World Book Day is 5th March this year (it's always the first Thursday of March, BTW), and it is also a flipping nightmare. There. I said it.
As a full-on-chaotic mother of two with a business to run and undiagnosed ADHD, my first Wednesday evening of March was always spent doing a last minute tour of all the local supermarkets to buy whatever monstrosity of a costume they had left on their shelves.
I'm not going to lie, I do not miss that part of parenting now that my kids are too old for dressing up.
My child genuinely went to school with a plastic bowl on her head one year. I'm not even kidding.
All the supermarkets had completely sold old of everything (as expected), so my inventive husband turned my salad bowl into a Viking helmet and cut up a leather skirt (don't ask...) to turn it into a cape.
As she sat there amongst a sea of kids dressed as Where's Wally and Harry Potter, she wasn't best pleased with us. When asked which book character she'd come dressed as, my poor kid just stared at them blankly, because, in all honesty, none of us had a clue.
Don't be like past me. Choose a low-effort, last minute World Book day costume that is recognisable, and you probably already have all the stuff for in your house.
Ok, a little side-note here. There will be parents out there who have the time, energy and money to go BIG for World Book Day. Some amazing parents will have their shiz together enough that they managed to source, order or make the most incredible World Book Day costume well in advance. It's like Book Day is one of the highlights of their year. If this is you, then this article is not for you, dear reader. You aren't going to find what you're looking for here. Might I suggest you take a look at any of our other posts instead? This post is for the panic-stricken parents on the first Wednesday of March who are desperately seeking an emergency Book Day costume for tomorrow and don't want to send their kid in with a bowl on their head.
So, busy parents, this one is for you...
Last Minute Easy World book Day Costume Ideas
Matilda
Pair a blue dress with a white cardigan and tie a red ribbon in her hair. Add knee high white socks and a book if you're feeling extra committed. So easy but it's an absolute classic.
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs
Jeans or blue jogging bottoms paired with a red jumper. Grab a beach bucket (preferably blue, but, if it's Wednesday 4th March, let's face it, any bucket will do) and fill it with a few dinosaur toys. Job done!
Peanut Jones
Stripey tights, denim shorts, any top and hair up. Add a bandolier with crayons and pencils- you could make this using an old belt and tape, or a length of fabric and some clever stitching to create pen-sized pockets.
Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid
This Book Day costume is unbelievably easy! Black shorts, white top and a black backpack. The easiest costume ever! If you have a little time and the motivation to do so, you could draw Greg's face on a sheet of card and cut it out to make a mask- attach it to a stick and you've got yourself a really cool World book Day costume that everyone will instantly recognise!
Stick Man
What could be easier than dressing up as a literal stick?! Brown clothes and a couple of green leaves- make these with green paper and scissors, or use real leaves- your low-effort choice.
Summing Up
I know what you're thinking, this doesn't quite fit with our usual message of thoughtfulness. At first glance, it may seem that way, but I argue that it fits perfectly.
The thing is, we're all busy, all the time, but we all care deeply about our loved ones.
You're not looking for a last minute emergency World Book Day costume because you don't care. You're looking because you DO care- you don't want your child to be the one without a costume, but life happened and suddenly World Book Day is this week. I've been there, many, many times!
If none of these are doing it for you, I suggest taking a quick scan of your child's bookshelf. Look for a story with kids in, because they are the easiest costumes to replicate - way easier than dragons, monsters, creatures and animals. And absolute worst-case scenario- send your child in wearing pyjamas and say they're in The Midnight Gang.
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