Book Week is back — and yes, your child may have only just mentioned they need a full costume.
Before you start panic-buying glitter glue or attempting a cardboard masterpiece at 10pm, take a breath. Book Week does not need to be Pinterest-perfect. The best costume is one your child is happy to wear — and one that does not create a household emergency before school drop-off.
Whether you have a costume-loving kindy kid, a sensory-sensitive child who wants nothing itchy, or a tween who will only dress up if a hoodie is involved, these Book Week costume ideas will help.
If you would rather skip the late-night craft scramble, Costumes in Australia’s Book Week costume range has plenty of ready-to-wear options for kids, teachers and adults.
Table of Contents
- Timeless Book Character Costumes
- Roald Dahl, Magic and Movie-Inspired Characters
- Fairytale and Princess Costume Ideas
- Fast, Fun and Fail-Proof Costumes
- No-Sew and DIY Book Week Costumes
- Inclusive and Sensory-Friendly Options
- Wheelchair-Inclusive Costume Ideas
- Book Week Costumes for Teachers
- Reusable Costume Ideas Worth Keeping
- Characters Kids Actually Read and Love
- Where to Buy Book Week Costumes
Timeless Book Character Costumes
These classics are instantly recognisable, easy to explain and always get a smile from teachers.
- Matilda
- Where’s Wally?
- The Cat in the Hat
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Peter Pan
- Little Miss Sunshine
- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Big Bad Wolf
- Goldilocks
- The Three Bears
- The Three Little Pigs
- The Gruffalo
- The Rainbow Fish
- The Paper Bag Princess
- Pippi Longstocking
- Winnie the Pooh
- Piglet
- Tigger
- Madeline
- Angelina Ballerina
- Pinocchio
Roald Dahl, Magic and Movie-Inspired Characters
These are ideal for kids who already know exactly who they want to be — or who simply want a costume that feels a little more dramatic.
- Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz
- The Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz
- Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz
- Hermione Granger or a Gryffindor student
- Harry Potter
- Ron Weasley
- Luna Lovegood
- Mary Poppins
- The Rainbow Fairy series
- The Worst Witch
- Horrid Henry
- Captain Hook
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Willy Wonka
- Charlie Bucket
- Fantastic Mr Fox
- The BFG
- The Lorax
- Thing 1 and Thing 2
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Superworm
- The Highway Rat
Fairytale and Princess Costume Ideas
Fairytale costumes are particularly handy because they are rarely a one-day purchase. They can usually come back out for Halloween, birthday parties, school plays and weekend dress-up.
- Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
- Cinderella
- Snow White
- Rapunzel
- Belle from Beauty and the Beast
- Elsa from Frozen
Fast, Fun and Fail-Proof Costumes
Need something that looks like you made an effort without actually requiring much effort? Start here.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Print Greg’s face, tape it to a paddle or stick, and send them on their way.
The Cat in the Hat
Black pants, white shirt, striped hat and a red bow tie.
Thing 1 or Thing 2
Red T-shirt, blue wig or temporary hair spray, and a printed label.
The Day the Crayons Quit
One-colour outfit plus a cardboard crayon label.
Rainbow Fish
Blue clothes with cardboard or felt scales taped on.
Wombat from Diary of a Wombat
Brown hoodie, dark nose and a copy of the book.
Bookworm
Comfy clothes, glasses and a favourite book.
Pyjama Character
Claim inspiration from Goodnight Moon, Time for Bed or another bedtime story. No one is judging.
The trick is to pick something your child will actually keep on. A comfortable costume wins over a complicated one every time.
No-Sew and DIY Book Week Costumes
If you have a hot glue gun, a basket of craft leftovers or sheer determination, these ideas can work beautifully.
Glinda the Good Witch
Tulle skirt, tiara, sparkles and dress-up shoes.
Rainbow Fish
Felt circles or foil scales on a plain blue top.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Green shirt with felt fruit pieces.
Pirate
Striped shirt, eye patch, cardboard sword and bandana.
Wizard
Dressing gown, cardboard wand and a hat.
Princess
Reuse any old dress-up outfit and add a book prop.
The Gruffalo
Brown clothes, paper horns and a homemade tail.
Dog Man
Blue clothing, a cape and a character hat or mask.
If DIY is not your thing, there is no shame in skipping it. A ready-to-wear costume can save a lot of stress when time is tight.
Inclusive and Sensory-Friendly Options
Every child deserves to enjoy Book Week without an uncomfortable costume ruining their day.
For children who dislike masks, stiff fabrics, face paint or scratchy accessories, consider:
- A soft animal onesie
- A dinosaur costume
- A crayon in a soft tracksuit set
- A bookworm in their favourite hoodie
- Pyjamas for a bedtime-book character
- A simple librarian outfit with an “I Love Books” badge
Let your child choose from a small visual list and have a no-pressure backup plan. Even a sticker that says “Bookworm” still counts.
Wheelchair-Inclusive Costume Ideas
A wheelchair can become part of the costume and make the whole look even more creative.
Try these ideas:
- The Magic School Bus: Add cardboard panels and yellow paint around the chair.
- James and the Giant Peach: Use orange fabric or cardboard to turn the chair into a giant peach.
- Astronaut: Turn the chair into a spaceship with foil panels and stars.
- Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Cart: Add gold foil and pretend sweets around the chair.
- Professor X: A jacket, sunglasses and a confident entrance.
- Bookworm: A green blanket, glasses and a stack of books.
Focus on comfort, movement and what your child finds fun. The best ideas are usually the ones they help create.
Book Week Costumes for Teachers
Teachers: we see you. You need a costume that is recognisable, comfortable and capable of surviving a full day of playground duty, story time and photocopier drama.
Great teacher costume ideas include:
- Miss Frizzle
- Where’s Wally?
- Mary Poppins
- The Queen of Hearts
- Professor McGonagall
- Dumbledore
- Hagrid
- Gandalf
- The Worst Witch
- Merlin
- Cleopatra
- Joan of Arc
- Robin Hood
- Sherlock Holmes-style detective
- Queen Elizabeth
Reusable Costume Ideas Worth Keeping
If you are buying a costume, choose one with repeat potential. These options work for Book Week, Halloween, parties and dress-up days at home:
- Pirate costumes
- Comic-book superhero and Dog Man costumes
- Witch and wizard costumes
- Animal onesies
- Detective costumes
- Dinosaur costumes
- Princess and fairytale costumes
Characters Kids Actually Read and Love
If your child is stuck for ideas, these popular characters are a great place to start:
- Matilda
- Harry Potter
- The Gruffalo
- Pig the Pug
- The BFG
- Dog Man
- Bluey
- The Day the Crayons Quit
- Possum Magic
- Alice in Wonderland
- Pippi Longstocking
Where to Buy Book Week Costumes
Book Week does not have to mean a late-night craft emergency. Whether your child wants to become Matilda, Harry Potter, a Gruffalo, a pirate or a princess, Costumes in Australia has a wide range of Book Week costumes for kids, teachers and adults.
From ready-to-wear character costumes to reusable dress-up favourites, it is an easy place to find something your child will feel excited to wear — without needing to wrestle with glitter, cardboard and a glue gun the night before.
Have your say!