Everyone knows it’s World Book Day on Thursday, right?
And your child’s school is having a fancy dress day. The letter came home weeks ago… What do you mean, you haven’t had it? Did Junior not pass it on to you? Go check his school bag… yep, that’s it, the one screwed up and sporting a mysterious stain over half of the text. Don’t panic! You still have a few days to get a costume together…
Here are ten last minute costumes that you can still do without major upheaval. But before you get started, make sure World Book Day is in your organiser for next year, so that you can order a costume online and save all this bother!
1. A Rabbit
Watership Down is one of the best-loved children’s books of all time. If your child has never read it, there’s the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland (though that one would require clothes), there’s one in Rod Campbell’s brilliant Oh Dear, there’s Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, the rabbits in Guess How Much I Love You… the list is endless.
You will need brown or white trousers and long sleeved top, depending on which colour of rabbit you are aiming for. If you don’t have any bunny ears hanging about the house (it’s coming up to Easter, so they often tend to appear at this time of year), either buy some (a certain make of Easter egg came with fluffy brown bunny ears last year) or make some using an old alice band with 2 card ears taped to them.
To make it look a little less last minute, here is a fantastic tutorial for rabbit face paint that will make it look like you started planning this costume months ago and are a complete pro at this sort of thing…
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This one is so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it last year! Dress your child in green, and make a mask from a paper plate painted red. For added effect, tie a belt around their waist with plastic food from a toy kitchen hanging from it with string: an ice cream, a pickle, some cheese… you get the idea. You could even throw in a pair of butterfly wings if you find yourself with time to spare!
3. A Witch
Room on the Broom is really popular, as is The Worst Witch for slightly older children. Have a rummage around in the cupboard; there’s bound to be a hat and cape left over from Halloween!
4. Captain Underpants
Captain Underpants is of course famous for going about in just his underpants and a cape… obviously your child cannot spend the day at school like this – but he can wear a pair of pants over plain trousers, and a cape over a plain top.
5. The Fat Controller
From Thomas the Tank, silly! This one is great fun and really simple. You’ll need a white shirt that’s a little too big (perhaps belonging to an older brother). Put it on, and put a cushion underneath it for a belly. Then black trousers, a black jacket and a black top hat. If you don’t have a black top hat hanging about the house here is a really simple tutorial to help you make one:
6. Harry Potter
You can probably get away with a fake scar on the forehead and some round glasses for this one. Great additions would be a black cloak, a broom stick, a red and gold tie (Gryffindor colours), a magic wand and a toy owl.
7. The Cat In The Hat
Does your child have a onesie that’s at all furry and could pass as a cat? If not, black leggings and a black or grey top. Make a red and white top hat using the tutorial above and attach a red bow to their collar (best not to actually tie it around their neck). Here’s a great tutorial for Cat In The Hat face paint:
Dress your child in brown or orange – again, most kids have a onesie so if it’s the right colour, just use that. You can make a mask and tail without too much bother. We love this mask tutorial, though if you don’t have sheets of coloured felt around the house (who does!) you can use paper, or just draw the shapes on. Templates are available from the poster’s website, and the shape is what you’re really after with this one.
9. Peter Pan
A green t shirt and shorts over green tights. If there are no green tights, a different colour will be fine. Use green felt or paper to cover the shoes; it doesn’t need to be fancy as it’s likely to have been kicked off by lunch time any way! You can make a really simple hat out of coloured paper using this great tutorial, presented by kids’ TV favourite Kirsten O’Brien.
10. Tinkerbell
Lots of little girls already have a fairy costume, especially since the new Tinkerbell movies have been coming out. Most don’t realise she was originally a character in a proper book though!
