A book day costume should be fun to make, not a stressful school project the night before. The ideas below run from classic heroes and picture-book animals to magical characters and simple looks pulled from everyday clothes, each with hair, any makeup, props and shoes covered. Most can be adapted for children, teens, teachers or a whole family without buying a boxed set. The ones I steer families toward share a few things: classmates can tell who you are, it lasts through lessons and lunch, and the wearer actually loves the book. If the character is less well known, carrying the book settles it.
What the School Letter Usually Asks For
Every school sets its own rules, so read the letter home before you buy anything. In my experience the same few points come up again and again, and building around them from the start saves a frantic morning.
- No masks or full-face coverings, because teachers need to see who is who. A mask held up on a stick usually gets around this.
- No weapons, toy or otherwise. Swap swords, hooks and pointed wands for soft or cardboard versions, or leave them out.
- Shoes the child can run in, since most of the day is still lessons, break time and maybe PE.
- Face paint kept light, or none at all where the school asks for none. Check before you plan a fully painted face.
- A costume that layers or comes off easily, because classrooms can be hot and playgrounds cold.
If the letter says nothing, I plan as if all of these apply anyway. It costs nothing and means nobody gets sent to the office to change.
1. Matilda Costume With Blue Dress
Matilda is the costume I suggest for the child who'd rather not dress up much, because it's just clothes. A knee-length blue dress, or a blue pinafore over a white collared shirt, and a red ribbon in shoulder-length hair. A ribbon tied around a plain headband stays in far better than one tied into fine hair. No makeup needed. A stack of light books, a library card or a paper newt makes the prop. White ankle socks and black Mary Janes, with navy tights or a cardigan underneath if the classroom is cold.
2. Harry Potter Costume With School Robe
The robe is the part most families worry about, and it's the easiest to fake: a graduation gown or an oversized black cardigan does the job. Under it go a white shirt, gray trousers or a pleated skirt, a striped tie and a dark V-neck. Messy dark hair, a lightning mark above one eyebrow in skin-safe makeup, round glasses and a cardboard wand. I shorten any robe so it clears the shoe by a few inches, because kids run on stairs, and hold the sleeves up with elastic so they don't drag through lunch. Black lace-ups.
3. Hermione Granger Costume With Books
Hermione shares Harry's uniform base, so siblings can split one shopping trip. A white collared shirt, gray pleated skirt or trousers, a dark sweater and a striped tie, with a plain black robe that stops above the ankle. Naturally curly brown hair is ideal; a waved brown wig works too, though wigs get hot after an hour in a classroom. A couple of light books, a feather quill and a short cardboard wand with rounded ends. Black tights or knee socks, sturdy shoes, and a house scarf if you have one.
4. Where’s Wally Costume With Striped Shirt
When time is short, Wally is the answer. A red-and-white striped long-sleeve top, straight blue jeans and the matching bobble hat. The hat matters most, so pick a knit with a turned-up band that sits on the head rather than slipping over the eyes. Round black glasses with clear or no lenses, no makeup, and natural hair underneath. A light cardboard walking stick or a puzzle book for the prop, striped socks and brown boots. It's also an easy group costume, since a family or a teaching team can all hide in the same stripes.
5. Alice In Wonderland Costume With Blue Dress
A light blue dress and a crisp white apron are all most people need to see. Choose a knee-length dress with short puff sleeves, or a white blouse under a blue pinafore, with white tights and black Mary Janes. Blonde hair loose with a wide black headband, or a shoulder-length wig, and nothing more than pink cheeks for makeup. A plastic teacup, a toy white rabbit or a handmade Drink Me card; I'd leave real china at home, since school bags get dropped. Aprons come untied, so a double knot or a sewn-in snap saves a lot of retying by lunchtime.
6. Mad Hatter Costume With Colorful Coat
The hat makes the Hatter, and a big felt top hat is heavy for a child, so I build one from cardstock around a cereal-box band instead. Decorate it with ribbon and a paper price card tucked into the band. Then layer dark trousers, a patterned vest, a bright shirt and an oversized thrifted coat in green, burgundy or purple. Orange curls or a bright wig, colorful eyeshadow and rosy cheeks, with the white powder kept light so it isn't scary. A plastic teacup or empty teapot, striped socks and lace-up boots.
7. Queen Of Hearts Costume With Card Collar
This version skips the heavy gown: a red dress with a black cardigan, white tights and black flats. The collar does the talking. I punch holes in old playing cards and thread them onto wide ribbon, which keeps them flat and lets the collar bend at the neck. A high bun or neat curls under a small gold crown, red tinted balm, rosy cheeks and a tiny heart near one eye. A red paper rose or heart-shaped fan replaces anything sharp, and red gloves add detail. It suits children, teens and teachers alike.
8. White Rabbit Costume With Waistcoat
Always running late? The White Rabbit turns that into a costume. A white shirt and cream trousers or leggings, then a red or patterned waistcoat, with a blue jacket for a smarter version. The ears matter most. Look for a headband with a padded band and ears that have wire inside, so they don't flop by break time. A pink nose and fine whiskers in skin-safe makeup, an oversized cardboard pocket watch on a gold ribbon, optional white gloves, white socks and comfortable shoes.
9. Little Red Riding Hood Costume With Cape
If a child already owns a plain dress, this one is nearly done. A white blouse with a dark skirt, a checked dress or a black pinafore, plus the red hooded cape. Fleece is my pick for a no-sew cape because the edges don't fray, so you can cut it and go. Braids or a low ponytail under the hood, and lightly rosy cheeks. A small wicker basket of fabric food, paper flowers or the storybook, never glass. White socks or tights and brown ankle boots. Keep the cape well above the floor so it's safe on stairs.
10. Gruffalo Costume With Brown Onesie
A brown sweatsuit or fleece onesie makes a Gruffalo that younger children will actually keep on. Purple felt spikes go down the back, and I'd stitch them along the spine rather than glue them, because felt glued to fleece pulls off the first time a child leans back in a chair. Felt horns and rounded ears on a headband. Face paint for thick brows, a black nose and one small wart near the nose, kept friendly. A lightly stuffed felt tail that bends when they sit, and brown sneakers.
11. Stick Man Costume With Branch Details
This is a cardboard costume that wins on charm. A brown long-sleeve top and brown trousers or leggings, with short cardboard branches fixed to the sleeves and body. Round every corner and keep the branches short; long ones catch on coat pegs and classmates. Green felt leaves and a small red scarf add color. Tousle brown hair upward or wear a branch headband, with a little brown face paint on the cheeks and nose, clear of the eyes. A paper book or a cardboard nest, and brown sneakers or boots.
12. Very Hungry Caterpillar Costume With Colorful Circles
Overlapping felt circles in different greens turn a green sweatshirt and leggings into the caterpillar's body. Red fabric at the shoulders or a red hood makes the head, and a headband with purple felt antennae finishes it. I sew each circle on with a few big stitches along the top edge only, which lets them overlap like segments and move when the child bends. A green dot on each cheek if they want it. Cardboard fruit with bite marks or the picture book, green socks and sneakers. Everything stays soft enough to sit, read and eat lunch in.
13. Paddington Bear Costume With Blue Coat
Paddington is warm, which can be a problem indoors. Brown trousers and a red sweater go under a bright blue duffle-style coat, with the red floppy hat on top. In a heated classroom the duffle usually comes off within the hour, so make sure the hat and luggage label still say Paddington without it; I pin the label to the sweater for that reason. A small black nose and whisker dots. A light cardboard suitcase or a paper marmalade sandwich in a clear bag, and red or brown rain boots. Keep the suitcase small enough for the child to carry alone.
14. Peter Rabbit Costume With Blue Jacket
Soft gray or brown clothes are the base: a plain long-sleeve top with leggings or trousers, or a fleece onesie. The bright blue jacket is the detail everyone knows, worn open. Tall rabbit ears on a headband and a fluffy tail; a yarn pompom or a circle of faux fur is lighter than a stuffed felt one. Light face paint for a pink nose, white muzzle and short whiskers. A felt carrot, a small watering can or a paper seed packet, and brown or gray sneakers. Preschoolers do well in this one because nothing restricts movement.
15. Tiger Who Came To Tea Costume
Orange and black stripes are the whole costume. An orange sweatsuit, dress or top and leggings, with black felt stripes fixed across the back, arms and legs. Removable fabric tape is fine for one day, but stripes on the inside of the arm peel off first, so I stitch those few. Rounded ears and a flexible striped tail that ends above the ankle. Orange hair spray isn't needed; tuck hair under an orange hood. Child-safe face paint for a black nose, white muzzle, whiskers and cheek stripes. A plastic teacup, an empty food box or the book, and black sneakers.
16. Cat In The Hat Costume With Striped Hat
The hat is the hard part, because a tall striped hat wobbles. I make it from a cardstock tube on a band sized to the child's head, kept light enough that it doesn't tip forward over the eyes. Below it, black trousers and a fitted black top with a large white felt chest panel, a black tail sewn at the waistband, and ears only if they fit under the hat. Face paint for a black nose, white muzzle and thin whiskers, and a bright red bow tie. A light book or a striped cardboard umbrella, and black sneakers with white socks.
17. Thing One Costume With Blue Hair
Thing One is a night-before costume, and better still as a pair with Thing Two. A red sweatshirt and red joggers or leggings, with a big white felt circle on the front. Write the number with a black fabric marker, and slip a piece of card behind the felt while you write so the ink doesn't bleed onto the sweatshirt. The hair can be a fluffy blue wig, a blue yarn headpiece or paper strips on a headband; yarn is the most comfortable for a whole day. Rosy cheeks, a picture book or striped box, and red or white sneakers. Keep the hair out of the eyes.
18. Willy Wonka Costume With Purple Coat
A purple coat is what people look for, and a thrifted velvet blazer can turn up in exactly the right shade for a teen or adult. Layer it over dark trousers, a patterned waistcoat and a white shirt, with a big bow tie. A brown or black top hat made from cardstock is light enough for a full day. Soft waves or a short curled wig under it, and defined brows. A cane from a painted cardboard tube with soft ends, optional during play, and a paper golden ticket. Black or burgundy shoes, colorful socks and cushioned insoles.
19. Charlie Bucket Costume With Golden Ticket
Charlie suits a child who wants to dress up in ordinary, comfortable clothes. A worn-looking knit sweater, a collared shirt, brown trousers and a simple jacket in muted gray, tan or navy. Natural tousled hair, no makeup. Everything depends on the golden ticket, so make it big from metallic card and cover it with clear tape so it survives a day of being held. A pretend chocolate bar in printed paper with nothing edible inside, in case school rules restrict snacks. Brown shoes or plain sneakers, and the book to make the character clear.
20. Oompa Loompa Costume With White Overalls
I keep Oompa Loompa makeup light for school, because a fully painted face rubs off on everything by lunch. A brown long-sleeve top with white trousers or overalls, wide white suspenders crossed over the chest and big decorative buttons. Green-and-white striped socks and brown shoes. A touch of peach blush and white brows drawn in, with green hair from a yarn headpiece or temporary wig. A cardboard candy sign or paper swirl as the prop. Hem the trousers so they don't catch, and pin the suspenders where they cross so they stay on small shoulders.
21. BFG Costume With Oversized Ears
The ears are the BFG, and big ears on a narrow headband press painfully behind a child's own. I glue them to a wide headband padded with felt and cut the ears from craft foam, which is lighter than layered felt. Cropped brown trousers, a collarless shirt and a worn waistcoat, with a light patched jacket on top. Tousled gray or light brown hair, a few freckles and bushy brows. A cardboard trumpet or a few labeled dream jars made from clear plastic tubs. Thick socks and brown boots. Slightly oversized clothes suggest a giant without any padding.
22. Sophie Costume With Pink Nightdress
Sophie is soft and simple, which makes her a good fit if the school is happy with nightwear on the day. A modest pink nightdress or long pink dress over leggings and a long-sleeve top, with a cardigan or light robe for warmth. Hair in a short bob or a ponytail, depending on what the child has. Round glasses, and only pink cheeks for makeup. A paper dream jar filled with iridescent tissue or a notebook for dreams. Slippers are slippery on a playground, so I'd send flat shoes or sneakers.
23. Fantastic Mr Fox Costume With Smart Suit
A smart suit with orange details gives you Mr Fox, and many families have most of it already. Brown trousers, a white shirt, a patterned tie and a rust waistcoat or jacket. An orange fox-ear headband and a soft fabric tail fixed firmly at the back of the waistband, where it's harder for a classmate to pull. A black nose, white muzzle and fine whiskers. A small burlap-style sack of felt vegetables or the book, and brown brogues or ankle boots. Keep the tail short enough not to tread on, and choose trousers with some stretch for sitting.
24. Gangsta Granny Costume With Floral Dress
Thrift stores have this costume hanging on one rail: a long floral dress, a beige cardigan, neutral tights and sensible flat shoes. Add a gray curly wig, or temporary gray hair color made for costumes; test it on one strand first, because some colors stain light hair. Big glasses, a pearl necklace and a structured handbag. A few soft drawn lines, kept friendly. Her secret side is a fabric bag of plastic jewels or paper gems, plus a crumpled tissue cabbage for laughs. Skip long necklaces for younger children. Teachers and older students tend to have the most fun with this one.
25. Mr Stink Costume With Layered Clothes
The trick with Mr Stink is clean clothes that only look weathered. Layer brown trousers, a checked shirt, a knitted vest, an oversized coat and a long scarf in muted colors. Add fabric patches with a few stitches or removable tape instead of cutting or distressing anything. Untidy gray hair or a soft gray wig under a floppy hat. A little brown eyeshadow on the cheeks gives a dusty look without making the face look dirty. A cardboard sign with his name, a light blanket roll or the book, and worn-look boots or dark sneakers. It stays respectful and fine for school.
26. Greg Heffley Costume With Cartoon Mask
Greg Heffley is about as easy as book day gets: a plain white T-shirt, black shorts or trousers depending on weather and dress code, white socks and black sneakers. The face does the work. Draw his expression on white card, cut large eye holes and tape it to a craft stick so it's held up for photos rather than worn all day; masks that cover the face are often not allowed at school anyway. Keep hair flat and neat. A black-and-white journal or the book. No makeup or wig required.
27. Dog Man Costume With Blue Uniform
Navy trousers and a matching long-sleeve shirt, or a comfortable navy jumpsuit, make the uniform. Add a yellow felt badge and a blue cap with floppy dog ears on either side; I sew the ears inside the cap's band so they hang naturally and don't get knocked off. Brown or tan hair can show, or a soft furry hood goes under the cap. A black nose and whisker dots in skin-safe makeup, and a soft fabric tail. A paper notebook, a comic-style sign or the book instead of any police kit. Black sneakers with good grip.
28. Captain Underpants Costume With Red Cape
Captain Underpants works at school when everything sits over full clothing. A beige long-sleeve top and matching leggings or joggers, oversized white shorts over the top, and a short red cape that ends above the knee. Pin the shorts to the leggings at the side seams so they don't slide down during play. I'd skip the bald cap: they're hot and pull at the hairline, and slicked-back short hair or a beige knit cap reads just as well. Thick black eyebrows and a cartoon grin, drawn lightly. The graphic novel or a speech bubble, white sneakers and beige socks.
29. Mary Poppins Costume With Umbrella
Mary Poppins suits teachers and older children who like a neat, classic costume. A long navy skirt, a white high-neck blouse and a fitted dark jacket, with a red bow tie, white gloves and a small black hat with artificial flowers. A low bun under the hat, defined brows and red lipstick or tinted balm. The umbrella should be a light one that stays closed, and a medium carpet-style bag is easier to manage than a big one. Black ankle boots with a low heel. For a simpler version, a navy dress and cardigan.
30. Peter Pan Costume With Green Tunic
Peter Pan needs almost no sewing, because felt doesn't fray. Cut a long green T-shirt or a felt tunic into a zigzag hem and it's done. Green leggings or brown trousers, a narrow belt, and a pointed felt cap with one soft red feather. Short hair stays natural, and longer hair tucks under the cap. Rosy cheeks if anything. A fabric pouch, a rolled paper map or the storybook. Brown ankle boots or flexible shoe covers. Skip anything pointed, including a dagger, and keep the tunic short enough for running.
31. Tinker Bell Costume With Green Dress
A bright green dress with a jagged or petal hem is the center of this one, over green leggings and a long-sleeve top when it's cold. Wings from light fabric, narrow enough for doorways; for school I choose wings on elastic loops the child can slip off at their desk. A high bun with a green ribbon, using a bun hairpiece if needed. Soft shimmer and pale green eyeshadow, with no loose glitter near the eyes. A star wand or a pouch of paper stars, and green ballet flats or sneakers that hold up through a busy day.
32. Captain Hook Costume With Red Coat
The red coat does the work here. Black trousers, a white ruffled shirt and a long red jacket trimmed with gold ribbon, plus a wide black hat with a big white feather. Dark curls or a black wig under the hat, a curled costume moustache and defined brows. Instead of a hard hook or sword, a soft silver fabric mitten stuffed into a hook shape, or a cardboard pocket watch. Black boots or shoe covers. Thrifted long coats are usually too long on a child, so take the hem up and roll the cuffs so nothing drags.
33. Dorothy Costume With Blue Gingham Dress
Dorothy's blue gingham is comfortable enough for a whole school day. A gingham pinafore over a white blouse, white ankle socks and red flats or secure Mary Janes. Real glitter shoes shed onto every classroom carpet, so I'd go for plain red or red patent instead. Two neat braids tied with blue ribbons, and rosy cheeks. A small wicker basket with a plush dog, kept light, and a yellow paper road as a handmade extra. White tights and a blue cardigan for a cold day. Bringing the book makes it clearer still.
34. Scarecrow Costume With Patchwork Shirt
This scarecrow uses soft clothes and yarn instead of loose straw, which is the right call for a classroom. Faded jeans or brown trousers, a checked shirt and a patched vest, with felt patches at the knees, elbows and pockets. Short pieces of yellow yarn at the cuffs and collar suggest straw; I tie them through a strip of ribbon first and stitch the ribbon in, so no strand works loose. Messy hair under a floppy brown hat. Face paint for an orange nose, rosy cheeks and stitches near the mouth. A fabric crow, and brown boots or sneakers.
35. Tin Man Costume With Silver Layers
Soft silver fabric makes a better Tin Man than anything rigid. Gray trousers and a silver sweatshirt or metallic tunic, with silver fabric panels at the knees and elbows to suggest jointed armor. The funnel hat comes from silver cardstock; pad the inside rim with felt so it doesn't cut into the forehead. Pale silver eyeshadow on the cheeks instead of full face paint. A red felt heart on the chest and a light cardboard oil can. Gray sneakers or silver shoe covers. Keep foil away from the face and joints, because it crinkles loudly and tears.
36. Cowardly Lion Costume With Brown Mane
The Cowardly Lion should look cuddly, so think soft. A tan or brown sweatsuit or fleece onesie, a fabric tail with a dark tuft that ends above the floor, and a yarn mane fixed to a hood or wide headband with the face clear. A fleece onesie runs hot in a warm classroom, so a sweatsuit with a T-shirt underneath gives the child something to strip down to. A dark nose, white muzzle, whiskers and worried arched brows. A red ribbon near the collar for his courage award, or a paper medal. Brown sneakers or soft paw covers.
37. Max Wild Thing Costume With Crown
Max's white wolf suit is cozy and needs only a few details. A white fleece onesie, a white hoodie with trousers, or a white sweatshirt and leggings, with soft gray ears on the hood and a flexible tail at the back. The gold paper crown over the hood is what makes him Max. I round off the points and line the inside with a strip of felt so it grips the hood instead of sliding off. A small black nose and light whisker dots. A cardboard boat or a sign with a drawn forest. White sneakers or non-slip boots. White shows dirt fast, so expect a wash afterwards.
38. Pippi Longstocking Costume With Braids
Pippi's braids that stick straight out are the challenge. Weave soft craft wire or pipe cleaners into each braid and fold the wire ends back on themselves so nothing pokes the scalp; a bright wig with wired braids is the other route. Layer a patchwork pinafore or colorful dress over a striped long-sleeve shirt, with mismatched knee socks. Plenty of freckles across the nose and cheeks. A small toy horse, a fabric monkey or an old suitcase. Chunky black or brown shoes. Nothing needs to match, but everything should fit.
39. Anne Shirley Costume With Straw Hat
Anne combines old-fashioned clothes with those red braids. A high-neck white blouse under a brown, green or navy pinafore, a fitted cardigan for warmth, and a straw hat with ribbon and small flowers. Red hair in two braids, or an auburn braided wig; an elastic cord at the back or two bobby pins keeps a straw hat on over a wig. Light freckles and rosy cheeks. A vintage-style book, a small carpet bag or a paper slate. Dark tights and brown button boots. It suits older children, teens and teachers who'd rather skip anything flashy.
40. Sherlock Holmes Costume With Detective Coat
Sherlock begins with the coat. A brown checked overcoat or cape over a white shirt, a waistcoat and dark trousers, with a deerstalker-style hat and a neatly tied scarf. Thrifted tweed is worth hunting for here. Tuck hair back so the hat sits securely. Defined brows, or no makeup at all for a last-minute version. A light magnifying glass, a small notebook and a pencil for his careful observations. I'd leave out the pipe entirely for school, even a cardboard one. Brown lace-ups or ankle boots.
41. Goldilocks Costume With Yellow Dress
A cheerful yellow or blue dress with puff sleeves or ruffles is the base, with a white apron if you want the storybook look. White tights or knee socks and black or brown Mary Janes. Ringlets are her signature, and I set them overnight with soft foam rollers or rag curls rather than using hot tools on a child's hair in the morning rush. A golden curly wig works when natural hair differs. Rosy cheeks. A bowl and spoon in plastic or card, and three tiny teddies in a light basket. Sweet and practical for younger children.
42. Cinderella Costume With Blue Ball Gown
The key choice is length: a knee-length pale blue party dress instead of a floor-length gown, with white tights for coverage and warmth. A black ribbon choker, a pale blue headband and short white gloves. A tidy high bun with soft curls at the face, using a secure bun extension if needed. Light blue eyeshadow, pink cheeks and a shimmer that won't shed. A cardboard clock at midnight or a clear plastic slipper as the prop. Silver flats or plain sneakers. Hoops, trains and slippery soles belong at a party, not on a school staircase.
43. Rapunzel Costume With Long Braid
A purple dress and an extra-long braid make Rapunzel easy to spot across a classroom. Choose a modest lavender dress with puff sleeves and a skirt above the ankle, with leggings underneath. The braid is where I'd put the effort: a yarn braid tied in at the crown is far lighter than synthetic hair, and it should end around the waist so nobody steps on it. Weave in small artificial flowers and ribbons, fixed firmly. Soft pink cheeks. A cardboard tower, paper lantern or paint palette, and purple flats or sneakers.
44. Zog Dragon Costume With Orange Wings
An orange hoodie and joggers make the body, and felt does the rest. Pink or purple felt wings go across the back, kept compact enough for classroom chairs, since a child can't lean back against big wings all day. Small horns and rounded ears on the hood and a soft orange tail at the waistband, with hair tucked inside the hood. An orange nose, rosy cheeks and a few colorful scales at the temples. A gold paper star on the shirt for his school stars, and a cardboard medical bag or the picture book. Orange sneakers.
45. Room On The Broom Witch Costume
The witch from Room on the Broom is a friendly alternative to a dark Halloween witch. A long purple skirt, a red top and a black cardigan or cape, with a tall pointed hat trimmed in red ribbon. Hats like this tip forward, and a strip of elastic under the back of the hair keeps the brim out of the eyes. Ginger hair in one thick braid, or a bright orange wig. A small beauty mark or rosy cheeks. A short child-sized broom with ribbons, plus a toy cat, frog or bird tucked into a light bag. Striped tights and black ankle boots or sneakers.
Felt, Fabric Glue and One Evening
Most of these costumes are a felt-and-glue job, and the glue decides whether the pieces are still on at home time. Hot glue is quick, but it lets go of stretchy fleece and jersey as soon as they flex, and it can burn little fingers if kids help. Fabric glue holds better on soft clothes but needs a few hours to dry, so do the gluing the evening before, not on the morning.
My night-before kit
- Felt sheets in the character's colors, sharp scissors and fabric glue.
- Safety pins and a needle with strong thread for anything that moves, like tails, ears and wings.
- Clear tape to protect paper props such as tickets, labels and signs.
- A permanent marker for writing the child's name inside every removable piece.
If you sew at all, a few large hand stitches at the corners of each felt piece beat any glue. They come out in two minutes afterwards and the clothes go back in the drawer.
Getting a Child to Keep It On Until Home Time
A costume that comes off at ten o'clock isn't much use, and itchy or hot are nearly always the reason. I cut out scratchy tags, put a soft cotton layer under anything netted, sequinned or woolly, and avoid elastic that digs in at the neck or wrists. Pack a plain T-shirt in the school bag so a hot child can strip down and still keep the hat or ears on. Then let them wear the whole thing around the house for an hour the evening before. Anything that bothers them shows up then, while you can still fix it.
The Book They Love Matters Most
A good book day costume doesn't need to be expensive or match the illustration exactly. Comfortable clothes in the character's colors and one strong prop usually carry it. The list runs from closet outfits and craft projects to classic figures and newer classroom favorites, so there's something at every effort level. The night before, have the child sit, walk and use the bathroom in it, then secure hats, shorten capes, soften props and label anything removable. And let the child choose the character. Kids wear a costume from a story they love with far more confidence than one picked for them.
Related posts:
