World Book Day, taking place this year on Thursday 5th March 2020 is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and most importantly it’s a celebration of reading and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.


Many schools encourage pupils to mark the event by dressing up as a favourite book character, usually a firm favourite with kids! Maybe less so for the parents ☺

To help get your creative juices flowing, we’ve come up with a few character suggestions to inspire you:

MR BUMP

Blue trousers, blue jumper, blue woolly hat and some bandages wrapped round them. Plus you can buy Mr Bump plasters and stick them on them and if you really want to go the whole hog paint their face blue.

PIPPI LONG STOCKINGS

An odd pair of long stripy socks, skirt and top. Plait the hair in pigtails and if you’re feeling really creative you can stick a pipe cleaner through each one to make them curve upwards. Use face paints or an eyeliner to paint on big freckles.

THE CAT IN THE HAT

Black clothes, red & white stripy hat (if you don’t have one you could make one out of cardboard and paint it), a tail made from an old pair of black tights, stuff one leg with socks then tie the other leg around waist to hold tail in place. Use face paints or an eyeliner to draw on a nose and whiskers.

PADDINGTON BEAR

Dark blue duffle coat (but we’re sure any colour will do), red scarf, red hat, a jar of marmalade and a small suitcase with a label stuck on saying ‘Please look after this bear’.

FUNNY BONES

If you have a skeleton costume from Halloween, recycle it, make a red cardboard hat and dress up as a character from Funny Bones by Allan Ahlberg.

WINNIE THE WITCH / MEG THE WITCH (FROM MEG & MOG)

Again a perfect character if you want to recycle an old Halloween costume ☺

HORRID HENRY

Blue & yellow stripy jumper, blue jeans, plus scruffy hair (hair gel may help to achieve the desired look ☺).

THE GINGERBREAD MAN

Brown top & trousers. Make some big black cardboard buttons and stick them on. Use face paints or a black eyeliner to paint on his nose and around his eyes. Make a banner “You can’t catch me – I’m a gingerbread man!”

WHERE’S WALLY?

Red & white stripy jumper & bobble hat, jeans, glasses and a walking stick.

WINNIE THE POOH

Christopher Robin – blue shorts, yellow t-shirt, blue wellies, a Pooh Bear teddy if you have one and a big blue umbrella or a helium balloon.

Winnie the Pooh – yellow leggings, yellow long sleeved top & long red vest.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Alice – blue dress, white apron and an Alice band.

Queen of Hearts – use a princess dress, cut out lots of hearts and pin them onto the dress and made a crown.

NODDY

A long sleeved red top with a couple of big yellow buttons on, a yellow scarf with red dots (you could stick or draw them on) blue shorts, a nightcap / hat with a bell and red shoes.

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Willie Wonka – a velvet jacket, silky scarf for the cravat, a top hat and cane / walking stick plus the all-important Golden ticket.

Charlie Bucket – old ragged clothes including a checked shirt and jeans with a Golden ticket.

OLIVER TWIST

An old pair of school trousers cut up, shirt, waistcoat, a handkerchief round their neck, a flat cap and of course a muddy face.

ANGELINA BALLERINA

A white polar neck with a leotard and tutu. Use face paints or an eyeliner to paint on whiskers. Make the tail from an old pair of white tights, stuff one leg with socks then tie the other leg around waist to hold tail in place.

RED RIDING HOOD

A red cloak, dress or skirt and blouse underneath, a little basket with some cakes or cookies (they can be plastic to avoid temptation ☺)

PUSS IN BOOTS

Black skinny jeans, long sleeved black top, ears, tail and some boots.

BOB THE BUILDER

Jeans, checked shirt and a hard hat.

DOROTHY (FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ)

Blue & white checked school summer dress, white apron, red ribbon for hair (French plaited in bunches), white frilly socks, red shoes & a basket.

THE UGLY SISTERS (FROM CINDERELLA)

Crazy mixed up of clothes and paint on a beauty spot.

HARRY POTTER

A firm favourite with the boys! You could use school uniform and a cape (you could customize it with a Gryffindor House Insignia) and draw a scar on their forehead.

HARRY & THE BUCKET FULL OF DINOSAURS

Normal clothes and a bucket full of dinosaurs ☺

PIRATE

Rolled up jeans, a stripy t-shirt, a bandana, draw on a beard, sword, eye patch, parrot etc.

MR FUNNY

A lime green t-shirt with lime green trousers and yellow washing up gloves. Make a big yellow hat with a flower sticking out of it and accessorize with some joke books.

BURGLAR BILL

Stripy black and white top, 
black trousers, black flat cap/beret, 
eye mask,
 black gloves with fingers cut off accessorize with a sack/large bag with swag wrote on.

The World Book Day website (click here) has a great selection of games & downloads.