Book Week. It’s a bit like Vegemite .. you love it or you hate. And for time-poor mums, it’s most likely the latter. Not that we don’t enjoy helping our little ones dress-up as their favourite fictional character, but who has the time?
Hopefully we can encourage you to get into the spirit of things and join your kids in celebrating this annual celebration of books with our cheap and easy Book Week costume ideas.
Note: There are themes for each year. For 2023 it is 'Read, Grow, Inspire' but don’t get too caught up with it. Just let your child choose their favourite character, and pray that it’s one with an easy costume.
Further reading: 20 Hilarious ideas for crazy hair day.
Easy Book Week costumes you can make at home
1. Angelina Ballerina
Every little girl loves Angelina Ballerina so Book Week is a perfect opportunity to don the tutu and tail. An especially easy choice if your daughter is already a ballet dancer and has the gear to hand.
Image source: Pinterest
2. Katniss from The Hunger Games
Katniss Everdeen is one of the most recognisable characters in fiction. Super cool and easy to put together, it's a perfect choice if your little girl has long, dark brown hair.
Image source: Pinterest
Book week costumes ideas DIY
3. The BFG
Roald Dahl's much-loved The BFG is a perfect character to portray during Book Week, especially if your boy is tall and lanky.
Image source: Pinterest
4. Charlotte's Web
This iconic web is as easy as ABC. Grab some white felt cloth, black yarn, a toy spider, scissors, and glue to start saving Wilbur!
Image source: Pinterest
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A favourite pick of teachers and librarians everywhere, this reading hour staple can be easily assembled using felt cloths, glue, and yarn. So cute!
Image source: Stockland
6. Matilda
Miss Honey's beloved five-and-half-year-old is one of the easy Book Week costumes to set up, using normal clothes already in your little girl's wardrobe. Definitely a perfect character if your little girl is already a precocious book lover.
Image source: Pinterest
7. Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine is another excellent choice for your cheerful and polite little miss. If she's not really the bubbly type, you can also choose another character from the series that better fits her unique personality.
Image source: Pinterest
8. Captain Underpants
With a bodysuit, white undies, and a cape, Captain Underpants is another top pick for funny and easy Book Week costumes. The cap is essential for that definitive oddly-shaped head!
Source: Pinterest
9. Queen of Hearts
Can your kid bring playing cards to school? Well, on Book Week, yes! The Queen of Hearts is one of the most recognisable yet easy Book Week costumes to set up.
Image source: Pinterest
Easy Book Week costumes you can make at home (cont.)
10. Golden Ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
What kid doesn't dream of a lifetime supply of chocolate? The Golden Ticket costume is fairly easy to make. Your kid and her friends can go as a team of five highly-coveted tickets and scatter themselves all around the school grounds for added fun.
Image source: Pinterest
11. Billionaire Boy
If your boy fancies being a billionaire for a day, Book Week is definitely the perfect time to play as one. Fill up his tux with a handful of play money and lots of shiny, flashy bling.
Image source: Pinterest
12. Where's Wally
It can be hard to spot Wally in the double-page illustrations of highly detailed scenes, but surely not in real life. The red, white and sky blue combo is a definite standout, colour-wise, so your kid is not going to stay hidden for long.
Image source: Ebay Australia
13. Room on the Broom
If your little girl can't wait for October, the Book Week is the second best time to play a witch. What's great is you can simply recycle her previous costumes from Halloween. Plus, she has an excuse to take her stuffed friends to school.
Picture source: Pinterest
14. Paddington Bear
Add this adorable and universally loved British icon to your list of easy Book Week costumes. Great for boys and girls alike, don't forget the bucket hat and marmalade to perfect the get up of this adventure-loving bear.
Image source: Pinterest
15. Mr. Stink
If your little boy is not really feeling a Billionaire Boy (also written by the same author) for the next Book Week, perhaps he'd like to be the funny old tramp, Mr. Stink. Unkempt hair, beard, and an old trenchcoat are all you need. If you an get your hands on a toy Yorkshire Terrier, it will complete this iconic look.
Image source: Ebay
Final book week costumes ideas DIY
16. Fox in Socks
Dr. Seuss is a staple in every Book Week, and the Fox in Socks is an easy costume to DIY. Put on bright red orange overalls or coordinates on your little one, a fox mask made of cardboard, and, of course, the definitive blue socks.
Image source: Pinterest
17. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
It's no surprise that Harry Potter is a go-to whenever there's a book- or movie-themed event, since the costumes are generic and widely available. If your little girl wants to cosplay as the series' resident smarty-pants, make sure to keep the bushy brown hair, and let her memorise a few difficult spells.
Image source: Country Living
18. Saucepan Man from The Faraway Tree
Saucepan Man is a favourite character Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree. Enamel kettles and cups will make for a more realistic Saucepan Man. But covering them in aluminum foil, like in this picture, can help minimise the clickety clack when your little boy runs in the hallways.
Image source: Pinterest
19. Zac Power
The essence of being a secret agent is that you can't stand out, so a super spy costume should be easy to recreate using things your kid already owns. He can simply go to Book Week in his ordinary clothes, adding a few makeshift gadgets here and there to embody being Zac Power.
Image source: Pinterest
20. Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter
Harry Potter has a range of easy Book Week costumes to choose from, and Luna Lovegood one of the unique ones. You might have to buy several things to assemble the look, but we're sure your little girl will have a delightful time as this dreamy Ravenclaw.
Image source: Amazon Australia
21. Zog
Turning your little one into Zog needs just a handful of parts you have to DIY: the ears, a horn, a mask, and wings. Then, simply don orange clothes, and off to school the keenest dragon goes!
Image source: Pinterest
