10 Easy Last-Minute World Book Day Costume Ideas

February 20, 2025

World Book Day is looming, and you’ve just realised you need a costume – don’t panic! You don’t need sewing skills or a shopping spree to pull off a brilliant bookish look. Here are 10 easy, last-minute World Book Day costume ideas using things you probably already have at home. (All images in this blog have been found on Pinterest for inspiration.)

1. Dog Man (Dog Man series – Dav Pilkey)

Dog Man World Book Day Costume last minute

What you need: Blue T-shirt, blue trousers, and a homemade police badge
Extra touch: Make Dog Man’s ears from a headband and paper/card

Dav Pilkey’s half-dog, half-police hero is a huge hit with children, and his simple outfit makes for a super easy World Book Day costume! Just stick a yellow badge with a paw print onto a blue T-shirt, and you’re good to go.

2. Gangsta Granny (Gangsta Granny – David Walliams)

Gangsta Granny World Book Day Costume quick

What you need: A black top and skirt/trousers, a grey cardigan, and a headscarf
Extra touch: Carry a swag bag (a pillowcase with £ signs drawn on!)

A fun and easy choice for World Book Day – especially if you’ve got a granny-style cardigan lying around.

3. An Alien (The Smeds and the Smoos – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler)

Smeds and Smoos World Book Day Costume easy

What you need: Red, blue or purple clothes (depending on whether you want to be a Smed or a Smoo)
Extra touch: Make antennae with pipe cleaners and a headband

This is a brilliant no-stress World Book Day costume – just pick a colour and tell everyone you’re from the world of The Smeds and the Smoos!

4. Alex (Minecraft: The Island – Max Brooks)

What you need: Green T-shirt, brown trousers, and a cardboard ‘pixelated’ pickaxe (or toy pickaxe)
Extra touch: Draw blocky pixel-style squares on the T-shirt with a marker

Yes, Minecraft has books! If your child is Minecraft-obsessed, this is a great way to get them involved in World Book Day with a character they love.

5. Stick Man (Stick Man – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler)

What you need: Brown clothes and a headband with paper leaves stuck on
Extra touch: Draw a smiley face on a small cardboard stick to carry as his ‘family tree’

A brilliant Julia Donaldson book day costume option that’s simple yet creative.

6. Matilda (Matilda – Roald Dahl)

What you need: A blue dress, a red ribbon for your hair, and a stack of books
Extra touch: If you have round glasses, you can be Miss Honey instead!

Matilda is an absolute classic – a simple world book day costume that is instantly recognisable.

7. Horrid Henry (Horrid Henry – Francesca Simon)

Horrid Henry World Book Day Costume Easy

What you need: A blue top with a yellow stripe (or just a blue jumper) and jeans
Extra touch: Mess up their hair and pull their best ‘horrid’ face

Perfect for children who love a mischievous character, this is a book day costume that is so easy to throw together!

8. Mr. Bump (Mr. Bump – Roger Hargreaves)

What you need: A blue T-shirt and trousers, plus a few bandages or toilet roll wrapped around your head/arms
Extra touch: Draw a little frown on a piece of card and attach it to a headband for an extra ‘Mr. Men’ look

A no-stress Book Day costume that’s instantly recognisable and great for younger children.

9. Harry Potter OR Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling)

Harry Potter World Book Day Costume for kids

What you need: Black clothes, a white shirt, and a red-and-gold striped scarf
Extra touch:

For Harry, draw a lightning bolt scar with eyeliner and carry a wand (a chopstick works!)
For Hermione, carry a book and frizz up hair slightly for her iconic curls

Still one of the most popular World Book Day costumes, and so easy to throw together with things at home!

10. Supertato (Supertato – Sue Hendra & Paul Linnet)

What you need: A brown T-shirt (or a cardboard cut-out of a potato shape), a black mask, and a red cape
Extra touch: Add a ‘Supertato’ label to the outfit

The easiest superhero costume ever! If your child loves Supertato, this is a fun and funny option.

Super Quick World Book Day Costumes If You’re Really Stuck!

Pyjamas + a teddy → Bedtime stories (The Velveteen Rabbit, Peace at Last, etc.)
Football kit → Say it’s from Football School or Frankie’s Magic Football.
Crown + any dressy outfit → The Queen’s Knickers or The King’s Pants.
Any animal onesie → The Gruffalo, The Tiger Who Came to Tea or Winnie-the-Pooh.
Use our FREE Viking costume props → How to train your dragon
Claim a FREE set of Rabbit costume props →The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland or The Rhyming Rabbit.
Become a instant Fairy with our FREE Fairy costume props → Peter Pan, Rainbow Magic series and Freddie and the fairy

Last Minute Costume Magic for World Book Day!

These quick and easy World Book Day costume ideas prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune or hours crafting to take part in the fun. Just grab what you’ve got, add a few simple touches, and let your child step into their favourite book!

And if you want more World Book Day fun, Busy Things has plenty of book-themed activities to keep the excitement going beyond dressing up.