The most creative DIY kids’ costume ideas for World Book Day

It’s the most literary time of the year! Hot on the heels of the Emirates Lit Fest in February is World Book Day, celebrated this year on 4 March in many schools across the UAE as well as in the UK. All of which leads up to World Book and Copyright Day celebrated by UNESCO and many countries around the world on April 23. So how to celebrate? By dressing up as your favourite literary character of course! Here’s our pick of some of the most creative and clever kids’ costumes made by some seriously talented mums…

THE GRUFFALO: Could you guess that old towels, egg cartons, pipe cleaners and a repurposed cuddly toy rabbit lie behind this incredible, homemade Gruffalo? Talented mum Emma of @dirt_diggers_and_dinosaurs on Instagram has a degree in graphic design and illustration and was a visual merchandising manager before her boys came along – and you can tell! Check out more of her pictures on Dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com.

STICKMAN: Ex-fashion buyer Emma Paton’s eye for design is obvious in this incredibly effective but incredibly simple Stick Man costume, based on the much-loved story by Julia Donaldson. All made using recycled cardboard boxes, it’s a super easy and totally free last-minute costume idea!

DOROTHY FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ: Sometimes all you need is the accessories and a few details to make a really effective but fuss-free costume, like resourceful mum Emma Bishy (@emmabishy1) did with her daughter. Most children will have a soft-toy dog, and pair of red shoes. Team them with plaits and a blue-coloured dress and, voila! We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto!

MR STRONG: Qatar-based Shehar Bano, also known as The PMP Mom, is author of Pakistani cookbook ‘Virsa’, a photographer and, clearly, an absolute dab hand at making Mr Men costumes!

MR BUMP: With a background in software engineering and banking, she gave it all up to focus on caring for her three children; Amna Hamza and Hassan.

MR PERFECT: She used cardboard paint and her considerable talent to whip up these Mr Men costumes, which I think you will agree are pretty special – and yet look easy to replicate. See more of Shehar’s creativity at @thepmpmom or Virsacookbook.com.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID and PAPER DOLLS: Claire juggles having five kids with creating picture-perfect nursery décor. She put her skills to good use with these simple yet effective Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Paper Dolls costumes.

SHARING A SHELL: Another wonderful Julia Donaldson book is depicted here with the Sharing a Shell creation by Bella and Dawn at the Dear Mummy blog. See their simple how-to guide at dearmummyblog.com/2020/03/06/my-world-book-day-costume-sharing-a-shell-by-julia-donaldson.

PIPPI LONGSTOCKING: Gorgeous mum of two Asha knows how to put an ensemble together, and puts her skills to good use with this simple but effective Pippi Longstocking presentation. All you need is some bendy wire for the hair, some mismatched accessories and you’re good to go!

TOAD OF TOAD HALL: How genius is this Wind in the Willows ensemble? Toad of Toad Hall is such a vivid character, brought to life so effectively with judicious use of a cardboard box and some key clothing. We’re impressed!

FING: Mindful Mama Holly and her 7-year-old son Zachary crafted this homemade Fing outfit together, based on the book by David Walliams. It got a lot of attention at school and we aren’t surprised at all!

MOOMINS: Creative mum Pippa Selby is a vintage enthusiast and puts her styling skills to use with this simple costume inspired by the Little My character in the Moomin series. Clever, quirky and just perfect.

THE HUNGRY CROCODILE: Mum of two Rachel is a Latin American Dance teacher and talented creator who came to costume-making only out of necessity, after having kids. Her Instagram feed @motherofgrom is full of impressive designs like this incredible crocodile from the Roald Dahl books.

ELMER THE ELEPHANT: She decided to start make her own costumes from a desire not to add to the contribution of single-use plastics and uses recyclable materials or things they already have lying around the house, such as the coloured paper used in this Elmer costume.

ZOG: The children love getting involved with the designing and making of them, says Rachel. “The thing I love about making them the most is just having that time to do something creative, away from work/chores/screen time and seeing an idea come to life.” Zog from the Julia Donaldson book is her most recent creation, under the theme ‘dragons from literature’ set by her children’s school.

KNIGHT: Rachel says most materials are just from what she has lying around at home: I hoard cardboard and packaging in the garden shed and look forward to the days my husband’s new surfboards arrive in their oversized cardboard boxes!

ALIEN ABDUCTION: “I remember the first time making one for my eldest son and him begging me to get a ‘shop one’ but ended up being so happy with how it turned out,” says Rachel. “He now expects nothing less - no pressure eh!”

MR TICKLE: Rachel’s children’s school celebrates World Book Day in mid March but have not made their theme announcement yet. @When the school announcement comes through the kids and I go into the playroom and pull out all of their reading books and start going through them for ideas. It’s really special,@she says. See her designs at @motherofgrom and www.motherofgrom.com.