Novelty costumes
Ghouls, Maori goddesses, comicbook heroes and even a set of human bookshelves visited Tawa School last Thursday in a dressup day organised by the school’s librarian.
Most of the school’s 320 students came to school dressed as their favourite book character. Students were encouraged to be creative rather than spending money on costumes, school librarian Angela Marsden said.
An example was Spongebob Squarepants fan Matthew Cottle, 6, who used a foam mattress to recreate his cartoon hero.
Bookworm pupils got to show off their handiwork in a fashion show in the school’s hall in the morning, and had their costumes judged. Overall winners were sisters Maia Kerekere, 6, and Tangiahua Kerekere, 8, who dressed as Maori goddesses from books they wrote and self-published.
This is the second year Ms Marsden has organised a ‘‘dress as a book character day’’. The event encourages children to visit the library, and think about the books they love, she said.
Popular costumes included wizards, Pippi Longstockings and Little Red Riding Hood. Many children brought to school the book that inspired their costume.
A favourite was The Saucepan Man, a character covered in pots and kettles, from Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree.
Joseph Raouf-Morton, 10, came as Captain Underpants and said he was a bit shy about parading in front of the school. ‘‘It’s embarrassing,’’ he said. He reckoned his white Y-fronts and red cape made one of the best costumes on the day, however.