World Book Day: Top tips for last-minute costumes | World Book Day

HElp! It is this World Book Day this week, which often means for parents and supervisors to unpack their child in a costume that is inspired by their favorite book. Some of them may have been preparing for weeks, but for everyone else you will find some tips for putting together a last-minute costume with articles that you may already have at home.

New purpose Halloween costumes

With regard to the general advice, I would say that it is a good idea to look back on Halloween costumes-a skeletal outfit could be perfect for funnybones, or a sense of scythe could be reissued as a Harry Potter cloak. Consider non -fiction and fiction; There is no rule that your child has to be a well-known children's book character (my own son was an electrical eel for a year!) And use cardboard and loosets to make masks that resemble illustrated characters like Greg from the diary of a Wimpy child.

Tom Gates from Liz Pichon's beloved series include some easy to relax: a child was able to wear his usual clothes, but took a pencil and a notepad full of comics that drew it. Normal clothing also works for the title character in Roald Dahls Georges Marvelous Medicine – simply add props such as a saucepan and a wooden spoon or a bottle of water. Julia Donaldsons the Smeds and the Smoos could also be a relatively simple inspiration: a child just has to wear blue or red – add blue or red facial color if you want. Jenny McCann, owner of Bear Bookshop, Smethwick

Draw on an old T-shirt

Bringing an almost six-year-old into a shirt and tie is not easy, so a simple white top was sacrificed from the secret seven outfit for this Peter. Make-Your-Rum-Badges were invaluable, also a dog that is happily acting as a scamper. It was only later that we realized how accidentally Nazi the whole climb is. Catherine Shoard

Pipe cleaner are your friend

A few years ago, our school considered helpful when we pointed out that we “only” make masks for the World Book Day. Cue the usual parental arms. Child one existed on the Lorax. But how do you create this shiny yellow face fuzz? Of course, pipe cleaner – hundreds, thrown around a few old specifications. Like the loved one, he has Dr. Seuss critter looks like? Possibly. Could we all claim a gold star for creativity? Absolutely! My other failed: a pillow reference. Almost every costume can be made from one of them, with the additional bonus that says nothing: “Look, I tried” like a child whose arms are awkwardly stuck out of a rectangle. And if everything else fails? Put them in blue and go with a little toilet roller in the full Andrex puppies. Ta-da, you have a real Mr. Bump yourself! Anna Thomson

Find a character that wears clothes that you already have

You could make a simple skirt of old book pages. Make tubes by rolling each side and the thread cord through holes in the top of each tube (you can use a hole punch for the holes). Add a few layers and tie them together.

Or base a costume on a character that wears clothes that your child already has. The main character in I Love Books, an amazing picture book by Mariajo Ilustrajo, is wearing a white t-shirt, black pants and orange socks. Georgia Duffy, owner of Imagined Things Bookshop, Harrogate

Look into the past

Looking into the past can be great for costumes. L Frank Baums 1900 Classics The wonderful magician from OZ, for example, is a great inspiration. Do you have a summer dress or fabric with some Gingham check? Combine with a basket and a dog (real or cozy, optional), and there is your Dorothy. In the meantime, a wrong funnel and a carefully applied sheet metal film make a suitable tin man.

MR Men Books are also a great place to look for ideas – many of them can be reproduced very easily. A cardboard, some red color and holes for arms makes MR Strong, a blue sweatshirt and many bandages and they are mr bump while braids, glasses and a book can turn everyone into small mistakes. Jo Zebedee, co -owner of The secret bookshelf in Carrickfergus