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World Book Day has been celebrated around the world every year since it was first created by UNESCO in 1995. The day was created with the aim of encouraging children to enjoy reading, as well as improving many important skills like language, writing and creativity.

As well as having an important purpose, World Book Day is also fun. Many schools celebrate this day by encouraging their staff and students (as well as parents) to dress up as their favourite literary characters. From classic fairy tales to modern childrens books, this World Book Day you could step into the shoes of many much-loved (or love-to-hate) characters.

Costume Ideas:

Miss Trunchbull

Matilda - Roald Dahl.

With the new film adaptation of Matilda, dressing as Miss Trunchbull is an excellent choice for this year's World Book Day. Transform your classroom into Crunchem Hall for the day and make sure your students behave otherwise they’ll be sent to The Chokey.

Buy your Miss Trunchbull costume here.

Cruella de Vil

The Hundred and One Dalmatians - Dodie Smith.

A character of greed, evil and sass, Cruella de Vil is one of the best all-time villains in children's literature. Wrap yourself in (faux) dalmatian fur, put on the iconic wig and maybe bring a dalmatian puppy toy (or 15).

Buy your Cruella de Vil costume here.

Tiger

The Tiger Who Came to Tea - Judith Kerr.

Become the “big, furry, stripy tiger” who came for tea with Sophie and her mummy with this tiger costume. Just make sure you don’t consume all the food and drink in the school otherwise there’ll be none left for your pupils.

Buy your tiger costume here.

Little Red Riding Hood

Fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

You better hurry through the dark forest on your way to school or the big bad wolf might beat you there and gobble up all the children like he did with grandmother! If you arrive in time, we’re sure your students will appreciate your basket of goodies.

Buy your Little Red Riding Hood costume here.

Wolf

Fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

Appearing in a range of literature and fairy tales, you could attend World Book Day as the big bad wolf. Add a nightdress and take on the role of the wolf in Little red riding hood. Or you could huff and puff and blow down all the straw and stick houses on the way to school. But if your school is made from brick like the third little pig's house, you might have a challenge on your hands (or paws).

Buy your wolf costume here.

Wicked Witch of the West

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum.

Go in search of the precious silver shoes (red in the film adaptation) to gain more power over your class, animals and flying monkeys. But make sure Dorothy doesn’t throw any water on you or you might melt away.

Complete the look with some green face paint.

Buy your Wicked Witch of the West costume here.

Cowardly Lion

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum.

Follow the yellow brick road and you might bump into Dorothy on her way to the Emerald City. This costume will give you the chance to teach your class that they can be brave as long as they don’t doubt themselves.

Complete the look with some face paint.

Buy your Cowardly Lion costume here.

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins - P. L. Travers.

Looking for a prim and proper costume that is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? If Jane and Michael thought she was practically perfect in every way, your class will think so too. So grab an umbrella and be blown in the strong wind all the way to your school.

Buy your blue Mary Poppins costume here or your white Mary Poppins costume here.

Bert

Mary Poppins - P. L. Travers.

Become the much-loved friend of Mary Poppins and the residents of Cherry Tree Lane - Bert the Matchman. A man of many occupations - Selling matches, creating street paintings, busking with his hurdy-gurdy and sweeping chimneys in the film adaptation (you could even add some soot with face paint).

Buy your Bert costume here.

Want to pair up with a fellow teacher? You and your colleague could go as Mary and Bert. Check out our top couples costumes.

Maleficent

Fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Fly into the classroom as the evil fairy, Maleficent. Back from the Princess’s Naming Party, you’ve just cursed one child to sleep for 100 years, if your students don’t behave themselves, you’ll have to curse them too.

Buy your Maleficent costume here.

Wally

Where’s Wally - Martin Handford

Based on the iconic puzzle book, you could morph into the best hide and seek player with this Where’s Wally costume. Your students will have great fun trying to spot you throughout the day, whether it’s in the classroom, playground or assembly.

Buy your Wally costume here.

Willy Wonka

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl.

You’ve found a golden ticket with this World Book Day costume. Transform yourself into the eccentric chocolatier and spend the day testing your pupils to see if any of them have what it takes to take over the Wonka Chocolate Factory. Don’t forget your Willy Wonka cane.

Buy your Willy Wonka costume here.

Willy Wonka needs his Oompa Loompa assistants, is your teaching assistant up to the Oompa Loompa challenge? Check out more couples costume ideas here. [link to couples costumes blog].

Robin Hood

English folklore of Robin Hood.

Are you the type of person who would steal from the rich to give to the poor? Then you could become this heroic outlaw for the day. Don’t forget to bring a (fake) bow and arrow or a bag of gold coins (gold chocolate coins would be popular with your students).

Buy your Robin Hood top/trousers costume here or your Robin Hood dress costume here.

Skeleton

Funny Bones - Allan Ahlberg.

As the big skeleton, it’s time to leave your dark dark cellar, climb your dark dark staircase and go on a walk to your dark dark school through the dark dark streets. Maybe you’ll have the chance to sing the bone song with your class.

Complete the look with some face paint.

Buy your skeleton costume here.

The Hatter

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll.

A costume that is always a winner is The Hatter (also known as Hatta and the Mad Hatter). Eccentric, funny and lovable, as this character you could take a break from your never-ending tea party to entertain your class.

Buy your Hatter costume here.

Queen of Hearts

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll.

How to get your class to behave for the day? Become the tyrannical Queen of Hearts who declares “Off with his head!” at any slight offence. Don’t forget to do your makeup and bring your flamingo mallet and balled up hedgehogs to play croquet at break time.

Buy your Queen of Hearts costume here.

Snow White

Fairy tale of Snow White.

With “skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony”, Snow White is a timeless classic. Every class has a couple of kids who embody the characters Sleepy, Happy and Grumpy, so you’ll fit right in. But make sure you don’t eat the poisoned apple or you’ll end up in a glass coffin.

Complete the look with a classic Snow White black wig.

Buy your Snow White costume here.

Evil Queen

Fairytale of Snow White

To rule over your class as the fairest teacher of all, you must first ask your magic mirror “mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”. If the answer isn’t you, it’s time to channel your inner jealousy and evil, put on your costume and go in search of Snow White.

Buy your Evil Queen costume here.

Bear

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Want a costume that can be found in multiple books and fairy tales? A bear is a great option. Whether you go on a bear hunt on your way to school or come home after a walk to find Goldilocks asleep in your bed, whatever you and your class are reading, your students will love this costume.

Buy your bear costume here.

Wizard

The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien and Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Cast a spell of amazement over your class with this wizard costume. Are you inspired by Gandalf or Saruman from Lord of the Rings or Dumbledore from Harry Potter? Whoever your inspiration is, you can magic up their look with this costume. Don’t have the majestic hair or beard of a wizard? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this wig and beard set.

Buy your wizard costume here.

Witch

Character in many books (The Worst Witch - Jill Murphy, The Witches - Terry Pratchett, Room on the Broom - Julia Donaldson, Meg and Mog - Helen Nicoll and Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling.

Grab your broomstick and cauldron (even better if it’s filled with gruesome sweets) and fly into your school dressed as your favourite literary witch. Friendly, evil or mysterious, there’s a wide range of magical characters you could morph into this World Book Day.

Buy your witch costume here.

Grand High Witch

Witches - Roald Dahl

As the Grand High Witch, you’ll need to put on your mask to hide your witchy face, gloves to hide your claws, a wig to hide your bald head and pointy shoes to hide your square, toeless feet. Now follow the stink waves, find your class of children and turn them all into mice.

Buy your Grand High Witch costume here.

Whichever costume you pick this World Book Day, channel your inner actor and give it your all to inspire your students to pick up a book and enjoy reading.

Still not found what you’re looking for? You can find more inspiration here.