25 easy Book Week costume ideas for kids (that you can actually make at home)

Book Week has a funny way of sneaking up on us, every single year. And then, all of a sudden, your child needs to arrive dressed as a book character tomorrow … and every red cape, striped shirt and wizard hat in the shops has vanished.

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Before you panic-buy a costume that may never be worn again, take a look around the house. A memorable Book Week costume doesn’t need to be expensive / expertly sewn / worthy of a theatre production. Some of the best ideas begin with everyday clothes, a cardboard box and a book your child genuinely loves.

This year, Book Week runs 22–28 August, with the theme “Symphony of Stories”. The theme is an invitation to celebrate all the different characters, voices and worlds that come together through reading, so there is plenty of room for children to make their costume their own. Dates vary school to school, as do themes so this is one of those time to make sure you’ve read the emails they sent!

Whether you have a whole week to plan or you’re pulling something together the night before (… or morning of), these easy Book Week costume ideas have saved our bacon a few times in years gone by…

Before you choose a costume

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The easiest costume is usually hiding in your child’s bookshelf or wardrobe. Start by asking three questions:

• Which character will your child feel excited and comfortable being?
• What clothes or props do you already own?
• Can they sit, walk, and, importantly, use the bathroom and make it through the school day in it?

Remember to check your school’s parade guidelines, too. Toy weapons, masks, face paint and large props may not be permitted, and some schools ask children to carry the book that inspired their costume.

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Last-minute Book Week costumes using clothes you already own

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1. Bluey or Bingo

Yes it’s a book (too). This one is always a crowd-pleaser. Dress your child in a blue or orange outfit and add cardboard ears to a headband. Cut spots from felt or coloured paper and attach them with fabric tape or safety pins. A homemade tail completes the look. Our hot tip here: a sock and a safety pin!

You’ll need: Blue or orange clothes, cardboard, a headband and coloured paper or felt.

2. Thelma the Unicorn

Turn a pink outfit into Thelma with a cardboard horn, pink ears and plenty of removable sparkle. A headband is much easier to wear all day than a full mask, while a little silver tinsel can create Thelma’s wonderfully over-the-top mane.

You’ll need: Pink clothes, a headband, cardboard, foil or tinsel.

3. Pig the Pug

A beige or brown outfit, floppy felt ears and a curly cardboard tail are enough to transform a child into that famously greedy pug. Add thick cardboard eyebrows for Pig’s signature grumpy expression. Carrying a toy bone or one of the books helps make the character instantly recognisable.

You’ll need: Neutral-coloured clothes, felt or paper, a headband and cardboard.

4. Alpaca from Macca the Alpaca

Dress your child in white or cream and pin clusters of cotton wool or scrunched tissue paper onto an old T-shirt. Add paper ears to a headband and a cheerful bow tie for a simple Macca-inspired costume.

You’ll need: White clothes, cotton wool or tissue paper, cardboard and a bow tie.

5. Mr Chicken

Leigh Hobbs’ Mr Chicken is delightfully easy to recreate. Start with yellow clothes, add a red cardboard comb to a cap or headband, and make a beak from folded orange card. Black feather shapes cut from paper can be taped to the sleeves.

You’ll need: Yellow clothes, red and orange cardboard, black paper and a cap or headband.

6. Noni the Pony

Brown clothes form the base for this sweet storybook favourite. Add a tail and a headband with ears and you’re done. Bonus points for the apples, carrots or anything resembling hay!  

You’ll need: Brown clothes, a headband for ears and anything you can find that will pass as a tail!

7. Mr McGee

This is a classic. Mr McGee’s outfit can often be assembled entirely from the wardrobe: a pink shirt, purple trousers and a hat. No hat? That’s fine. He lost it in the book anyway! Bonus points for a red blazer. Add the chosen book as a prop. 

You’ll need: A collared shirt, trousers, hat and book-themed prop.

8. A character from *Where Is the Green Sheep?*

Pick a sheep, green, blue, red, bath, bed or even the elusive green sheep,  and build the costume around one colour or activity. A plain T-shirt covered with cotton wool creates instant fleece, while cardboard ears can be attached to a headband.

You’ll need: A coloured T-shirt, cotton wool, cardboard and a headband.

9. Grug

Grug works beautifully with a brown outfit and strips of brown, orange and yellow felt attached down the front. Add a simple rounded headpiece or a cardboard sign reading “Grug” if you want to keep things very low effort.

You’ll need: Brown clothes and strips of felt, fabric or crepe paper.

10. Grandma Poss

Layer a cardigan or shawl over comfortable clothes, add a pair of cardboard possum ears and carry a wooden spoon or toy saucepan. 

You’ll need: A cardigan, scarf or shawl, cardboard ears and a kitchen prop.

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Easy costumes from popular children’s books

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11. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Wear green and attach circles of different green shades down the front of a T-shirt. Make antennae from pipe cleaners fixed to a headband, then carry a paper apple with one big “bite” cut out. 

You’ll need: Green clothes, coloured paper or felt, pipe cleaners and a headband.

12. The Cat in the Hat

Black trousers and a black top become the Cat in the Hat with a red bow tie and a tall striped hat made from cardboard. Keep the hat light and secure it to a headband rather than balancing it directly on your child’s head.

You’ll need: Black clothes, white and red cardboard, ribbon or elastic.

13. Where’s Wally?

Pair a red-and-white striped top with blue bottoms, glasses and a beanie. If you do not own a striped shirt, stick broad red paper or felt strips onto an old white T-shirt using removable fabric tape.

You’ll need: Red and white top, blue bottoms, glasses and a beanie.

14. Matilda

A blue dress, cardigan, white socks and a red ribbon create a simple Matilda look. Give your child a stack of lightweight books or one favourite story to carry. A small toy newt is a fun optional detail for older fans.

You’ll need: Blue dress or skirt, cardigan, red ribbon and a book.

15. Harry Potter or Hermione Granger

Layer a dark cardigan, jacket or dressing gown over a white shirt and tie. Make a wand from rolled cardboard or a painted chopstick, and draw Harry’s lightning scar with washable face paint if school rules allow.

You’ll need: White shirt, dark layer, tie, glasses and homemade wand.

16. Paddington Bear

This is such a sweet one. A blue coat, red hat and small suitcase are the key ingredients. Add a luggage tag if you have one.  If a coat will be too warm during the parade, use a blue cardigan instead.

You’ll need: Blue jacket or cardigan, red hat, gumboots and a small case.

17. The Paper Bag Princess

Cut head and arm holes into a large brown paper bag, or fashion a tunic from brown kraft paper over regular clothes. Add a cardboard crown and slightly messy hair. Make sure the paper layer is roomy, tear-safe and easy to remove.

You’ll need: Brown paper, cardboard crown and regular clothes underneath.

18. Little Red Riding Hood

Wear a red hoodie, cape, blanket or scarf over everyday clothes and carry a small basket. This is an especially useful option when the weather forecast is cold.

You’ll need: Red hooded layer and a basket.

19. Alice in Wonderland

A blue dress or blue top and skirt needs only a white apron and a black headband. The apron can be cut from an old white pillowcase or piece of fabric, with no sewing required.

You’ll need: Blue clothes, white fabric and a black headband.

20. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This one is wonderfully simple: everyday clothes plus a hand-drawn Greg Heffley face on a piece of cardboard. Attach it to a ruler or paint stirrer so your child can hold it up for the parade and put it down in class.

You’ll need: Everyday clothes, white cardboard and a black marker.

Clever cardboard costumes for the night before

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21. The Bad Guys

Choose Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Mr Piranha or Ms Tarantula and create a simple cardboard headband, tail or fin. A dark outfit underneath brings the group together, and makes this an excellent costume idea for siblings or friends.

You’ll need: Black or grey clothes, cardboard, elastic and markers.

22. A crayon from *The Day the Crayons Quit*

Pick one colour and dress head to toe in it. Make a tall crayon-point hat from matching cardboard and add the crayon’s label across the front of the shirt. This works particularly well as a whole-class or sibling costume.

You’ll need: One-colour outfit, matching cardboard and a marker.

23. A book-loving detective

For characters such as Friday Barnes, use a school-style outfit, glasses, a notebook and a handmade detective badge. A magnifying glass cut from cardboard makes the idea clear without needing an expensive prop.

You’ll need: Smart school-style clothes, glasses, notebook and cardboard magnifying glass.

24. A musical story character

Lean into this year’s theme by choosing any beloved character and giving them a homemade instrument. Turn a cereal box and cardboard tube into a guitar, or use two decorated paper plates as cymbals. Keep all props soft, light and free of small loose pieces.

You’ll need: An existing character costume, clean recycled cardboard, tape and paint.

25. Your child’s own storybook character

If the school allows original characters, invite your child to invent someone from their own “symphony” of stories. They might be a space conductor, a dragon drummer or a fairy who collects sounds. Ask them to draw a book cover and write a one-sentence character description to carry in the parade.

You’ll need: Whatever is already in the dress-up box, plus paper and imagination.

Five-minute Book Week costume rescues

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Still stuck on the morning of the parade? Try one of these:

• Wear pyjamas and carry Goodnight Moon or another bedtime story.
• Dress in one colour and add a homemade crayon label.
• Wear normal clothes and carry a cardboard character mask on a stick.
• Add animal ears and a tail to clothes in the same colour.
• Dress as an author with a notebook, pen and homemade “author” lanyard.
• Print or draw a large book cover and wear it as a lightweight sandwich board over regular clothes.

How to make a Book Week costume school-day friendly

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A costume can feel like a brilliant idea at 8.30am and become deeply annoying by recess. A quick comfort check before the big day can save everyone a lot of fuss:

• Add regular clothes underneath so layers can come off if the day warms up.
• Choose closed shoes that are safe for running and playground time.
• Avoid long hems, dragging capes and props that block your child’s view.
• Use a headband instead of a full-face mask.
• Label loose costume pieces with your child’s name.
• Pack a spare t-shirt if the costume includes face paint, glued-on decorations or lots of layers.

The best Book Week costume isn’t necessarily the most elaborate one in the parade. It’s the one your child feels happy wearing. And, if you’re lucky, the one that makes them even more excited to open the book when they get home.

So raid the recycling bin, check the dress-up basket and let the story do the rest. A cardboard crown, a favourite book and a little imagination may be all you need.