This Thursday is World Book Day, so if you’re in a panic for a last-minute idea, here’s a classic yet easy-to-make book that requires little to no finesse sewing skills and can be assembled in just a few minutes. There are 6 costumes available.
It’s that time of year again where millions of children dress up as their favorite characters for World Book Day.
Some parents love the chance to help their child recreate their favorite book characters, while others dread the opportunity. She has less than 24 hours left, if she only remembers receiving an email, or even a letter, from her child’s school. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, March 7th. Now is the time to put the final touches on your child’s costume or come up with a quick last-minute idea.
Many parents who struggle with creative activities choose to purchase costumes and props, but with the rising cost of living at stake, this is another expense that families can do without. There are several ways to create fun DIY costumes that won’t cost you a penny. The education experts at Explore Learning have come up with six great outfit ideas for her that don’t require any fancy sewing skills and are simple and easy to put together.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Charlie Bucket or Veruca Salt
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic World Book Day favorite. You can quickly and easily make a Charlie Bucket costume using old or oversized clothes you have around the house.
Oversized shirts, cardigans, scarves, beanies or flat caps, and bags are required. Create or print a handmade golden ticket and let your child have a lucky chocolate for the perfect finishing touch.
An additional option from the same book is Veruca Salt, the iconic brat, upper-class child who demands a squirrel from her father in the chocolate factory. To recreate the character, all you need is a sparkly outfit, a lollipop, and a printed golden ticket to create the perfect Veruca Salt costume in minutes.
Harry Potter – Harry, Ron or Hermione
Classic Hogwarts costumes are the quickest and easiest to put together if you already have uniforms to recreate popular characters like Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.
You’ll need to find school uniforms such as white shirts and black jumpers, and dig out old striped ties and scarves. Even better if you have a cloak or witch’s hat from an old Halloween costume. Sticks can also be used as the world’s easiest homemade walking sticks.
For Harry, you could add any extra glasses you have lying around the house or make glasses out of cardboard. Lip liner is a great tool for DIY scar removal. For Hermione, it’s easy with curly or slicked-back hair and a stack of books.
Green eggs and ham – Sam-I-Am
A quick and easy costume for this year’s World Book Day could be Dr. Seuss’s Sam-I-Am from Green Eggs and Ham. The main part of the costume required is an oversized yellow T-shirt or dress. Old or cheap ones are best. You can cut along the bottom to create a jagged zigzag shape.
If you have red felt or cardboard, you can easily make a DIY hat. Pair it with plain white leggings or tights to complete the look. To put the look together, make homemade green eggs and ham from cardboard, use felt or play dough, and add to paper plates.
Where the wild things are – Max
It’s easy to recreate Max from Where The Wild Things. This costume is perfect if your child wears a brightly colored dress with a hood. Alternatively, you can use a white long-sleeved t-shirt, white hoodie, and white pants or leggings.
For an added effect, sew a pipe cleaner to your hoodie to DIY a beard, or draw it on your face with an eye pencil for a quicker option.
You can make a DIY crown using durable gold paper or cardboard and paint. Also, you can easily make his DIY tail with any kind of fluffy fabric. If you’re feeling particularly creative, sew felt nails onto gloves or slippers for a wild look.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
If you have a green jumper, top or dress at home, you can easily make a caterpillar costume for World Book Day. To create the Hungry Caterpillar look, you can use an old red beanie to recreate a caterpillar’s head.
You can also use felt or pipe cleaners for the eyes and antennae. For an extra special touch, parents and children can have fun making cardboard and felt props of apples, pears, plums, strawberries, and oranges to symbolize the delicious snacks the caterpillars eat.
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