dorothy costume.

All you need for this easy World Book Day costume is a jumper and trousers and then a homemade Horrid Henry mask.

It looks great … and doesn’t take long to make. Hurrah!

This Mary Poppins costume can be pulled together using a school uniform, a black hat and a big handbag.

Tie your child’s hair back and you’ve got a brilliantly simple outfit.

Rabbit ears on a headband, a little facepaint, and you've got a super-quick Peter Rabbit.

If your kids go to ballet, then you’re halfway there with this cute Angelina Ballerina costume.

You can also make a simple tutu if needed, and draw a picture of a mouse face on a piece of card to complete the look.

If you’ve got older boys, they’ll love this World Book Day costume idea.

For your Dennis the Menace dress-up outfit, all you need is a red and black stripey top, black shorts and some hair gel for his spiky hair.

The same basic idea also works for Minnie the Minx; you just need to stick a red pom-pom on a black beret for the full effect.

Find a white dress and make some spiky icicle cones to attach to a headband, like this one we found on Instagram by @stitchitmama. Hey presto, your child is Narnia's White Witch.

Okay, we know this Elmer the Patchwork Elephant costume looks a bit daunting to make.

But if you’ve got the time then it’s a brilliant World Book Day costume.

We love this super shiny Tin Man costume from The Wizard of Oz.

However, you can make a much simpler version using silver-painted cardboard, foil or silver clothes. Have a look in the charity shops or the dressing-up box for anything that might work.

Blue bonnet, pink dress, yellow bill made from cardboard and orange tights. You've got the perfect Jemima from The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter.

You’re guaranteed to see a few Oompa Loompas in your kid’s classroom on World Book Day.

It’s a great dressing up idea - here are more Roald Dahl characters to choose from.

All you need is a black wig and beard and a liberal sprinkling of cornflakes. And voila, you have your very own Mr Twit, just like this one posted to Instagram by @spooniesparkles_.

Got some brown fabric you can use to make a no-sew cape? Then your child can easily become Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings.

Wrap a few slices of white bread in green card for bonus points.

Customise a white T-shirt and leggings with plenty of spots, add a mask and socks for ears, and look! You've got your very own pup from The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Just watch out for any Cruellas stalking the classroom ...

Here’s an easy Cat in the Hat costume for boys or girls. Once you've got the hat and the big red bow, you've pretty much nailed it!

The Worst Witch is a super-quick, but effective, costume to make.

Find the costume guide for the Worst Witch from Book Aid International.

Who wouldn't want to be the owner of their very own chocolate factory?

This is a simple outfit to put together with clothes they already have, or things you could pick up cheaply.

Take a look at our guide to find out what you'll need to make it

You'll definitely be able to spot your child in this Where's Wally costume!

Make your own Where's Wally costume using the Book Aid International guide.

If your child's a big fan of Aliens Love Dinopants, this costume is perfect.

Find out how to make it using the Book Aid International guide.

Here's a costume for all the lil' Peppa Pig fans out there! It's an easy-to-put-together outfit, thanks to Whippersnappers on Pinterest.

If you're looking for a SUPER easy costume, this idea from The Midnight Gang is perfect.

Use the Book Aid International guide to make this costume.

Hetty Feather is a Jacqueline Wilson favourite!

Make your own Hetty Feather costume using the Book Aid International guide.

Your child will really stand out with these original The Bolds costumes.

Use the Book Aid International guide to make these easy outfits.

Your little one will look super cute in this Odd Dog Out costume!

Have a go at making the outfit yourself from Book Aid International.

Calling all Harry Potter fans - here's the perfect Luna Lovegood costume!

Find out how to make it on the Book Aid International guide.

The Ruby Redfort series is one of the easiest costumes to make.

Find the full guide on Book Aid International.

Supertato to the rescue! This is an awesome costume to make!

Use the simple guide on Book Aid International.

What a cute lil' Mouse from The Gruffalo! This classic book has characters that can easily be brought to life.

If your child's a fan of these fantasy novels, here's a great costume idea.

Find out how to make it on the Book Aid International site.

Tris is the lead character in the Divergent series. And look how simple the costume is!

Make your own version using the Book Aid International guide.

The popular Roald Dahl book James and the Giant Peach has plenty of character ideas.

Have a go at making this centipede costume from Book Aid International.

The Day the Crayons Quit is a super fun costume to try and make.

Use this guide from Book Aid International.

Your child can dress up as Claude, the extraordinary dog.

See the full costume on the Book Aid International site.

Let your child wow their friends with their wizarding powers in this Harry Potter costume.

Find the full guide on Book Aid International.

This Geek Girl outfit couldn't be easier - and it looks great!

Find out how to make it on Book Aid International.

Everyone loves Spot the Dog! This costume is perfect for little ones.

Here's the Book Aid International guide to making it.

If your child is a Hunger Games fan, Katniss Everdeen is a great costume idea.

Try the Book Aid International guide to make your own.

Watch out for Burglar Bill! You'll definitely be able to tell which book this character is from!

Find the full costume guide on Book Aid International.

If your child's a fan of the recipes in Joe Wicks' Lean in 15 book, try this costume idea by @cbt_din on Twitter!

(A recipe book is still a book!)

All you need to do for this Roald Dahl costume by @thepapernursery on Instagram is find a set of green clothes, and make a crocodile mouth from papier-mache.

If it's a Disney character you're looking for, Cruella is always a good option.

Get the colour hair spray at the ready!

The ultimate fiction character has to be Sherlock Holmes.

Complete the costume with a tweed flat cap, fake pipe and a detective's cape.

The Highway Rat is a classic written by Julia Donaldson.

All this costume needs is a nose, a black hat and a black eye mask. A great effort by @zingzingtree on Instagram.

If you're looking for an easy option, we love this Grasshopper costume by @strutscostumes on Instagram.

With a green outfit, green face paint and green antennas, the outfit is pretty much done!

The Dr Seuss characters are part of The Cat in the Hat story.

All you need for this costume are the T-shirts and blue accessories.

If your child never wants to grow up, let them dress up as Peter Pan!

This costume by @pixieplanner_ on Instagram is too cute (and also works well for Robin Hood!).

As long as your child has a family of teddy bears, you'll have no problem with this costume that @danielle_mannion put together on Instagram!

Because who doesn't love Scooby Doo?!

The Mystery Machine is the perfect costume if you feel like getting crafty. We love this effort by @scoobydoos817cnu on Instagram.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister makes for a great costume - you can take inspiration from @sochil_bg's Instagram and be as colourful as you like!

What makes Winnie The Witch so iconic is her tall hat. Make your own witch's hat with card and decorate with stars and stripes, like @becky__wesley did on her Instagram.

Add a broomstick and stripey tights, and voila!

The Mr Men series has over 50 books, and one of the most famous characters is Mr Bump.

All you need is blue card, and blue, white and black paint.

If your child and their friend want to go as a double act together, have a go at these Tweedledum and Tweedledee costumes.

The bald caps are a great touch!

It's the classic mouse Maisy, put together by mum @burcinandmunchkins on Instagram!

You can make an easy costume with cardboard accessories, such as ears, whiskers and a tail.

The Wizard of Oz's Scarecrow is a simple costume to make, done beautifully here by @gavinboswell on Instagram.

Find some straw, a checkered shirt and a hat and you're ready to go.

If you're great with face paint, this Frankenstein costume will be a great idea for your child.

This spooky costume can also double up for Halloween!

You can adapt your child's Halloween costume to make this Funnybones outfit posted to Instagram by @smels.

The cardboard cutouts really make the outfits.

You can easily transform your child into the Big Bad Wolf by creating a mask out of feathers and felt - it's that easy! Here's one example posted to Instagram by @ms.t_and_jd.

Get more printable templates for masks here.

What a cute little outfit this is, made by @craftycalon on Instagram! All you need to do is add a cardboard button to normal clothes and paint on a nose and whiskers!

Add some bright yellow cardboard wings to a white dress to create this Rowan Oakwing costume, made by @edjclarke on Instagram.

Little Panda is from the book Where My Feet Go.

All you need is black and white face paint to replicate this costume we found on @birgittasif's Instagram.

Because every fairytale needs a Prince Charming!

This outfit was put together by Instagram user @keighleydxn using everyday clothes and an added costume hat.

Oi Cat is a lovely rhyming book that's perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

It also makes for an easy World Book Day costume.

Use a marker pen to write 'Oi Cat' on the front of a plain t-shirt.

And a pair of cat ears on a headband and you're good to go!

If you've got a couple of cardboard boxes lying around, you can easily make this No-Bot, the Robot with No Bottom costume from Instagram user @melaniee1807.

You'll need a lot of red paint and coloured cardboard to make this.

If your child is a fan of the Trolls books or the film, this Poppy costume is great!

Who doesn't want to have pink hair for the day?!

Effie Trinket is from the popular series The Hunger Games.

We love this elaborate butterfly costume design, made by Instagram user @claire_mullord.

This basic Cinderella outfit is really simple – no cutting or sewing required!

You can make it more princessy by adding sparkles.

Check out our full guide and more tips on making it.

Possibly the quickest costume to pull together ever, with no cutting, sewing or sticking required!

Your child could take a bandaged-up stuffed toy as an added accessory.

Follow our guide to make your own Doc McStuffins costume.

A simple pink sundress can be transformed into a gown worthy of Princess Aurora in no time.

Our handy guide will tell you how!

This simple Tinkerbell outfit complete with a leafy skirt will make your child the envy of Pixie Hollow.

Just follow our guide to find the four simple steps to make it!

Transform your child into their favourite canine crime fighter!

Head over to our handy walkthrough to avoid having a ruff time making it.

Did you know that the Star Wars novel came out the year before the first film?

Anyway, this is a great costume that kids can really get involved with making. It's probably easiest to make it 'on' your child on the day.

If your little girl loves dressing up as a Princess with a bit of punch, then have a look at our guide for making a Rapunzel costume for World Book Day.

Not mentioned in the guide: Don't forget to give her a self-defence frying pan!

Check out our walkthrough for how to make your own adorable Snow White costume for World Book Day. Perfect for girls who are tall for their age.

Don't forget to teach her the names of all the seven dwarfs!

Despite basically being yellow Tic Tacs with eyes that are obsessed with fruit, Minions are still incredibly popular with kids. If you're needing some inspiration for making your own costume, you'll find 16 different Minion costumes at Country Living.

Everyone loves Frozen, even if we sometimes regret how the songs get stuck in our heads. If your little lady is more of an Elsa than an Anna, check out our step-by-step instructions for making a clever no-sew Elsa costume.

And, if she's more Anna than Elsa, and you want to put together a lovely costume for her, here's our handy guide to making it for yourself.

Despite the recent controversy, anyone can and should. be allowed to be their favourite Disney princess. To find out how to transform your little girl into Ariel in three easy steps, follow our step-by-step instructions.

A lovely story that cleverly teaches children about consequences, using Sofia's magical amulet, this detailed walkthrough over at Love Jac will show you how to make your very own Princess Sofia costume.

Warning: This one is something of a project, and not a great choice if you're short on time or can't sew.

You won't have to go to Infinity or beyond to make your kid a great Buzz Lightyear costume this World Book Day, you just need this easy-to-follow guide!

This is such a brilliant idea for younger kids, posted by Danielle Johnson on Pinterest.

An animal hoodie, a piece of cardboard and some paint is pretty much all you need to make this Dear Zoo costume. Genius!