World Book outfits need not be a costume drama!
Where’s Wally to Charlie Bucket to Bruce Bogtrotter, we’ve got your kids covered
It’s World Book Day this week and, for some parents, panic will ensue as they seek appropriate costumes for their children to wear to school. It can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you have several children needing March 3 character clothes. With that in mind, former primary school teacher Becky Cranham of education resource experts PlanBee has great hacks to help conjure up some of the best known characters in children’s literature.
Her ideas include ...
For Bruce Bogtrotter (Matilda by Roald Dahl) dress in a school uniform and grab a big chocolate cake from the shops. Smear chocolate all over your child’s shirt and face.
To effect a Matilda transformation (Matilda by Roald Dahl) pop a red ribbon in your child’s hair and bundle a stack of books together with string or a belt. Easy.
Create Charlie Bucket (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl) with a big golden ticket to hang around your youngster’s neck. Grab a big piece of yellow paper and write out their very own invitation to visit Willy Wonka!
The Boy in the Dress (David Walliams) is another easy choice. Grab a dress and a football and your son is good to go.
Or your youngster can become Sophie (The BFG by Roald Dahl) by donning a nightie or a pair of pyjamas, with a quick dream jar created by a jam jar, glitter and some fairy lights.
Where’s Wally? (Martin Handford) is another option. If you have a striped top, a bobble hat and a pair of glasses, your child can be happily anonymous.
For The Cat in the Hat (Dr Seuss) dress your child in black and make a tall red and white hat from paper or card. A cat nose and whiskers painted on with eyeliner will complete the look.
Beegu (Alexis Deacon) is ideal if you have yellow leggings and t-shirts lying around. Dress your youngster in yellow and make long, floppy yellow ears from card.
Harry Potter (JK Rowling) needs no full-on wizard regalia. He spent most of his childhood as a muggle. Find a pair of thickrimmed glasses and draw a scar on your child’s head.
The Pevensie Children (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis) is a good one. Pick one of the four Pevensies, then pop a box on a piece of string, write an evacuee ID card and you will be the envy of all Narnia.
Or Flying Fergus (Chris Hoy) is perfect for keen cyclists: just pop on a a helmet and any other cycling kit.
To form a Saucepan Man (The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton) stick a colander on your child’s head and attach pots and pans to their body.
For tots think Mr Bump or Little Miss Whoops (Roger Hargreaves) by dressing them in blue, wrapping them in bandages or loo roll and sticking on some plasters.