Storybook Costume Ideas for Kids

Tier 1 — the easiest book character costumes that everyone recognizes: Cat in the Hat: A red-and-white striped shirt (or a white shirt with red tape stripes), a tall hat made from rolled cardboard with red stripes, and a red bow tie. This is the single most popular Book Character Day costume and the hat is the only thing you might need to make or buy. Where's Waldo: A red-and-white striped long-sleeve shirt, round glasses (no lenses), a red-and-white beanie or stocking cap, and blue jeans. This one is nearly all closet items except the striped shirt, which is widely available on Amazon for $10-12. Madeline: A yellow hat (any wide-brimmed hat spray-painted yellow, or a yellow sun hat), a blue coat or blue dress, white knee socks, and black shoes. Simple, distinctive, and beloved by teachers. Fancy Nancy: Any over-the-top fancy outfit — think tutus, boas, sparkly accessories, a tiara, and as many accessories as physically possible. This character literally wears "fancy" everything, so the more ridiculous the outfit, the better. Kids love this one because excess is the point. Tier 2 — slightly more effort but very effective: Matilda: A blue dress or jumper, a red hairband, and a stack of books carried under the arm. The books are the prop that makes this recognizable. Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid): A white t-shirt with the stick-figure drawing from the book cover drawn on it in black marker. That's it. Easiest boy costume on this list. Harry Potter: Round glasses, a drawn-on lightning bolt scar, and a Gryffindor scarf or tie. (Harry Potter often gets his own separate theme day, but he counts for Book Character Day too.) Clifford: An all-red outfit. That's it. Red shirt, red pants. Add floppy dog ears from a headband for extra credit.

The Cat in the Hat's hat is the ultimate Book Character Day DIY project. Roll a piece of red posterboard into a tall cylinder. Cut white strips of paper and glue them horizontally around the cylinder to create red and white stripes. Attach to a brim made from a paper plate with the center cut out. The whole thing takes 20 minutes and looks great. For Where's Waldo, make the striped shirt by wrapping red electrical tape or painter's tape in horizontal stripes around a white long-sleeve shirt. It's not permanent, so you get the shirt back after spirit week. Fancy Nancy is the easiest DIY because the character intentionally overdresses. Raid the dress-up box, the costume jewelry drawer, and the craft supplies. Layer everything. Tutu over pants, multiple necklaces, a tiara, feather boa scraps, glitter — the messier and more excessive, the more accurate. Book character costumes often benefit from carrying the actual book as a prop. It immediately identifies the character for anyone who can't figure it out from the costume alone, and it doubles as something to read during quiet time.