Save Money On Easy Book Character Day Costumes
Help inspire students to make their own book character day costume. Share the tips below to motivate them to create money-saving and easy book character costumes for World Book Day or Halloween.
Book Character Day/World Book Day
When I was a teacher-librarian, I coordinated a book character day event every year. Some students saw it as an opportunity to dress up as a Disney character or a superhero with no focus on books.
I am a bit of a stickler for the ‘book’ part of the Book Character Day! When the event became my responsibility, I banned costumes that made children think of a movie. Visits to the school library increased as families came for character ideas, advice and to check out books.
Of course, there were a few disgruntled parents. I explained they didn’t need to buy a costume, but could make a cheap and easy book character costume at home. Discussing favourite books and characters inspired the students to decide on a book character they connected with.
Preparing For Book Character Day
Once your students have decided on a character, they need to have a rummage in everyone’s wardrobe for costume ideas.
Many book characters are regular people/animals, but have something distinctive about them. I asked students to make a homemade prop. The prop didn’t have to be complicated, just something that showed the essence of the character they had chosen. Over the years, book character day became more about books and the costumes got more creative.
Tips to Save Money Making Easy Book Character Costumes
- Look to see what you already have at home.
- Do you have a dressing up box? What can you adapt to make into a new costume?
- Check the clothes and accessories of family members.
- Adapt a school uniform into a book character costume.
- Use recycled cardboard to make parts of the costume or prop.
- Will makeup or face paint add to the costume?
- Incorporate household objects.
- Use a headband and add homemade ears.
- Make a mask of an animal character.
FREE Book Character Day Activities
Before you explore the costumes, I have made a pack of graphic organisers and activities to use on, before or after your school's book character day.
I have a freebie that is part of this larger resource so you can try it out before buying anything!
Fill in the form below to get access to the Free Resource Library.
If you already have access to the free resource library, you will find the freebie in the Seasonal section.
Creative and Easy Book Character Costumes
I have collected some great costume ideas for children from Instagram. You can find more costumes at Homemade and Easy Book Character Costumes For Teachers, many of which can easily be adapted for children.
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What Next?
This lesson plan from Learning for Justice could be an interesting counterpoint before or after dressing up. It helps “students think critically about the ways Halloween costumes are marketed and how certain costumes perpetuate stereotypes.”
You can share your own costumes for World Book Day online using the hashtag #worldbookday. I would love to hear about any creative book costumes you make or see. Let me know about them in the comments below!
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