Free and cheap World Book Day costume ideas
This year's World Book Day is Thursday 6 March, and many parents will already have 'costume stress', as you strive to find the right outfit for your child, while the cost goes up and up. Even handmade World Book Day costumes can be pricey – but if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect cheap World Book Day costume, fear not. There are plenty of ways to nail World Book Day on a budget.
Give your child a shortlist of potential books, with costumes in mind.
Asking ‘Which character do you want to be?’ can open up a huge can of worms – instead try having a few ideas in mind and what you’d do. That way you're more in control of the outcome. Take this opportunity to stock up on new books too with our 15 free or cheap kids' books tricks.
Make props the main part of the costume.
Most characters in books have a prop or item that is their 'thing'. There's the classic wizard wand and cape, a notepad, glasses or a magnifying glass. You get the idea – a prop can really solve the costume dilemma. It's an easy win to simply use a prop alongside your child's regular clothes.
Think colour, too, when you're in the prop zone. Is the character themed by colour? Is a scarf or hat the missing piece of the outfit puzzle?
Laminate badge holders (the kind you get at a conference) can be handy for free costumes. One year, one of my daughters had a Veruca Salt 'visitor' lanyard around her neck with her photo. This year, my other daughter is having a 'NASA' staff badge. You can make them yourself for free.
MSE Jenny K
Get crafty - sometimes all you need is paper and pens.
Is there something in the house you can use, such as old Amazon boxes or bubble wrap? Can you turn old drinks bottles into a jet pack, or make binoculars from the insides of loo rolls? You could also try collecting newspaper from friends or neighbours to create something wonderful from papier maché, or searching the cupboards for old wrapping paper that might inspire.
You could even challenge yourself to make a World Book Day costume with pens and paper. It's possible – MSE Jenny H's sister made this 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' outfit for Jenny's nephew Cole.
Get your kids involved in the crafty stuff – it can be an activity in itself! One of my sons made his own 'golden ticket' and went as Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He spent ages writing out the invitation and colouring it in with glitter paints. He then just wore trousers and t-shirt, but his prop made sure everyone knew who he was. Another son went as Frog from 'Frog and Toad Stories' and I made these feet.
MSE Clare
Ask other parents.
Most parents have already made or bought one or more World Book Day costumes – which means they'll have costumes and props from previous years. So ask friends if they want to recycle or swap previously used costumes. You could drop a message in the class group chat, or ask parents you know at the school gates.
Scour your own wardrobes.
There could be plenty in your current wardrobes that might hit the spot as THE costume item you need. Suddenly that sparkly kaftan or headband you got for a gig or festival is part of your child's outer space costume, with not a penny spent. MSE Debs used a onesie her daughter already owned and some stellar papier maché skills to make a 'Looshkin' costume.
This also extends to make-up and accessories. Costume jewellery can be anything from a glasses chain to the spoils of a heist for a book about robberies. Okay, so you don’t want to use anything precious, but we bet there are some amazing colours of eyeshadow in there that can be anything from a dinosaur ‘skin’ on cheeks to the blue eyes of a famous inventor.
It's about thinking laterally – looking at the costume you're trying to replicate and asking 'What do I have that will be similar' rather than trying to make an exact carbon copy of the outfit or character. Don't be afraid of customising – you could take some scissors (you, not your child) to an old wig, cut a tie in half or take the sleeves off a top. Got the right colour trousers but need shorts? Time for some chopping!
Save up cardboard boxes or get 'em from the shops.
Deliveries? Save those boxes. A cardboard box with the front cut out is a good substitute for anything from an astronaut's helmet to a fish tank, while the sides could be cut out into a crown. If it's big enough, a box could become a robot, pirate ship or car.
If you need cardboard, try asking the local supermarket or shops if they have any spare delivery boxes. It doesn't matter if they have writing on – you can use the inside of the box, or paint and draw over the writing
Check out the charity shops.
A charity shop is one of the top ways you'll be able to find a costume at a bargain price. Some may even have dedicated rails of pre-loved outfits. But there are ways to hone in on what you need, rather than just hoping they have the outfit your child wants.
The bric-a-brac section of a charity shop is often full of items you can use. Old glasses with the lenses popped out, scarves and jewellery can all be repurposed.
Ignore sizes – a T-shirt in the right colour or shirt in the right pattern can be cut to fit or tied with a belt. Make sure you look beyond the usual fancy dress, and even into adult rails – think about what will work for the character or book you’re trying to represent.
Look beyond the labels or packaging on second hand costumes. For example, I found this 'Victorian poor boy' outfit in a charity shop for £3. It could be Oliver Twist, Charlie Bucket, or Peter Pan with the right face paints.
Don’t overlook non-fiction World Book Day costumes.
Non-fiction can be an interesting way to get a book theme on a budget or for free. Is there a non-fiction book where your child can come as a historical figure, which often uses more ‘everyday’ clothes? Or you could encourage them to come as 'The World' (an atlas), or someone from a book about a famous inventor or celebrity. They could even come as their favourite author, rather than book.
Once you have your items, begin a dressing up box.
Then, next time you need a costume, you have a ready-made set of items to choose from.
And finally, give yourself a break.
Remember, all parents are going through the stress and challenge of making or finding THE perfect outfit or costume – you're not alone. What really matters is that the kids have fun and everyone discusses their favourite books and authors – and we support each other in our reading endeavours.
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