Get creative with cardboard. There's almost nothing you can't make with some cardboard, scissors, and a good idea. Got a blonde daughter? Put her hair in bunches and send her as Lola from Charlie and Lola. Harry Potter just needs a lightning strike and a pair of round glasses. Go for a 'Blue Peter style' outfit with a bit of cardboard, paint or felt tips I have fond memories of reading this book to my daughter when she was young. It was her favourite book, and I’d read it to her every evening before she went to bed. It’s a lovely book, it’s got wonderful, colourful illustrations, but it’s also funny and appeals to children and adults alike. So with few belongings, just like the current refugees, Paddington arrives in a new country after a long and perilous journey. Chat to your children about how he might have been feeling? Cold? Hungry? Scared? He must have been brave to make that long journey! Paddington shares a lot with the refugees. Adapt a PE or sports kit, or their school uniform - think Football Academy for sports kit, Harry Potter and St Trinian's for the uniform.

The adventure includes five stories and accompanying activities suitable for children aged three to seven to promote storytelling, communication and language. Children can record their work on their own achievement chart and be rewarded at the end of the challenge with a certificate. Got costumes left over from Halloween, Christmas or last year's World Book Day? Use them! It matters not if the trousers are a bit short, incorporate that as part of the outfit.Another traditional kids’ fictional character that is simple to adopt as your own World Book Day costume! All you need is a white dress, a red cape and a little basket to complete the outfit. You could maybe even add some treats in there for your child to share (if they’d like to!) 3. Paddington Bear World Book Day falls on Thursday March 2 this year. The day is all about celebrating a love of reading and kids enjoy getting dressed up as their favourite book characters for school.

Roald Dahl penned the wonderful book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ in 1964 and it’s been captivating children ever since. Why not read the story (or parts of it) to the children. Follow on by playing ’The Chocolate Game’, for which you will need some dressing up items (hat, scarf, gloves, sunglasses, etc), dice, plate, knife and fork and of course some chocolate. All the children should sit in a circle with all the items in the middle, the children one at a time roll the dice (use large foam dice if you have one). If they get a six they get a chance to get some chocolate, but before trying to cut and eat the chocolate they have to put on all the items (e.g. hat, scarf, gloves, etc) and must use the knife and fork. Once the next person gets a 6 they go into the middle and have a chance. 4. Bring the Books to Life If you have a brightly coloured T-shirt, your child could easily pass as a Mr Men or Little Miss character of that colour. Think blue for Mr Sneezy, green for Mr Nosey and yellow for Little Miss Sunshine. Use bandages and matching tops and trousers to go as Mr Bump and Little Miss Sunshine (Image: Anna Ruffle) Use toy props and do their hair and make up Also take a look at our World Book Day gallery to see all the fabulous pics of costumes families have sent in over the past couple of years.

5. Mr Men / Little Miss books – Roger Hargreaves

If you’re anything like me, you’ll remember the World Book Day costume at about 10pm on Wednesday, March 2. Think about sleepwear - Pyjamas and nighties can work for all sorts of costumes, like The Darlings from Peter Pan or Sophie from The BFG. If you're after more book-smart ideas on how to make easy World Book Day costumes, we've got you covered! Here are just some of our vital tips for making easy and affordable costumes for World Book Day: I wonder how many of our children are asking this question? Every day they overhear conversations, see images or catch snippets of news. Trying to explain the current global situation to young children is definitely not easy, but with the help of a little bear from an old favourite book it can be made a bit easier. Vampire accessories can be utilised for The Little Vampire, Dracula or Ivy from My Sister, the Vampire whilst a skeleton outfit is perfect for Funny Bones or Disney's Coco. Room on the Broom and Wizard of Oz characters are ideal for any witch costume.

The particular year in these photos we weren’t allowed free reign to choose – we had to create a costume from a specified book. No.1 was given ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’. In case you’re not sure, that’s a Minotaur. Particularly proud of that one. And not at ALL bitter that it didn’t win. Jolly’s a penguin from ‘Creatures Of The Sea’ (have never even seen the book, no idea if it has penguins in it, but he looked adorable).Whilst at secondary school, I loved Chris Bonnington’s book “Annapurna Southface” about a deliberately very challenging ascent of Annapura in 1970. The spirit of determination and ingenuity displayed by Bonnington and his team further fuelled my passion for mountaineering first ignited by my mother who was a keen mountaineer in her younger years. Ten years after reading this book, I found myself heading up Annapurna which was truly terrific! Never under estimate the power of books! When I was 10 years old and still at Junior School, I read The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. Up to that point most of my fiction reading had definitely been written for children, but this was something very different, a young person’s book with difficult themes, real dangers and genuine accounts of historical suffering. Thankfully, all turns out (reasonably) well in the end! Make a simple mask. Paper plates are great for making simple masks. You can turn your child into pretty much any World Book Day character they fancy with a little crafting. Each year it is always exciting to see the list of new books released by well-known authors, let’s have a look at what 2023 holds. A sweet and comfy outfit for school. Dress your child in a nightie and pop some fairy lights in a jar to make ‘wishes’.

From Mr Men and Little Miss, to Dr. Seuss and Disney – you may find the perfect costume for your kids. So, leave the school uniform at home and let’s get creative! 1. Cat in the Hat

Celebrating World Book Day

Every toddler’s favourite! Perfect for a simple but fun nursery costume. All you need is circles of card – or paper plates. Kids love to help make this one. Turn your section into a world from your favourite books with these programme ideas: 1. Mr Men & Little Miss Jo – I vividly remember Josephine March and the imagery her character conjured up – with her poetry writing, her fear of the dentist’s chair, her relationship with her sisters, the sharing of the gloves and the party dress that was ruined by a burn and yet had to be worn!