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World Book Day 2022 costumes that you can buy NOW – for under £20
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World Book Day 2022 is nearly upon us and what's even more exciting is that it's the first proper WBD since the pandemic started in 2020!
So, what costume ideas do you have for your child's World Book Day?
Whether they're a little bookworm who loves Harry Potter or Roald Dahl and already has a character in mind, or they need a little creative inspiration, there's always a fun outfit to suit every child.
Not handy with a needle and thread?
Worry not - we've rounded up 10 ready-to-wear World Book Day costumes for under £20 a pop.
So, whether you've been planning your child's costume for months or making a last minute decision, we've done all the hard work for you.
(Until next year, obviously …)
1. Willy Wonka Costume
*Full Willy Wonka costume with hat, cane, bow tie, trousers and top with long purple coat
*Perfect costume for a Roald Dahl fan
*Available in four size options to fit children from 4-13 years old
This Willy Wonka costume comes with everything your child needs to dress up as Mr Wonka himself this World Book Day! It's a great fancy dress choice for a group of children, as each can go as a different character from Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. All together now, 'Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo'...
2. Mary Poppins
*Costume designed to look like Mary Poppins
*Ready-to-wear set of dress with hat
*Available in four size options to fit children from 3-10 years old
This Mary Poppins costume is so adorable! Whether your child has been inspired by the original book series by P.L. Travers, or they just love singing along to the film, it's a unique costume idea.
The set comes with the all-in-one dress, which is comfortable for little ones as it gives the impression of a dress and jacket over a shirt without having to actually layer up. The red bow tie is attached, and the bonnet comes decorated with flowers.
3. Dr Seuss Cat in the Hat
*Tutu dress with gloves, stripy tights and detachable tail
*Also comes with hat attached to a headband
*Available in three size options to fit children from 6-12 years old
What child doesn't love Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat? It has so many fun rhymes, and is treasured across the generations. This fun fancy dress costume for a girl comes with a mini top hat attached to a hairband, white gloves, red and white stripy tights and tutu dress which looks just like the cat in Dr Seuss's story, right down to the red bow tie!
4. Horrid Henry, £19.70
*Horrid Henry book series costume for children which comes with fun Henry mask
*Set includes top and trousers, so it's all ready to wear on World Book Day
*Available in four size options to fit children from 5-12 years old
Wow! This Horrid Henry costume comes with a very realistic-looking mask that kids will love, as well as a top and trousers that look just like protagonist Henry from the book series by Francesca Simon. Just make sure your little one and their Purple Hand Gang don't get into too many antics trying to recreate Henry's adventures ...
5. Mad Hatter
*Mad Hatter costume for children based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
*Comes with everything you need, including the crazy top hat
*Available in four sizes to fit kids from 3-10 years old
The Alice in Wonderland story has plenty of brilliant characters which your little one can dress up as on World Book Day, but we love this Mad Hatter costume! It comes with a green mock jacket which has a sewn-on faux waistcoat and bow tie, trousers and blue top hat with bow. All they need is some tea and cake to enjoy with a group of equally eccentric friends ...
6. Veruca Salt
*Ready to wear outfit based on Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
*Comes complete with a golden ticket
*Available in three sizes to fit children from 4-12 years old
Another stand-out character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this Veruca Salt outfit comes complete with pink dress, blue shawl, headband, golden ticket and pink gloves. Whether your little one has Veruca's signature blonde hair or just her sassy attitude, it's a fun World Book Day costume which is a less obvious choice than other characters from the book.
7. Newt Scamander
*Fancy dress costume designed to look like Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
*Outfit comes ready to wear with mock waistcoat, shirt and trousers
*Available in four sizes to fit children from 3-10 years old
Is your little one a big fan of the Harry Potter spin-off book and film series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? If so, they'll adore this costume that looks just like Newt Scamander's! They'll have a great time taming their imaginary beasts, and the outfit it so cute too, complete with fake waistcoat and jacket.
8. Miss Trunchbull
*Miss Trunchbull costume from Roald Dahl's Matilda
*Outfit comes complete with dress designed to look like a trench coat, leg warmers and monobrow
*Available in four sizes to fit children from 4-12 years old
This outfit is one for kids with a sense of humour! Instead of dressing as Matilda herself, it's a much more original and fun idea to go as Miss Trunchbull! They'll have so much fun putting on their best evil teacher voice and wearing the fake monobrow – and it's a great siblings costume idea as a younger child could dress up as Matilda.
9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
*Brightly coloured, striped tabard with little feet attached and a red hat
*Designed to worn over everyday clothing
*Available in sizes to fit children from 18 months to eight years old
It's an age-old favourite – who remembers The Very Hungry Caterpillar? We certainly do. If your little one adores the book, this outfit is both an adorable and practical choice. It can be layered over normal clothing or a school uniform without restricting them, while they also get to crawl around and pretend to be the Very Hungry Caterpillar – snacks optional!
10. Where's Wally?
*Outfit with trousers, red and white striped top, hat and glasses designed to look like Wally from the Where's Wally book series
*Great option if your child prefers puzzles to reading
*Available in four sizes to fit children from 4-12 years old
Kids who are keen on thinking outside the box will love dressing up as Wally from the Where's Wally book series. While it's hardly a traditional novel, the books definitely count for World Book Day! Better still, your child will have a fun time hiding amongst their friends during playtime – they could even play their own real-life version of Where's Wally.
When is World Book Day 2022?
World Book Day 2022 is on March 3rd 2022.
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