World Book Day is on the 5th March 2026 this year, with some schools hosting on Friday the 6th.
It can be pretty hectic when World Book Day Rolls round.
Have you remembered to get a costume ready for your little one?
If not don’t worry, here is a list of simple and easy to make costumes.
George’s Marvellous Medicine
George has a very simple costume just get a red top and some jeans. To make your little one feel a bit more in character give them a large wooden spoon covered in tin foil to make the large spoon George uses to mix the medicine. You can also get an old shampoo bottle, make a label with ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’ and you have a medicine bottle.
A simple and quick costume.
Roy’s Boys
If your little one isn’t a fan of dressing up why not have a look at our Gruffalo Bucket Hat, Roald Dahl Sweatshirts, Peppa Pig Bucket Hats and Who’s in Your Book T-shirts. The perfect way for your little one to feel included in dressing up while also being comfortable throughout their school day.
Click Here for our World Book Day collection
Make sure to order soon to get your items in time for World Book Day!
Mr Bump
Mr Bump is a very quick, simple and cheap costume for your little one to wear. Simply get a blue jumper and blue trousers and some bandages and you're halfway there!
Put the jumper and trousers on your child and then wrap and tie the bandages around them. This could be on their head, stomach arms and legs. Make sure this isn’t to tight as they hopefully will wear this for the whole school day!
And there you have Mr Bump costume for your clumsy little one
Alice In Wonderland
A classic World Book Day Character, if you’ve ran out of time to buy an Alice in Wonderland costume, it’s really easy to put together.
Get a blue dress, white apron or pinafore and a black hair bow and your little one is a step closer to wonderland! To make them even more recognisable, get a toy bunny they have to represent the Mad Hatter!
The Oxford Dictionary
Is there a better book than the Oxford Dictionary? To make this well known book into a costume get an old T-shirt and leggings (preferably in beige or white) and use a fabric pens to write as many words as you can think of covering the clothing. Make sure to write ‘The Oxford Dictionary’ in big letters in the centre of the t-shirt!
Elmer
Elmer the multi coloured elephant, if you want to get a bit creative, this is the character for you! Your little one could wear a brightly coloured top and trousers, and then you can make an elephant mask!
Click Here for a basic elephant mask
Instead of painting the elephant grey, make sure to get some colourful tissue paper cut into squares and stick all over your paper plates or paint the squares onto the mask.
There’s a Unicorn in your Book
If you have a little one obsessed with fairies, princesses and unicorns, chances are you have a colourful tutu or skirt, pair this with a colourful top and tights. If you have a Unicorn headband feel free to use this, if you don’t it can be really easy to make a unicorn headband.
Click the Here to be taken to the CBeebies website where there is a video tutorial on how to make a unicorn horn with pipe cleaner, card and a headband.
If you want a more challenging headband, have a look at this video Here which uses felt to make a Unicorn Horn Headband.
Paddington Bear
The little bear from Peru not only has an interesting story but also an easy costume to recreate. All you’ll need is a red hat and a blue coat or if you don’t have a blue coat, blue clothes, red socks and wellies, and if you have one, a suitcase/ briefcase.
If you wanted to make your own suitcase, click Here to watch this reel on how to make a briefcase out of a cardboard box fit for Paddington Bear.
Mog The Forgetful Cat
Mog The Forgetful cat is a very simple and comfortable costume for little ones!
All you need is a grey scarf for a tail, grey top and leggings, and a grey cat headband or you can make your own grey cat ears out of cardboard.
The Stickman
The speedy Stickman is a simple an easy costume to create. Find brown clothing for head to toe, and a brown hat if you can. Attach sticks you find from outside and stick or sew on th sticks to fabric or paper leaves. Attach your branches and leaves to their clothes or you can attach them to a belt!
Have a look at the link Here to see how Beadingbrilliant did this!
Hopefully you got some ideas and options on what your little one could be if you need a last minute option for this World Book Day.