Thrifty World Book Day Costume Ideas

World Book Day is fast approaching and if you are looking for quick, thrifty world book day costume ideas this is the right post for you!  There seem to be so many dress-up days at primary school now that I can’t justify buying outfits for each celebration day. Therefore I have compiled a list of low-cost costume ideas.  

I first shared my Diary Of A Wimpy Kid head at Emma and 3 but decided to look at other thrifty costumes ideas too over here! The Wimpy Costume takes some preparation but is a striking low-cost budget costume idea that served us well. I think, as a family, we have had six wears of it to date! We store the head in a box in the garage.

A couple of years ago my husband (an assistant headteacher) also got in on the act and wanted to go in character. We decided on The Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Making the head took some effort but was free.  I made it over the course of a week and thankfully it has been used more than once.  My husband won the best teacher dressed up, as voted by the students. It even took them a while to work out just which teacher it was as he limbered along the school corridors high fiving the pupils. My son when wore it in year six and he too won the prize for best dressed.

How to make the Diary of A Wimpy Kid Head

1. Use a beach ball and paper-mache. Inflate the beach ball, rip up strips of newspaper and old magazines and layer over the ball. I used a wallpaper paste for our glue as it was a big job.  Several layers over several days will be needed.  I wish we had longer to spend on this.  I was drying it in front of the heater and hairdryer most days, which is not the most frugal approach!

2. Cut two semi-circles, which become the ears, from polystyrene.  Cover with paper mache.

3. Cut the hair shape from polystyrene and again cover with a couple of layers of paper mache.

4. Cover a used drink can for the nose, we used a coke can, other fizzy drinks are also available!

5. Once the paper mache is dry using a Stanley knife or similar cut a hole on the base that your head will fit through.  Deflate the beach ball at this point and remove it.  This instruction needs adult supervision.

6. Paint the head, ears and can with white paint and leave to dry.  The hair is painted black.

7. Attach the ears and hair by using cocktails sticks.  The sticks easily penetrate the polystyrene and the paper mache head.

8. Superglue the ears and hair for extra strength.  Cut a hole for the nose and push the can/nose through the head.  Tape can help secure from the inside.

9. Paint one final layer of white paint over the head.

10. Wear with long white socks, black trousers, white top.  Carry a black backpack and you are ready!

More low-cost thrifty world book day costume ideas include:

• Oliver from Oliver Twist, find any old clothes and rip them up.  Go to a charity shop if needed.
• Where’s Wally.  Red and white stripey top and jeans.  Black rimmed sunglasses
• Burgler Bill, again a stripey top and jeans just add a swag bag and aeroplane sleepmask that you have cut the eye holes out of so they can actually see! Swag bags can be made easily from the drawstring carrier bags you get from sports shops. Just turn it inside out to remove the store branding.
• Paddington  Bear if you have a blue coat and red hat. Carry a little suitcase saying ‘Look after this bear’
• Room on a Broom – do you still have a witches hat and cape from Halloween?
• Roald Dahl is a parents friend for World Book Day as they are minimal costumes.  Grandpa Joe is stripey pajamas, flat cap, and a walking stick.
• Fantastic Mr. Fox wear brown clothes and a jazzy waistcoat. Add a tail and ears if you are being organised!
• Matilda wears a pinafore dress and two hair clips with hair in bunches.  Carry a few books.
• Mary Poppins, long aline skirt, shirt, and jacket.  Top hat with a few artificial flowers stuck on.
• Sophie from the BFG is super easy with a great post on this here.

Remember to have a look at what you have at home before spending anything, then think about what you can make or try the charity shops for thrifty ideas.   I always encourage my children to take the book of their character too as it adds to their belief that they look like the chosen character.