Celebrate your kids’ favourite stories with these brilliant World Book Day costume ideas for boys. Whether they choose a timeless classic like Peter Pan or a modern-day role model like Joe Wicks, there's no doubt they'll look the part.
World Book Day ideas for kids' costumes
These costume ideas for boys will bring their favourite characters and literary heroes to life – from the enchanting pages of Harry Potter to the colourful comic books of Spider-Man.
- 25 World Book Day costume ideas for teens
- 100+ costume ideas for World Book Day
- Need more WBD inspiration? Click here
Whether you’re dressing up tots or tweens, these costume ideas are super easy and lots of fun to put together, with ideas your little ones and your older boys will love!
1. Bob the Builder
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This adorable DIY costume is great for any Bob the Builder fan.
You'll need a hi-vis jacket and a yellow hardhat. Then, create a digger out of cardboard (if this part looks a bit too fiddly, you could always cut out a little cardboard digger for your child to hold, or give them a toy to carry with them).
2. Willy Wonka
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How fun is this Willy Wonka costume? Plus, what better way to celebrate World Book Day than with a nod to the great Roald Dahl?
Find out how to make your own Willy Wonka costume with our step-by-step instructions.
From Mr Twit to Augustus Gloop, we also have loads of ideas when it comes to Roald Dahl costumes, so make sure you check those out too.
3. Fantastic Mr Fox
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Another brilliant Roald Dahl classic.
Making the fox mask is a brilliant craft for your kids to try out; then you just need a yellow waistcoat and you're set!
To make an iconic Fantastic Mr Fox costume for your kids, follow our super simple guide.
4. Dennis the Menace
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For your Dennis the Menace costume, all you need is a red and black stripy top, black shorts and some hair gel for his spiky hair.
If you're feeling creative, you could make this costume extra cool by making Dennis' crazy hair out of black card or paper.
5. Shaun the Sheep
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As well as being a hit television series, our favourite farmyard characters from Shaun the Sheep also come to life in the first of an original illustrated book series, Tales from Mossy Bottom Farm.
For this woolly costume, all you'll need is some cotton balls, card paper, some black trousers and a black top.
6. Peter Pan
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Kids will love flying off to Neverland in this adventurous Peter Pan costume (which could also double up as a Robin Hood costume too).
Start with an old, oversized green T-shirt. Cut zig-zags from the bottom and arms, and sew or stick the scraps together for the hat. Then just accessorise with whatever you have lying around
7. Superman
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If your little one loves comics and superheroes, a Superman costume would be an amazing choice for World Book Day.
These tend to be really easy to find both online and in local costume shops.
If you're feeling adventurous, you could also make your own using red fabric for the cape, blue trousers and a top, plus a makeshift S emblem for the chest area. Plus, don’t forget to add a curl in the middle of the forehead before your mini superhero leaves the house to save the world!
Find out how to make a super simple superhero cape here.
8. Mr Messy
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It's pretty easy to make any of the Mr Men characters. All you need is a large sheet of card to draw your character on. Your kids will love getting involved with the drawing too!
9. Captain Hook
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Aye, aye, captain!
For this one, you'll need to source a red hat, a funky red jacket and a toy hook (it's important to make sure this isn't sharp, so plastic or even an inflatable would be best).
Once you have that, find a white top, a pair of black trousers and some long white socks and you're sorted. Easy!
10. The Mad Hatter
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This wacky Mad Hatter costume calls for creativity and a little improvisation, but it's totally worth it.
You'll need to source a black top hat and a fun tie, then dress them in a colourful shirt and jacket, paired with black trousers.
Grab some extra props like a tea set, reels of cotton thread and some ribbon to hang out of the jacket pockets in true Mad Hatter style.
11. Peter Rabbit
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An easy (and adorable) last-minute costume for kids.
You'll just need to stick some rabbit ears onto a headband and add a little face paint, then Peter Rabbit is ready to hop off to school.
12. Scarecrow
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Find a floppy hat, a checkered shirt and some straw, and you're good to go! Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, this outfit could also double up as a scary Halloween costume.
13. Bruce Bogtrotter
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This Bruce Bogtrotter costume from Roald Dahl's Matilda will really get everyone giggling. You only need a white shirt and some chocolate cake and what's more, kids will have loads of fun getting messy and totally covered in chocco.
14. Hiccup Horrendous Horrible III
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This crazy costume is for all the fans of the How to Train Your Dragon book series by Cressida Cowell.
For step-by-step instructions, follow this easy guide by World Book Day.
15. Tintin
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Grab a blue shirt, jumper or cardigan, along with some brown trousers and a dollop of hair gel, and there you have it – a fantastically easy Tintin costume.
Bonus points for Snowy the dog (either cut out from card or using a plush toy)!
16. One of the 101 Dalmatians
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Believe it or not, before it became a famous animation, 101 Dalmatians began as a children's novel (which was first published in 1956).
For this cute costume, simply sew some black felt onto an old white hoody to create Dalmatian spots and doggy ears. If sewing's not really for you, you could always opt for black and white face paint, matched with a polka dot onesie.
17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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To make this clever costume, dress your kids in black, give them a diary to hold and draw a face onto a piece of cardboard. And voilà, it's as easy as that!
18. Elmer
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If you love getting creative with patchwork, an Elmer the elephant costume will be lots of fun to make.
Similar to making a patchwork quilt, you could sew together old baby clothes to make this colourful costume even more memorable.
If patchwork isn't for you, you can find ready-made Elmer costumes online or at your local costume shop.
19. BFG
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Celebrate World Book Day (and the brilliant Roald Dahl) with this hilarious BFG-inspired costume.
Find a pair of novelty ears and a waistcoat and you’ve pretty much got the outfit sorted.
See our step-by-step guide to creating a BFG costume.
20. Frankenstein's monster
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Why not paint your little one's face just like the iconic Dr Frankenstein's creation? This frightful face paint design could also double up as a brilliant look for Halloween.
21. Jack and the Beanstalk
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How cool is this Jack and the Beanstalk costume?
With a green hoody, green trousers, and a splash of face paint, along with a little DIY crafting, this easy dress-up idea looks absolutely brilliant.
For more fairly tale inspiration for World Book Day, don't forget to check out some of these classic tales too.
22. Batman
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Another amazing superhero costume perfect for World Book Day.
You can make this one at home by creating a DIY mask using black felt, along with a batman emblem made from yellow and black card.
Dress your child in black and using a bit of scrap fabric, it's also super easy to make a cape fit for heroes.
23. Harry Potter
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Calling all Harry Potter fans!
As the best-selling book series in history, this costume makes a superb choice for celebrating World Book Day.
Grab your wizard wand, Gryffindor gown, and signature Harry Potter glasses, and check out our full guide to creating an easy Hogwarts uniform.
24. Pinocchio
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In this cute costume, your kids will look like they've just stepped out the pages of The Adventures of Pinocchio.
You'll need a pair of red trousers and a yellow top, along with braces, a hat, and a signature bow tie.
25. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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This one couldn't be much easier to make. It's also completely hassle-free, making it a great choice of costume if you forgot about World Book Day until the night before (it happens to the best of us!).
Simply attach circles cut from green card together to transform your child into a Very Hungry Caterpillar.
26. Paddington Bear
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It doesn't get much cuter than Paddington Bear.
Find an old hat and pair it with a blue duffel coat, red wellies and a DIY 'Please look after me' label.
You could also make a little suitcase out of cardboard to carry around school on World Book Day. And don't forget your marmalade sandwiches for lunch, of course!
27. The Gruffalo
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Inspired by one of the nation's most beloved kids' books, this Gruffalo costume is super easy to put together.
28. Horrid Henry
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The Horrid Henry book series has been around since the 90s, but still remains a popular World Book Day costume choice.
All you need is a stripey blue and yellow jumper along with a homemade Horrid Henry mask.
It looks fab and won't take you long to make either!
29. Aliens Love Dinopants
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Kids who giggled over the Aliens Love Dinopants children's book by Claire Freedman will love this wacky costume.
30. Curious George
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Based on Curious George's Ted Shackleford (better known as The Man With the Yellow Hat), this happy and bright costume will certainly bring a few smiles on World Book Day.
You'll just need a yellow shirt and pair of yellow trousers to match, along with a little cuddly toy monkey and of course, Ted's signature yellow explorer hat.
31. Oompa Loompa
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World Book Day wouldn't be complete without a few charming, cheeky Oompa Loompas dancing around the classroom. And if your kids love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this costume is perfect for them!
32. Mr Stink
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Recreate the character of Mr Stink from the well-loved David Walliams children's book.
You can make this costume at home using an old suit jacket, a tweed waistcoat, a red bow tie and black trousers. Plus, don't forget Mr Stink's iconic black glasses and raggedy grey beard, which you can recreate using face paint.
33. Sherlock Holmes
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Inspired by the 19th Century tales of Sherlock Holmes, this costume is great for World Book Day and can also be kept for school plays and fancy-dress parties.
With a tweed flat cap, fake pipe, and a detective's cape, they'll be ready to solve mysteries in no time.
34. Winnie the Pooh
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A.A Milne's Winnie the Pooh has been loved by kids (and grown-ups alike) for just short of 100 years. So, what cuter costume for World Book Day than this?
35. Percy Jackson
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Percy Jackson is a character from Rick Riordan's fantasy adventure novels, Percy Jackson & the Olympians.
Using an old orange t-shirt and a makeshift sword, this costume is nice and easy to put together at home.
36. Joe Wicks
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With his fitness classes and fab recipes, Joe Wicks is loved by families all across the country. If your kid's a fan of his books, The Burpee Bears, Lean in 15, or Joe's Family Food, why not try out this costume idea?
37. Spider-Man
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Because what's not to love about Spider-Man?
If your kids are into Marvel comics or they simply want to be a superhero when they grow up, this costume is perfect for them.
38.Dog Man costume
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Find out how to make this awesome DIY Dog Man costume on Pinterest for World Book Day
All you need are:
- Cardboard
- Craft knife
- Hot glue gun
- Black marker pen
- Blue paint
- Orange felt fabric
39. Elmer The Patchwork Elephant
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Keep it simple with a DIY Elmer The Patchwork Elephant mask and some colourful PJs.
But if you really want to make an effort for World Book Day, you can also colour in a plain white T-shirt and bottoms to look like patchwork – like this boy did on Pinterest
40. Mr. Shark from The Bad Guys
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This Mr. Shark costume from The Bad Guys is pretty awesome, and easy to create too ...
You can recreate this shark head mask example we found on Pinterest using flexible card/foam – the cutout mouth is where your kid can see out of!
The rest of the outfit is some form of suit. You could use their school uniform or an old suit jacket and tie from dad's wardrobe.
41. Big Bad Wolf mask & hoodie costume
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If your boy has a dark-coloured hoodie, you can easily recreate this 'Big Bad Wolf' look we found on Pinterest
Mask and hoodie costumes are perfect for super simple last-minute costumes, especially for days like World Book Day!
There's a Bg Bad Wolf in so many popular fairy tales, and you can either buy a wolf mask, or make one using card or felt!
42. Aliens in Underpants
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Kudos to this kid for being brave enough to go all out on World Book Day and wear his underpants over his PJ's to create this fab Aliens in Underpants look!
Check out his head costume on Pinterest for more Inso.
World Book Day comic book character costumes
If your little one loves comics and superheroes, a Superman costume would be an amazing choice for World Book Day.
These tend to be really easy to find both online and in local costume shops.
DIY World Book Day outfits
If you're feeling adventurous, you could also make your own using red fabric for the cape, blue trousers and a top, plus a makeshift S emblem for the chest area. Plus, don’t forget to add a curl in the middle of the forehead before your mini superhero leaves the house to save the world!
Children's World Book Day costumes
Believe it or not, before it became a famous animation, 101 Dalmatians began as a children's novel (which was first published in 1956).
For this cute costume, simply sew some black felt onto an old white hoody to create Dalmatian spots and doggy ears. If sewing's not really for you, you could always opt for black and white face paint, matched with a polka dot onesie.
Does my child have to dress up for World Book Day?
Absolutely not! World Book Day is all about celebrating the joy of reading and getting kids excited about books. Dressing up is a fun tradition, but it's not a must-do. If your child isn't keen on wearing a costume, they could simply carry around their favorite book for the day, or perhaps wear a themed t-shirt instead. The most important thing is to have fun and share that love for stories!
What can boys wear for World Book Day?
Boys have a treasure trove of World Book Day options! Think of their favourite characters from beloved stories. They could be swashbuckling like Peter Pan, solving mysteries as Sherlock Holmes, or chasing Golden Snitches dressed as Harry Potter. Characters from comic books, like Superman or Spider-Man, are also fantastic choices. Remember to look for inspiration in every nook and cranny of their bookshelves!
What is the easiest costume for World Book Day?
The easiest costume is often one that requires minimal effort and materials that you already have at home. Start with something basic, like a red and black T-shirt for a Dennis the Menace get-up. An old robe can quickly transform into a Hogwarts student wardrobe, and a toy bow and arrow along with some green clothing can become a Robin Hood ensemble in a jiffy.
What to wear if you don't have a costume for World Book Day?
No costume? No problem! Think outside the box and get creative with everyday clothes. A school uniform could easily pass for a character from Matilda or Harry Potter. A PE kit might be the beginning of a sporty character's costume, like Joe Wicks from Lean in 15. And don't forget about the power of DIY masks, homemade capes, and even cleverly applied face paint to bring a character to life. There's no need to rush to the store; sometimes the best costumes are already hiding in your own home!
Tips for World Book Day costumes
- Start with what you can find
- Look through EVERYONE'S wardrobes
- Think about sleepwear
- Adapt a PE kit or sports kit
- Adapt a school uniform
- Think no-sew
- Start with accessories
- Think Hunger Games
- Think Disney
- Get creative with card
- Raid the recycling
- Steal someone else's ideas
- Swap with friends
- Start with a striped jumper
- Start with a mask
- Start with an animal costume
- Customise last year's outfit
- The golden rule ... Find out what the golden rule is and get more details and tips on all of the ideas above on our Tips for easy World Book Day costumes page!
From fun costume ideas to the best book recommendations for kids of all ages, we've got you covered with lots of great tips for this year's World Book Day. Check out our articles below or share your ideas with other parents in the forum.
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